Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club

Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club– A fantastic links golf club that is a shining example of what good golf is! Is also home to one of the best holes in the UK…A true hidden gem!

The Course

Overall course summary- Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club is a true hidden gem in West Dorset! To start off the clubhouse is nice, the practice green is good (although lightning-quick) and the pro shop was well stocked. All the staff were super friendly.

The course is a typical wide links layout that is perched on the top of a cliff and it is quite a long course at 6042 yards long, par 71. We played it on a beautiful day and it was truly stunning! One problem (like on all links courses) was the wind! It was a killer!

Greens

The greens were in very good condition and were quite big (unlike the typical parkland courses that we normally play). They were quick with and had loads of break in them. I didn’t hit 2 putts that were the same in the entire round. The greens also appeared to speed up during the round, as the sun beat down on the course and the wind picked up…something that I have never experienced before!

Fairways/ Rough

The fairways are kept in good condition and were cut very short which meant you always had a decent lie. It is was interesting to play with the ball above or below your feet, which is also very common on links courses. The fairways were wide, but not that straight. On holes 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 15 you had to contend with a dogleg. This was a challenge as you had to know your yardage and the wind speed for club selection. When we played I ended up clubbing up or down by 2 clubs on most shots due to the wind!

Finally the rough was long in places and resembled “cabbage”. I imagine if you found yourself in the cabbage then you had got greedy on a dogleg! We found it hard to get out of at times unless you kept it simple (coming out sideways).

Bunkers

The bunkers were in good condition here and there are not that many of them!

Here is a score card and map for you to look at.

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Challenge

This is a challenging course that is quickly made very difficult if the wind picks up. It is also quite long so the need for a driver is key off the tee but you need to know when… As mentioned previously, there are plenty of doglegs and that means your course management has to be spot on. Furthermore, if the wind picks up you can easily be over or under clubbing when choosing the correct approach shot! There is a large amount of out of bound areas (which is actually the cliff into the sea) at holes 3, 6, 14 and 15…They are not the sort of holes where you can still play your shot if it has a decent lie. If you go left, your ball is lost to the sea!

On the front 9, we played with the wind and managed to hit some long drives. The 5th was an especially hard hole. It is a long par 5 that has 2 dog legs within it. If you are long off the tee you can cut the corner but there was long rough so take that risk at your own peril!

The best hole on this course is the 6th hole (a brilliant par 3). At the front of the tee box, you are greeted with a 100ft cliff face into a green that is well protected by bunkers and the sea to the left. Normally this would have been a pitching wedge into the green, however, the wind was howling. I ended up hitting an 8 iron into it and only just putting it past the pin! We must have hit 3 or 4 each here as the course was quiet and it really is a spectacular hole.

The 6th hole at Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club
As you venture out onto the back 9 the first challenge is the at the 10th hole. You are faced with a short par 3 (160 yards) however there is a large pond to contend with, followed by a green that falls away at all sides! It is a great hole that can definitely get into your head! The 15th is another hard hole with the sea to your left and out of bounds to your right, you have to be accurate off the tee. This was an especially long hole as we were playing directly into the wind! The view from the 15th green is beautiful, looking over Brideport harbour.

Overall I would say this is a brilliant golf course and a true hidden gem in West Dorset. It is hard, especially when the wind picks up, but if you manage a good round here you will leave feeling very happy! I would also recommend stopping and looking at the spectacular views that are on offer, as they will be hard to beat!

Put simply, I can’t wait to go back!

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Off Course Facilities

The clubhouse is really nice. We didn’t try any off the food but the drinks were tasty and the bar staff really friendly. The bar prices were really good too! The pro shop was well stocked and the pro was really nice! There is a good driving range that is covered as mentioned previously a putting green too.

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tee Fees/ Rental Services/ Tee Times

Monday- Friday – £32- Twilight-£20.00 (after 1pm)

Weekend- £34

Visitor Buggy £25.00- Visitor Electric Trolley £12.00- Visitor Pull Trolley £6.00

Juniors under 18 receive a 50% discount.

Basically, its great price, for a brilliant course!

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Summary

It is a brilliant golf course and possibly one of the hidden gems in Dorset and the UK! If you are holidaying in the area then you need to pay it a visit and if you are local then you should 100% play it!

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Rating: 4 out of 5.