Burley Golf Club

Played 9 holes here a fortnight ago and was very pleased to discover a layout that benefits from beautiful New Forest scenery and also delivers a stern challenge. Unfortunately, it was the day after a stag night and so the state of my game evoked rather less rapture... Anyway, everyone else has pinpointed the standout holes but one point worth iterating is that there's no cut of rough to speak of – the wandering ponies see to that. However, that's not a good thing, because a lot of the fairways are bordered by nasty gorse, bracken, heather etc – meaning for the most part you’re either on the shot stuff or it's a reload. Accuracy is most definitely the name of the game here. And make sure your short game is in good order because the greens were truly excellent - as good as I've played on this year. The welcome was also warm. Overall, the phrase 'hidden gem' may be overused but not in relation to here. Would love to have done justice to it but will definitely return one day when in a more sober state! 8/10 'Young P' (h/c 12)

I played this course as a youngster with my father back in the 60's when we took family holidays in the area. I returned on business in March 2006 and contacted the Secretary to arrange a round. He was most helpful and when I arrived at the course the memories came flooding back. It hardly seems to have changed and the scenery is breathtaking. There can be few more picturesque courses than this in the UK. I found the course quite a challenge (16 handicapper)and you need to keep out of the rough at all costs. My favourite holes were the 2nd - a beautiful par 3, the 5th which has a beautiful approach to the green and the 7th which has a visually stunning but difficult to hit green amongst well developed trees. The ponies and other wildlife just add to its attractiveness and I'm going back there with my son next year to keeep a family tradition going. If you get the chance play here - you'll love it.

Burley is a delightful course set in the heart of the New Forest. Hoof marks on greens, and wandering ponies all add to the most countryfied ambience. The setting is stunning. In fact, if you play it as a proper 18 hole course, using the second set of tees for the back 9, it is a testing course. The rough often consists of those spiky gorse bushes you see in some of the championships, so keeping your ball in play is key. The position changes of the tees between front and back nine change the pars for 3 or 4 holes, and the approaches vary too. The greens are mostly pretty small and hard. The par 5, dog leg 3rd is easy enough to reach, but it's tough to stop your ball on the green. The 5th has a great approach down to the green, but beware the unseen ditch in front. The hole plays as a par 5 on the back 9. Tricky! I also love the 6th, which plays down a huge hill by the road, and the approach has to be hit clean over 3 trees mid fairway! At 6100 yards it is quite adequate for most golfers- and the wind can get up nicely, giving it a links feel. A hidden gem!!

Excellant welcome from a very friendly Secretary. The condition of the fairways is not the best but the tees and greens were excellant. The first is probably the least interesting hole but the second is a cracking par 3. The 3rd is a stunning downhill dog-leg par 5. On the 4th do NOT end up above the pin since the green slopes severely from back to front. The 5th was my favourite hole with a stunning shot down to a delightful green. The 7th was the tightest hole and position off the tee is the key. The 8th is a tricky drivable par 4 and the 9th is probably the toughest hole on the course. The ponies and cattle meandering acrioss the course add to the attractiveness of this cracking course. Enjoy.

Very pleasant nine hole course. Not in amazing condition, with quite a bit of livestock wandering on the fairways and greens. But great fun if you're not too interested in testing your golf. Extremely scenic, and the holes all have an interesting layout. Very worthwhile.