Portsmouth Golf Club (1926)

Portsmouth Golf Club (1926), Portsmouth, South East, England, PO7 5QL

02392372210 | E-mail golf course | Golf course website

17 reviews of Portsmouth Golf Club (1926)

One of the joys of this course, bizarre as it may sound to some, is the clearly very limited budget they have to work with. Less money means they don't have the time to mess about with silly squiggly fairways or greens (call that definition if you like, it's nothing but laughable eye candy to the knowledgeable golfer). Instead, in the summer at least, the course offer an excellent experience where the running game is favoured over target golf. The downside is that you may find yourself playing from some of the worst bunker sand you're ever likely to come across but, given that you can sometimes pay as little as £5 to play here, accept the rough with the smooth and enjoy the much underrated architecture on offer. The 5th hole Redan and the long par 4 6th are just two of the many outstanding holes on offer. Place this course in private hands and magically transport it to Surrey downland territory and you'd be looking at a £50 green fee.

Posted by Paul Gray on 19/06/2013
3
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Overall Rating 3
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 2
  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 2
  • Clubhouse 1
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 5

I played 17/08/11, the best value ever at £5.75 via Your Tee Times. I would give it 6 stars. At 6000 yds & Par 69 you might think this is easy - it is not. The SSS is 70 with only 2 par 5's. You can see the layout of each hole on the club's website so I won't go into too much detail here. It is hilly and many fairways slope sideways so a lot of thought is needed. Some holes offer the chance of opening your shoulders without much risk of trouble but the tee shots at 17&18 are possibly the hardest on the course. 6th is a wonderful hole while the challenge of cutting the corner on the dogleg 8th is irrestible and offers a reward for the risk. The course had become rundown but is now managed by Glendale whose staff are restoring it. They accept there is work to do & that the greens are currently 4 paced. I drove 50 miles to play & would do so again. Play for the silly green fee and the course will improve further.

Posted by Stephen Lucking on 17/08/2011

Played Portsmouth on a sunny December day after a lot of rain. On entering the club house and looking at the card I noticed that they have an alternate hole that is used if the course is very wet. The fact that it was not in play seemed to be a good sign. Unfortunatley the course was a quagmire that day so I wondered how bad must it get before the spare hole is used. This unfortunatley spoiled our day and I would advise not playing in winter or after spells of heavy rain as it does not drain very well. On a dry course this looks a good challenge and well priced to boot.

Posted by Bill Walsh on 16/03/2011
2
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Overall Rating 2
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 1
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 1
  • Green conditions 1
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 3
  • Value for money 1

Would be the best muni course in the south but the greens let it down. although a real tough course full of ups and downs and left and rights

Posted by Tom Scott on 28/06/2010
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 4

Played the course the other day after an absence of about 20 years! Back then I was a junior and always appreciated the challenge. Have to say I expected to now find it somewhat easier but was quickly reminded that extra length isn't everything. The undulating fairways and some tight lines make for an enjoyable round, particularly if you appreciate the more strategic side of the game. The views from the top of Portsdown Hill are wonderful, the staff are friendly and the course is generally in good condition. The only area I really wish they would improve (and this hasn't changed in 20 years) is in the bunkers. The sand is like something off a brick site. £18 for 18 holes. Can't be bad. Btw, a previous review refers to Salterns. Readers may want to note that relates to a completely different course in the Portsmouth area.

Posted by paul gray on 22/06/2010
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

Course was really enjoyable to play on. It's a municipal course but we got it for £12 which is excellent value. Lots of sloping fairways, elevated tees and greens. You have to be careful from the tee so there is plenty to challenge. Greens were a let down, grass needed cutting as very slow and bumpy. Hope they work in it soon as course is very nice and scenic too. Worth playing just for the challenge as you never have a flat lie.

Posted by M D on 08/05/2010
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

First impressions on arriving at the course were not encouraging. The club house must rank as one of the ugliest golf buildings I have seen; there were no rakes in the bunkers, no ball cleaners on the tees and the hole layout plaques were covered in graffiti. However, first impressions were totally deceptive; this is a great little golf course. The course is undulating parkland with lots of mature trees; the 2nd offers commanding views over Portsmouth Harbour, being just above local beauty viewpoints on Portsdown Hill. The fairways and greens were in excellent condition. Although a fairly short par 69, a number of holes are quite challenging. The 6th, 8th, 13th, 17th and 18th in particular require very accurate placement of tee shots. The normal weekday green fee is very reasonable at around £17. However, we played taking advantage of a ludicrously cheap offer of £1 a round, which is by far and away the best value for money round of golf I have ever come across.

Posted by Ian Thomas on 31/10/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

Great value for money - paid £18 for a round on a Saturday afternoon - can't be bad. Very undulating - no flat lies. Many good holes and some spectacular views over Portsmouth harbour. The 6th looks a great hole from the back tees although my favourite has to be the 15th. Greens are of a reasoable quality considering the usage the course undoubtedly gets. All in all, a enjoyable golfing experience.

Posted by Christopher Coleman on 22/07/2006
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

Salterns course can be very challenging & a joy to play the greens are excellent BUT if you want to enjoy your game CHECK the course first before you pay. me, my friend, those in front & behind us ALL became quickly angry by the amount of cut grass left just off the fairway gobbling up a sligtly wayward shot. i personally lost a total of three balls under cut grass & myself & others on the course spent far to much time kicking the cuttings looking for our ball resulting in unnecessary frustration & hold ups. apart from that major gripe, play it, it may be flat but it does bite. excellent

Posted by Philip Hadley on 16/06/2006
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

The best course in the area by far. In superb condition at the moment thanks to the green staff. If you get through the front nine with the card intact then it aint over yet. The 13th with a forest in the middle of the fairway and the 17th with a big tree in the way are the ones that get me. The staff are friendly and chatty and if you need a lesson Jason Banting is superb. Finish the round with a great value breakfast or drink. You will return.

Posted by Mike Gregory on 24/06/2003

Absolutely hard course. you have to play well to get good score. It is very nice view. it's cool.Yeaa!

Posted by Aye on 27/05/2003

Started playing golf in April 2002. This course is one that I enjoy, even though I am yet to have a great round on my scorecard. Every hole throws a new challange at you and you have to work very hard at your shot selection. Not a course to try if you havent played before!! The fairways are mostly sloping so it is hard to play a decent shot if you are not used to a ball above or below your feet. Stunning views of Portsmouth, Isle of Wight all the way along to Selsey and Littlehampton. The toughest thing I found with this course is that the greens vary so much from hole to hole. I find that this course is not as busy as Salterns (Portsmouth) and the tee times dont feel as crowded. My regular friday afternoon jaunt.

Posted by Andy Dean on 22/07/2002

Absolutely Cracking course. A course of two halves. Front nine [very] challenging, Back nine, looong [and you HAVE to be accurate Score..8.5/10

Posted by Chas Hanvy on 19/05/2002

I have played Portsmouth (Crookhorn) on quite a few occasions now and I must say it is probably one of the toughest and most rewarding courses I have found. No one hole is the same, everyone throwing a new golfing challenge your way. I played this afternoon (31st July) and shot 22 over par on the front 9 and 7 over on the back 9. The gentleman I played round with plays off 12 and shot 14 over for the front 9 and 13 over on the back 9. Hardly any of the fairways give you have a flat lie, and you really have to think where to land the ball. The ninth hole I find is the killer hole. Off the tee you really have to keep the ball left as the fairway slopes left to right. Trouble is too far left and there is thick rough, and the ball will just sit in it. Not left enough and the ball will land and bounce down to the right leaving a very awkward shot up the fairway. The 6th hole is a special hole. 436yds Elevated tee to play dog leg right with a carry over water. If you are brave you will play over the trees down the fairway, if you don't carry the trees tee up again and play safe, you won't find your ball!!!! The 2nd and 12th holes give great views of the coast and Isle Of Wight and are tough holes. The gentleman I played with said his worst holes are the 17th & 18th. Both are tight fairways. 17th is an elevated tee with trees right and left and a large tree in line with the green. The 18th is a slight dog leg right and again form the tee for 150yds are trees either side that somehow draw your tee shot towards them!! He says he would settle for a 5 on each hole and the end of a tough round. If you really want to challenge your golf game I beg you play Portsmouth. I might nearly kill you the first time but garuateed you will return to try to conqeur it. I have returned many a time and am still yet to conquer it, but I am getting closer every time!!!!

Posted by Mat Frost on 01/08/2000

Probably one of the best pay and play courses I have played. The greens are in absolutely superb condition and put a lot of private courses to shame. The best hole has to be the 6th, a 400+ yard hole with a 200 yard carry over water from the tee, although my personal favourite has to be the 285 yard 1st as I managed to get a hole in one!

Posted by Steve Jones on 30/06/2000

I played Portsmouth golf course as a novice for the first time yesterday. For a municipal the greens are the best ive played in hampshire. The course is very demanding on the novice, and be prepared for some challenging holes as well as a long walk as the course is very hilly. Things get even more tough with the wind blowing from the harbour. Ensure that you take plenty of balls when you play as even the advanced golfer will lose a few in some of the more intersting holes. If your not a big hitter then the 6th over water is a complete nightmare. Well worth playing if your in the area.

Posted by Rob Richards on 17/05/2000

A very challenging course with a number of very interesting holes! The 6th hole faces even the more experienced golfer with a daunting tee-shot over water! The greens are in good condition and the rough is....rough!! Overall a very good public golf course!

Posted by GT on 15/05/2000

Course information

Number of holes 18
Year opened -
Designer -
Style downland

Tee information

TeesYardsParSSS
Competition
Men's600069
Ladies'

Green Fees

Summer/High season

Weekday round£12
Weekday day-
Weekend round£12.4
Weekend day-

Winter/Low season

Weekday round-
Weekday day-
Weekend round-
Weekend day-

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