Brokenhurst Manor Golf Club

Brokenhurst Manor is a particularly beautiful golf course. Playing in the autumn was wonderful with the differing hues and gentle sunlight. The course is not long and there are several short par 4s that require accuracy rather than length; it's a thinker's course and as long as the sight of foxes, roe deer and the odd whinny from a New Forest pony doesn't distract you then you should have a very enjoyable day. The members are not quite as charming as the surroundings sadly and as a visitor I felt it very obvious that my prescence there was not especially welcomed. That is a shame as the course and the scenery make this a memorable place to play. The greens and fairways were in very condition but a few of the tee boxes were a little ragged but nothing too drastic and understandable given recent wet weather and the time of year in general. If you decide to go and play here I'm sure you'll take fond memories with you but keep an eye on a somewhat prickly attitude from the members, the only aspect of a day at this course that I could fault.

I have no idea why this course is not better known. I came with reasonably high expectations and this Colt layout certainly matched them, if not exceeded them. It's predominantly woodland with the occasional dash of parkland and heathland thrown in. And as others have remarked, the par 3s are very good - as they usually are on a Colt course, because he laid them out first and then constructed the rest of the course around them. However, it's some of the par 4s which remain foremost in my memory – not least the tough ones that come back to back at 8 and 9 (446 and 459 yds respectively), which also occupy the area that feels most heathland in character. The par 4 11th (401 yds) also has a very inviting tee shot from an elevated tee and the 17th is a fantastic tight dogleg par 4 that requires you to shape the ball off the tee. That said, it was actually the number of short par 4s that was one of the downsides for me. Don't get me wrong, I love a great short par 4 but there are five under 335 yds even off the whites, which I felt was a couple too many, and a bit of an oddity for Colt surely. I also have to say the greens were relatively slow – and nowhere near the league of Burley where we were teeing it up a couple of days previously. As for value for money, we paid around £50 for a round during a weekday which seemed a fraction too high, but then I shot an 80 so wasn't that bothered! Finally, from intelligence gathered before and during the day, Brokenhurst seems to have a bit of a reputation for being somewhat, shall we say, antediluvian, but it's worth stating we didn't encounter any of that during our visit. In short, definitely worth a round if you're in the vicinity of the New Forest. 8/10 'Young P' (h/c 12)

Our twenty strong Society played this course last Sunday and there is no doubt that it is well laid out with challenging holes in the middle of the New Forest. Very well cared for and with a stream running through it, we were all set for the showdown between two teams that were neck and neck from the previous two days before it rained................ and it came down so hard that by the time we got to the 10th the klaxon had sounded because the greens flooded! Would we like to return in more clement weather? Yes - indeed.Very efficiently organised with the Secretary very much in evidence at the weekend and a perfect on time start when the Club were hosting a significant junior league event immediately after our departure from the 1st tee.

Played this course beginning of October,absolutely superb condition with some good feature holes.Highly recommended.

Brockenhurst is undoubtedly one of the best courses in Hampshire. With some testing holes and world class greens. It also captivates the full New Forest scene with the wildlife present on the course and a lot of typical New Forest streams.

A fine course that captures the beauty of the New Forest. Even in late October, after a lot of rain, the course played very well when others in the area were closed. Testing par 3's and well laid out par fours require a thoughtful approach. It's one of those courses you just have to go back to. Friendly staff and members complete the experience.

Brokenhurst Manor is undoubtedly one of the best courses in South Hamphsire,\r\nwith some excellent holes and superb, but often very quick, greens. The Par\r\n3's are particularly tricky, with an accurate tee shot required. In the winter\r\nthe course does tend to become very wet, so make sure you ring to check that\r\nthe course is open, rather than arriving on the off chance. There is a very\r\nuseful Course Condition answerphone (01590-624143), which is updated every\r\nmorning at around 7:30. \r\n