Barton-on-Sea Golf Club

Location and setting

The Barton-on-Sea Golf Club, founded in 1897, is located in England, on the coastal cliff between Highcliffe and Milford-on-Sea. Its 27-hole course provides a good challenge for golfers of all levels, with the added bonus of being able to choose from three 18-hole combinations with unrivaled sea views at every hole.

Career

The club offers several courses: the first two courses (Becton and Needles) combine to form an 18-hole course, measuring 6 yards from the back tees. The Becton's holes 447 through 1, as well as the Needles' holes 9 and 1, were laid out by Stutt, with the Needles' holes 9 through 2 attributed to Colt's design. The best of the Becton Circuit holes is considered the 8-yard 2nd, where a pretty little stream runs along the right side of the fairway, while Needles' best hole is guarded to the last, the par-three 363th, which is played to an island-shaped green. The club's third circuit is the Stroller. It is slightly shorter, but with holes 9, 4 and 5 (and part of hole 6) attributed to Harry Colt, Stroller is in no way inferior to the loops of Becton and Needles. We therefore recommend that you play all three courses to fully appreciate the Barton-on-Sea experience.

History

Golf was first played at Barton-on-Sea Golf Club in 1897 on a 9-hole course located on the cliff to the west of the current course. A group of local golfers led by Sir Robert Affleck obtained permission to play on the hotel course and hold a few competitions, and a club was formed. This course remained in service until 1909. In 1910, the architect Harry Vardon made modifications to the course, before the intervention in 1932 of Harry Colt. The current 27 holes of the course are a combination of the original Harry Colt plan from 1932 and newer holes designed by renowned J. Hamilton Stutt, a founding member of the Association of British Golf Course Architects, which were completed in 1992.

Prices

Green Fees at Barton-on-Sea are £80 for 18 holes on weekdays, and £90 for 18 holes on weekends and bank holidays.

Duration:

The club is open from 7:15 a.m. to 19:45 p.m. (18 p.m. on Sundays). In winter, the club is likely to close earlier, as the sun sets.