Golf Courses in Hampshire: Heath, Downs and Solent Links

Hampshire stretches from the chalk downs of the north to the New Forest and the Solent coast. That mix of ground gives golfers a lot of variety within one county, because chalk, heath and coast all play differently. This guide covers some of the most interesting courses, using facts from each club’s own website.

Golf courses in Hampshire at a glance

Our directory currently lists 30 open courses in the county. The Hampshire golf courses page shows them all. Some are old members’ clubs, while others are council-run or pay-per-round venues.

For wider context, see our guide to golf courses in England. While this guide focuses on Hampshire, our earlier post on golf courses in Essex covers that county in the same way.

Heath and parkland near Southampton

Stoneham Golf Club sits on the northern edge of Southampton. It says it was established in 1908 in an old deer park. Specifically, the club names Willie Park Junior, designer of the Old Course at Sunningdale, as its architect. It lists 6,400 yards of undulating heath and parkland, with five par 3s and five par 5s.

Romsey Golf Club is shorter, although it still has plenty of character. It lists 5,718 yards and a par of 69 for men. The club’s signature hole is the 6th, a long par 4 that winds down a valley from an elevated tee. It also says the 18th is an uphill par 5 back to the clubhouse.

Paultons Golf Centre offers 18 holes in two loops of nine. The club says the front nine is an inland links, while the back nine is tree-lined. Its Championship course measures 6,238 yards from the back tees, and all 18 greens are built to USGA specification.

Clubs with a story to tell

North Hants Golf Club says it opened in 1904. Its history page credits James Braid with the original design. Harry Colt redesigned the course in 1913, and Tom Simpson made improvements in 1930. Since then, Donald Steel added three new holes in 2001.

Basingstoke Golf Club says it was established on 6 December 1907. It also says James Braid designed the 1928 course at Kempshott Park. Although the layout has changed since, a later redesign by Bruce Weller added creeping bent greens, which the club calls the first in Hampshire.

Hartley Wintney Golf Club lists an 18-hole, par 71 parkland and wooded course of 6,277 yards. The club says it has provided golf for 130 years. Furthermore, mature trees and water hazards shape the round.

Forest, chalk and coast

Not every Hampshire course follows the same pattern. Three stand out because of their setting.

• Burley Golf Club lies in the heart of the New Forest. The club says the course is essentially a 9-hole layout with 18 different tees. It lists a par of 71 and 6,151 yards for men.
• The Hampshire Golf Club says it was founded in 1993. Its Manor Course measures 6,380 yards across 240 acres of rolling countryside. The club says free-draining chalk means it has never closed because of wet weather.
• Hayling Golf Club describes a classic links design on the South Coast. The club says it was founded in 1883, and it sits within a site of special scientific interest.

Short rounds and council courses

If you do not want a full day on the course, Hampshire still has options. Gosport & Stokes Bay Golf Club describes a 9-hole links, established in 1885, with views over the Solent and the Isle of Wight. Our guide to nine-hole golf courses explains why short rounds are so popular, and you can browse every 9-hole course in the directory.

Portsmouth Golf Centre is a council-owned course. It describes an 18-hole, par 69 layout of 5,620 yards that opened on 14 July 1926. The club also offers an 11-hole option from November to February, which suits shorter winter days. For other low-cost choices, read our pay and play golf guide.

Championship layouts and practice facilities

Old Thorns Golf Club describes a championship-standard course set in 400 acres of Hampshire countryside. The club also lists a Toptracer range, which is handy because you can warm up first. Paultons Golf Centre has a driving range too.

If you are new to the game, a range session before a round helps since it builds confidence. Our driving range guide explains what to expect, and our beginners’ guide to golf courses suggests easier courses to start on.

Comparing the lengths

Each club publishes its own yardage, and tees differ, so treat the figures as a guide. Here are the figures we found, shortest first.

• Portsmouth Golf Centre: 5,620 yards.
• Romsey Golf Club: 5,718 yards (men).
• Burley Golf Club: 6,151 yards (men).
• Paultons Golf Centre: 6,238 yards off the back tees.
• Hartley Wintney Golf Club: 6,277 yards.
• The Hampshire Golf Club: 6,380 yards.
• Stoneham Golf Club: 6,400 yards.

Length alone does not decide difficulty. Stoneham’s small greens and uneven lies, for example, reward careful short-game play more than power.

Choosing a Hampshire course

Think about the ground first. Chalk and heath drain well, so they suit winter golf. Coastal courses can be windy, however, which makes scoring harder. Club websites list the current rules for visitors, so check them before you book.

We do not quote green fees here, because they change often. Each listing in the Hampshire directory links to the club’s own site. Planning a longer trip? Our golf breaks guide may help.

Every figure above comes from the club’s own website, checked on 10 October 2026. Where a club does not publish a fact, we have left it out.

For more courses along the south coast, the directory lists golf courses near Southampton, golf courses near Portsmouth and golf courses near Brighton. You can also browse every course we list in England.