Isle of Wight Golf Courses: A Guide to the Island's Clubs

The Isle of Wight packs a lot of golf into a small island, and the courses vary a great deal. Our directory lists eight open venues, counted on 10 October 2026. They run from a nine-hole parkland course in the grounds of Osborne House to downland holes with sea views.

This guide covers each club, area by area. You can see them all on our Isle of Wight golf courses page. Facts come from the clubs’ own websites, and we say so when a club is making a claim.

The island’s clubs at a glance

This table shows the holes and par that each club’s website gives. Where we have not yet confirmed a figure from the club, the table says so.

Cowes and East Cowes

The north coast is the first stop for many visitors. Cowes Golf Club sits on Crossfield Avenue. Its website, for example, has a hole-by-hole guide, a scorecard and a tee booking page.

Meanwhile, Osborne Golf Club is a different kind of round. The club describes a parkland course in the grounds of Osborne House. It mentions protected woodland, views over the Solent and red squirrels. It calls itself a nine-hole club.

Newport and Ryde

In the middle of the island, Newport Golf Club has a course and a driving range. Its website invites golfers of all levels to visit, although its home page does not list holes or par.

Near the north-east coast, Ryde Golf Club is on Binstead Road. Its website lists a scorecard and a slope index. It also lists reciprocal golf and visitor tee booking. Westridge on Brading Road, however, is more of a practice venue. Its own site highlights PGA coaching, custom fitting and a Toptracer driving range.

Sandown, Shanklin and Ventnor

Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club has an 18-hole course at par 70. The club calls it the island’s premier course, although that is the club’s own view. It also says it is 20 minutes from the East Cowes ferry terminal and from the Fishbourne terminal.

Ventnor Golf Club is the island’s most unusual layout. Its website describes a twelve-hole course in a downland and cliff-top setting, and six of the holes are played twice. The club gives 5,700 yards, par 70, with views of the English Channel.

The club also points to its dwarf rye greens and fairways. A full round has four par 3s, twelve par 4s and two par 5s, according to its scorecard page.

Freshwater Bay and the west

Freshwater Bay Golf Club sits on Afton Down. Its website promises that you can see the sea from every tee. It describes an 18-hole course. Although it is a private club, it says visitors are most welcome.

Which island course suits you?

The eight venues cover quite different styles of golf. A short guide may help you choose, since each venue offers something different:

• A sea-view round: Freshwater Bay and Ventnor both describe coastal or cliff-top settings.
• A full 18 holes: Shanklin & Sandown and Freshwater Bay both describe 18-hole courses.
• A short or quiet round: Osborne is a nine-hole parkland course, and Ventnor has twelve holes.
• Practice first: Newport has a driving range, and Westridge offers coaching and a Toptracer range.

Our guide to nine-hole golf courses explains how to play a nine-hole course as a full round. Specifically, it shows how to count scores on a shorter layout.

Getting to the island with your clubs

Most golfers arrive by ferry, so plan the crossing first. Red Funnel runs sailings between Southampton and the island. Because you may be travelling from the mainland, you can look at courses before you cross.

• Our guide to golf courses in Hampshire covers the county next door.
• The Hampshire courses page lists every Hampshire club in the directory.
• The Southampton and Portsmouth pages list courses around each port city.

Ferry timetables, fares and baggage rules change, so check them with the operator before you book.

What to check before you travel

Short island trips can go wrong over small details. Before you leave, check these points with the club:

• Whether visitors can book online, and for which days.
• Whether the course is open, using the club’s course-status page.
• Whether you need a handicap certificate or a particular dress code.
• The latest green fee, which we do not quote here because clubs change fees often.

Planning your golf on the island

Seaside weather can change fast, so pack a windproof layer. Even so, check the forecast before you leave. Book your tee time ahead, and check each club’s course-status page on the day, since conditions change. Many club websites show whether trolleys, buggies or temporary greens are in use.

Our coastal golf guide explains how to play in wind. Newer golfers may like our guide to golf courses for beginners. If a short round suits you, the nine-hole course finder lists more options. Our golf breaks guide helps with longer trips.

Looking further afield for seaside golf? Our county guide to golf courses in Northern Ireland covers the Causeway Coast and County Down.

Sources: the club websites for Cowes, Osborne, Newport, Ryde, Westridge, Shanklin & Sandown, Ventnor and Freshwater Bay, and the Red Funnel website, read on 10 October 2026.

If you are combining the island with the mainland coast, the directory also lists golf courses near Brighton, and you can browse every course we list in England.