Ferndown (Old)

Overview: Ferndown Old is an eighteen-hole heathland course at Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset, part of the sandy belt that gives this corner of southern England its firm, free-draining playing ground. The profile is 6,508 yards and par 71. Heather, pine and fir trees frame the fairways, while subtle rises and well-positioned bunkers ask for accuracy without turning the course into a test of brute length. The land is gently undulating and the holes are easy to walk, but the greens and approaches reward a golfer who thinks about position from the tee. Ferndown's character comes from the contrast between open sandy corridors and tighter tree-lined passages. The course can look calm and inviting, yet a missed line may leave a difficult angle or a poor lie in the heath. It is a strategic inland course with a quiet, natural rhythm.

History: Ferndown's Old Course opened in 1913 and was designed by Harold Hilton, the two-time Open champion and first editor of Golf Monthly. The club's official history describes Ferndown as a twenty-seven-hole heathland facility, with the Old Course remaining its principal eighteen-hole routing. Over time the course has hosted events including the Hennessy Cognac Cup, the European Ladies' Championship, the Women's British Open and the Brabazon Trophy. Its competitive history sits alongside a strong local connection with the Alliss family: Peter Alliss learned the game at Ferndown while his father Percy was the club professional. The layout has been maintained and refined without losing the sandy heathland setting that defined it from the beginning.

Did You Know? The Old Course is arranged as two linked loops rather than a simple outward-and-back route. Holes 1 through 8 form the inner loop, while holes 9 through 18 make the outer loop, giving the course a distinctive shape that helps each section feel separate.