The Best Golf Courses in Swanage, Dorset, United Kingdom (2025)

Lovely well kept sports park,we played the putting which is the best we have seen, not to easy ,very clearly marked,a good challenge

Nice green location and a fun putting course. Much better value than the crazy golf on the seafront.

Fun putting green with an interesting range of slopes. Also a bowling green, tennis courts and a basketball court. The cafe serves pasties and snacks and an attractive range of soft drinks.

Quiet spot with shade to enjoy small pitch and putt, table tennis, tennis, bowls and basketball. Small cafe open during summer months for hot and cold drinks and light snacks.

Crane Valley Golf Club offers a great dining experience. The food was simply amazing, with a variety of delicious options that cater to all tastes. The service was equally impressive, with attentive and friendly staff ensuring that every need was met promptly. A special mention goes to Jon, whose professionalism and dedication significantly enhanced our visit. Highly recommended for both golf enthusiasts and those seeking a memorable meal in a beautiful setting.

A beautiful day spent with my son and friends watching the Dorset Amateur Championships. Tom in the semi-finals and the course was great. The greens looked beautiful.

We have had our annual group members (for 80 members, though we could easily fill more places) afternoon cream tea at Crane Valley for the past 3 years. Every year they provide the same superb food and service. Nothing is to much trouble for the staff, the facilities are top notch with the 80 place function room with bar and lounge area with views over the scenic golf course down to the lake. Highly recommended.

Teriffic round at Crane Valley GC. Played like a donkey, but that wasn't down to the course, which wasn't long, but was technical in places. Hit some good shots, but also some shockers, think I should have left the putter in the car too ! Enjoyable course, even in the drizzle !

Just returned from a one night and two round stay. We had an enjoyable time and the golf course was in superb condition. All three 9’s were a challenge in their own way. All staff were very helpful and the bar staff in particular kept the bar open late in the evening for us, thanks for that. Only negative was the Halfway House was shut both days and during peak times when a lot of golfers wanted a mid round snack.

Lovely golf venue with 3 9 hole courses, all 3 are a good challenge and normally in really good condition. Pro shop is well stocked and the staff are friendly. The clubhouse is large and has ample seating inside and out, good range of beers and Cider, food is also spot on. Across the road they have a large trackman equipped driving range which is great for warming up before a round.

We stayed in a lodge which was spacious and well equipped. Just a short walk to the restaurant and facilities at the clubhouse. Indoor short mat bowls,and what looked like a good golf course although we didn't use it

Great fun. Certainly worth a trip if you have any football loving kiddos.

One of the top 100 golf courses in GB. Harry Colt design, very beautiful throughout, but very unforgiving. If you in doubt, then think twice before you hit……

The course was in magnificent condition. Food in the bar was really nice (avo toast particularly!). All staff incredibly friendly and helpful. Would play again.

Specifically a review on the coaching and Pro Shop. Had lessons with Bailey Birch since the beginning of this year. Couldn’t have imagined such a big change in my swing and my enjoyment of the game since having lessons with him. Lessons in particular are very good. Lots of important information and always a positive outcome with a specific working point to work on inbetween lessons. This always led to a visible solid improvement without overloading me on too many issues with my swing at once. Couldn’t recommend him enough if considering lessons whether it’s a playing lesson, range session or in the simulator.

We try to play a different course each week. This was delightful to play !! Beautiful tree-lined fairways...very narrow in places...lots of par 4's and 5 in the 1st 9. Many undulations, sloping fairways, hills, and doglegs left and right gets you golf fit pushing your cart. Tricky approaches coming in to some "fast & foxy" greens. This 18 hole course has a great layout. Extremely friendly members and staff. The facilities are modern and inviting. We will definitely be back as it was only 20 min from home. What a find. ⛳😁🏌️‍♀️

We played a Dorset past captains match versus Hampshire past captains ⛳️ The course was in excellent condition very well manicured, the greens were very fast and true. The catering was also good and all the staff were very friendly. The club captain was in our first group out and he set a high standard with his course knowledge,well played Rob ⛳️ if you are in the area I would recommend a visit for a good challenging game and the bar is just the job on a hot day sitting on the patio 🏖️ or just pop in for a bit to eat and a drink🍹

A lovely golf course, well worth the visit. This course is not the longest if courses, but is nonetheless quite challenging. Researching the layout before attending will help you. Really nice clubhouse and friendly staff. Also a well stocked little shop. A couple of driving nets to warm up, or if you want, a driving range to practice at. If the weather has been very wet, there will be standing water, although the drainage is very good, it can be overwhelmed. I will 100% play here again.

What a little gem of a golf course! We visited on a lovely day and I had a lesson with Charlie, who was an excellent teacher, and made me feel at ease. The course has a family atmosphere to it, not intimidating like other places. The little cafe has a beautiful setting and a nice selection of dishes. Shame you're an hour away from is, hopefully we can visit soon!

Tricky little golf course, plays 18, designed around a 9 hole. No par 5's but lots of par 4's (and long ones). T Boxes were difficult to get T pegs into the ground. Lovely and flat course. Such a pretty course to play. Very enjoyable. This was the first time in 20 years of my golfing experiences (and I have played many courses)...that I have ever seen steps into a bunker !! Luckily I didn't have to use them 🙃

Mike Dodd and all the junior coaches are fantastic. So welcoming and friendly. My son really enjoys going. They have a workbook with targets to aim for. It helps with focus and strives them to always move forward. It's a beautiful 9-hole course tucked away in Sturminster Marshall. It's definitely worth a visit for a coffee in the club house and chat with Mike.

Friendly relaxed golf club and great for kids to learn.

Food was amazing. Had a lovely Sunday lunch here. There was a lot of us but they catered well and food was great. Lovely staff and will definitely come again.

This being my home club I’m maybe a bit biased ⛳️ after a very dry summer and no grass on the fairways we are now seeing the grass growing well. Green are all getting there make over and starting to recover well. we have a very well stocked pro shop and will soon have a golf simulator purpose built to improve your golf ⛳️ we have a full catering service and a very comfortable Club house.🥶 Winter has arrived but the course is holding out, cold and sunny winter golf ⛳️ roll on the spring. Still worth a visit on a nice day ⛳️🥶

Absolutely lovely course with nice elevation and a few water points adding character to a course. Greens and fairways in great condition and most of all it’s superb value compared to other courses of its kind. Also has a lovely clubhouse to enjoy a nice drink in after your round and a very well equipped pro shop.

Stunning place to play golf, the course is a decent challenge and has beautiful views where ever you are. Well appointed clubhouse and plenty of parking. Can’t wait to play it again.

We always make a point of driving 2.5hrs to play this gem of a golf course every year. It is a fantastic golf course and in great condition, there are many challenges and so many stand out holes. The scenery is stunning , the staff are very friendly and we always enjoy a meal in the clubhouse with those views. Thanks again for a wonderful experience and we look forward to next year and many more to come.

Great course, amazing views, if the wind is up it plays really tough, be prepared to lose a lot of balls. Well worth a visit.

Stunning golf course that will test all your skills and abilities. Pick your tee box wisely. Played here in late July & was able to book a reasonably priced green fee on their website in the afternoon. First impressions in the pro-shop were excellent and that is because we met the manager (apologies I have forgotten your name) who chatted to use and helped us with sorting out an electric buggy and giving help on how to play the first holes to get us started. Wonderful way to start the round, thank you. Isle of Purbeck Golf Club has some stunning views on some great holes, so be prepared to get some amazing photos as you walk the course. If you are walking, be prepared as it is a big course to walk with ups & downs for all 18 holes. The reason for 4* is that we were held up by a 4 ball of tourists who really didn't know how to play at a decent pace or understand that they were holding up play & should have allowed us and another group to play through. There were no course marshals to manage the pace of play. This was quite frustrating. The course was dry and the greens were in good condition, we were lucky enough to play on a warm sunny afternoon, which obviously helped with the positive experience. There are plenty of interesting & different holes on this course. No experience of the clubhouse or the restaurant as we were late finishing our round & needed to leave as soon as we finished. Looking forward to returning.

Absolutely stellar experience at this driving range! I've been a frequent visitor lately, and each time leaves me more impressed than the last. The Toptracer technology is great, enhancing the fun and improving my game with precise feedback. What's even better is the flexibility in payment—you pay per basket of balls, so there's no rush to finish. Also, during the week from 8am - 4pm there's no need to book, you only need turn up. Whether it's a post-lunch session or a pre-breakfast swing, this place accommodates perfectly. It has quickly become a top destination for me, and I'll definitely make it a point to swing by whenever I'm in the area. Highly recommend to all golf enthusiasts! Review for yet another breakfast here... I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a Full English Breakfast at The Forest Inn and wow—it was fantastic! As someone who loves a good fry-up, this one truly delivered and set me up perfectly for a great session on the driving range afterward. I went for the Full Dorset Breakfast, priced at £12, and it was worth every penny. It came with two New Forest bacon rashers, two butcher’s pork sausages, eggs cooked to perfection, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, Heinz baked beans, and delicious Bakehouse24 sourdough toast. Every element of the dish was cooked beautifully and tasted fresh, from the savoury sausages to the perfectly crisp bacon. To top it all off, I had a lovely latte alongside the breakfast. It was smooth, rich, and complemented the meal perfectly—just what I needed to kickstart the day. The portion size was generous, and the quality of the ingredients really stood out. It was the perfect start to the day, filling me up with just the right amount of energy for my golf practice. I highly recommend The Forest Inn if you’re in the area, whether you’re a golfer or not. Their Full Dorset Breakfast is a must-try for anyone who appreciates a hearty and well-executed fry-up.

Played here 7/3/23 : always drove past this place and never had chance to play. I managed get finished early on a job, rang clubhouse and someone answered straight away. I was concerned the course may be closed due to the rain overnight and in the morning but was informed the course was open. I welcomed to pop down anytime as most people had stayed home because of the weather. I arrived and went in the clubhouse and was very impressed. Well stocked shelves, plenty of staff working so was served straight away I teed off at 13:30ish, the round cost me £13.50. I was informed the course was having maintenance carried out on it, which was great so I was fully aware. I have to say I was impressed with this course. It’s definitely not the longest, but there are plenty of tricky hazards to make you really think about your yardages. It’s a great course to improve your iron play if you hit it long enough. I was really impressed with the greens. Although they had been hollow tined (spiked) the greens rolled really well, we’re in great condition. The fairways were in good condition despite the time of year, I was given a good quality winter rules mat to play off. Usually even if it’s a high end club your given a strip of artificial grass which curls up and is difficult to play off. This was on a solid piece of plastic with ground spikes All the ground maintenance team were friendly and polite, they could see which greens I was approaching so worked that around which greens they did I would definitely recommend this course and I look forward to coming back in the summer to see how well it looks with all the works going on

Not given the course a go yet but have to give a major shoutout to the pro shop and fitting studio they have on site, came in after a few uncertainties about my clubs. Within a few shots the pro Steve who had been monitoring me very quickly picked up the issues I had with my setup and as he brought up, nothing was wrong in the selection I had both head and shaft wise but all it required to get me striking it much more consistently was to set them up 1* flat which instantly made a change in the flight path of the ball and clearly wasn’t trying to push to replace them like many places I’ve been to have. Also gave much comforting guidance without the typical route some people reading the text book as any golfer is not going to swing or setup the same. All this service including the club adjustments came to a very respectful price, highly recommend them if you’re around this area looking to be fitted or simply after some good advice on your golf game or equipment.

Great parking, restaurant, driving range and golf shop. Friendly staff. Good atmosphere. Can be very busy as its so well located with such great services