1 Night, 2 Rounds
Tucked into the Dorset countryside, The Dorset Golf & Country Club Resort is a cracking shout for a South West golf break if you want plenty of holes and zero hassle. You've got 27 holes on-site across three nine-hole loops, a proper practice set-up and accommodation options that work just as well for a quick weekend as they do for a longer society stay.
The course has pedigree too, having hosted events including the South-West PGA Championship and a MasterCard Tour stop, but it's not a members-only monster. With tees to suit most abilities, mid-handicappers can enjoy it without feeling like they're in survival mode from the first tee.
The layout is split into Lakeland, Parkland and Woodlands, so you can mix and match your 18 depending on what you fancy. Lakeland and Parkland combine for the longer championship test, while Woodlands tightens the screws with tree-lined holes where keeping it straight matters more than launching it miles.
If you're planning a few rounds, the variety is the big win here, and it's easy to build a two or three-night break without playing the same course twice. Have a look at our South West of England and Dorset breaks for package options.
Who is this for?
Golfers or groups looking for a multi-round break in the South West with quality parkland golf, flexible accommodation and a peaceful country-estate setting. Ideal for societies, friends' trips, couples and families who want variety in both golf and lodging options.
Who is it best for?
Mid-to-low handicappers who enjoy strategic, well-conditioned parkland layouts with enough length and challenge to keep things interesting, plus anyone who values having 27 holes on-site to play across a two or three-night stay.
* Where applicable, the relevant promotions will be applied during the booking process. T&Cs may apply.
1 Night, 1 Round
1 Night, 2 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
The different combinations offer welcome variety, while the undeniable quality of the golf course has resulted in the Dorset being selected to host countless professional tournaments including the South-West PGA Championship and a MasterCard Tour event. The toughest combination measures over 7,000 yards from the tips and ranks in the top 150 courses in the UK, but there are tees to suit golfers of all standards.
The Lakeland and Parkland loops combine to form The Dorset's championship layout, and it's this pairing that has earned the resort its reputation. Measuring over 7,000 yards from the tips, the course has been rated among the UK's leading courses in various rankings and has hosted professional events, which tells you everything you need to know about the set-up.
The fairways and greens are beautifully shaped and protected by a network of lakes, streams and strategically positioned bunkers that demand both length and precision. What makes the course work for a wide range of golfers is the variety of tees. From the back markers it's a genuine test, but move forward and the layout becomes more forgiving without losing its character.
The greens are the standout feature: contoured and quick, requiring careful reading and a confident stroke. Water comes into play on several holes, and the bunkering is positioned to catch anything loose, so course management and smart decision-making are rewarded throughout. The different nine-hole combinations offer welcome variety across a multi-round stay, and the quality of conditioning and design means you'll want to play all 27 holes if time allows. It's a layout that suits golfers who enjoy strategic, well-maintained parkland golf with enough challenge to keep things interesting.
| Par | 36 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Martin Hawtree |
| Opened for play | 1991 |
| Blue | 3,510 yards |
|---|---|
| White | 3,306 yards |
| Yellow | 3,117 yards |
| Red | 2,721 yards |
| Par | 36 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Martin Hawtree |
| Opened for play | 1991 |
| Blue | 3,517 yards |
|---|---|
| White | 3,309 yards |
| Yellow | 3,065 yards |
| Red | 2,748 yards |
If you like getting plenty of holes in, the 27-hole set-up makes it easy to roll straight into another nine without feeling rushed. The Woodlands is part of a complex that also includes a 22-bay driving range and dedicated short-game area, making The Dorset one of the most comprehensive practice and play facilities in the region. Whether you're warming up, working on something specific or just enjoying the variety, the infrastructure here is first-rate.
The Woodlands loop may be the shortest of the three nines at The Dorset, but it's arguably the most demanding when it comes to accuracy. Carved through dramatic rhododendron forest, the fairways are tight and tree-lined, punishing anything offline and rewarding straight hitting above all else. Length takes a back seat here: club selection and course management matter more, and the layout offers a welcome contrast to the more open Lakeland and Parkland loops.
The holes wind through mature woodland where the trees close in quickly, so there's little margin for error off the tee. You'll need to plot your way around rather than overpower it, and that makes for a different kind of test compared to the championship pairing. The greens are well protected and require the same careful approach as the rest of the complex, but the real challenge is keeping the ball in play from tee to green.
It's a loop that rewards patience and accuracy, and it's worth playing if you have the time. The variety it adds to the overall 27-hole offering is significant, and it gives you a completely different look compared to the more expansive Lakeland and Parkland nines. If you're staying for a few nights and want to mix things up, the Woodlands is a smart addition to your itinerary.
| Par | 33 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Martin Hawtree |
| Opened for play | 1991 |
| White | 2,601 yards |
|---|---|
| Yellow | 2,512 yards |
| Red | 2,244 yards |
The resort's hotel sits right next to the clubhouse, giving you immediate access to the first tee, the bar and the restaurant without needing to get back in the car. There are 16 en-suite guest bedrooms, each decorated in a simple, contemporary style with all the modern amenities you'd expect: comfortable beds, good Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities, and enough space to unpack properly. It's straightforward, well-maintained accommodation that does exactly what it needs to do for a golf break.
For larger groups, families or anyone who wants a bit more space and luxury, the resort also offers a collection of Scandinavian-style log homes. Built from genuine Nordic timber, each lodge comes with a private veranda, a built-in sauna, and interiors that feel warm, spacious and genuinely upmarket. These are the resort's top-end lodges, finished to a five-star standard, and they live up to it: open-plan living areas, fully equipped kitchens, modern bathrooms, and enough room to spread out after a long day on the course. The lodges are positioned within the resort village, surrounded by woodland and wildlife, and they're ideal if you're planning a longer stay or travelling with a group that wants to cook, relax and enjoy the surroundings properly.
There's also Oakland Cottage, a four-bedroom house that's been rebuilt and renovated to the same specification as the log homes. It includes a built-in sauna, a fully equipped kitchen, an open-plan kitchen and dining room, and a beautifully furnished lounge with DVD player, video and Freeview channels. The cottage has its own private garden, making it a great option for groups or families who want a bit more independence and outdoor space during their stay.
Dining at The Dorset centres around the Fairways Restaurant, which is run by Head Chef Iain Webber, a classically trained chef with double-rosette experience. The menu changes daily and is built around fresh, local Dorset produce, including locally sourced game and local seafood. It's a proper three-course affair, and the quality is a step above what you'd normally expect at a golf resort. Before dinner, you can have aperitifs in the clubhouse bar, which stocks an extensive range of beers, ciders, ales, wines and spirits, plus a carefully curated international wine list. It's a comfortable, sociable space that works just as well for a quiet pint after your round as it does for a group celebration.
Beyond the golf, the resort sits within a beautiful estate that's home to an impressive variety of wildlife. The network of trails and walks takes you through oak, cedar, beech, fir and eucalyptus trees, and you're likely to spot herons, kingfishers, woodpeckers, foxes, hares and more if you take the time to explore. It's a peaceful, scenic setting that adds real value to the overall experience, especially if you're staying for a few nights and want to do something other than golf.
Martin
✓2 Sep 2019
The food was brilliant, good selection. We stayed in a lodge, which was very nice to have your own space. Only down side is that golf buggies can not be taken to lodges. Meaning you have to either walk your clubs to clubhouse or use car each day to transport clubs. Some sort of club store would be good.
Wayne
✓5 Aug 2019
We stayed in the bungalow lodge away from the hotel which was amazing - lots of room and everything you could need.
Doug
✓9 Jul 2019
The staff at the hotel very over officious. I found them to be at times rude, but this was only the staff in the clubhouse, the guys in the pro shop and the starter extremely helpful. The room was extremely hot and stuffy although they did provide a fan it was insufficient. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere so venturing out for evening drinks or entertainment was off the cards due to the cost and duration of travel.
James
✓28 Jun 2019
Warm welcome, clean, tidy, efficient.
Russell
✓18 Jun 2019
The self catering wood lodges were ideal for a large group as they had plenty of communal space for everyone to get together after the days golf. They were well equipped, in really good condition and the beds were comfortable. The meals served in the restaurant were excellent, not fine dining but good quality and substantial, just what's needed after a day out on the course, we certainly didn't go hungry!
Jamie
✓11 Jun 2019
The lodges are great, they cater for all, very roomy, great value, if i was being honest, there looking a bit dated furniture wise
Trevor
✓19 May 2019
8 ladies stayed in 2 lodges.Fabulous ,clean and roomy. Slight issue with pathway going out of bungalow lodge.Due to slabs being the same colour 1 lady didn`t see the step and fell down injuring shoulder and missing out on 2nd days golf.Incident reported.
Nigel
✓24 Oct 2018
The accommodation was very good although, we both thought the mattresses were far too soft(worn). The shower was good but very noisy.(water pump).
Martin
✓2 Sep 2019
The rounds where good. Signage needs up dating and routes for buggies need to be better. Overall good courses, but Woodland is just like they had some extra land and put in a few holes.
Wayne
✓5 Aug 2019
3 nine hole loops 1-18 are the championship course which was decent and a good course for all standards 19-27 was a tighter but shorter 9 - but all in good condition and an enjoyable course
Doug
✓9 Jul 2019
The course on the hallway is in pretty good condition, greens were pretty good. The difference between the rough and the fairways was sometimes not obvious. The putting green was perfectly adequate didn’t use the driving range but looked pretty basic. One area of the course that needs further development would be the bunkers, a number of occasion there was hardly any sand and unfortunately potentially damaged one of my clubs by hitting a stone. On our second round my group unfortunately was stuck behind some very slow golfers so 18 holes for eight of us took us nearly 5 hours which I thought was unacceptable. Satisfied I went, however, I don’t think I need to return.
James
✓28 Jun 2019
Disciplined from the tee then good scoring was insured, fantastic respective greens, large & undulating but most important than ran really well and true.
Russell
✓18 Jun 2019
The fact that the course was made up of 3 separate 9 hole courses was ideal for a 2 night 3 round stay as it gave plenty of variation. Our group was made up of mid to high handicaps and all agreed it provided enough of a challenge for the lower handicaps but not too much for the high handicaps to cope with. Lots of bunkers though, which we all found our way into at some point and some were hard to get out of, but then I guess that's the point! The only reason for 4 starts on the overall condition is that the condition of some of the greens and fairways on the Woodland course were not quite as good as the other 2 courses. some of the fairways were a bit bare and the outer area on some of the greens was a bit patchy. In general though it didn't affect the run of the ball so definitely not a round spoiler. The Lakeland and Parkland courses however, were in excellent condition and really played well, quite surprising considering the amount of rain there was in the couple of weeks before we played, we were expecting a waterlogged course but it just wasn't. Overall the whole group very much enjoyed the golf.
Jamie
✓11 Jun 2019
I would say , the green this year were great, they have been slower in past years, a massive pat on the back to the green keepers this year, there were true with a nice members slope rating
Trevor
✓19 May 2019
Loved the challenge.Even par 3`s weren`t easy.If the oaks didn`t get you then the bunkers were the greens back up. Will be back.
Nigel
✓24 Oct 2018
We both enjoyed our golf,but we were behind a lot of 4 balls which slowed the pace of our rounds considerably. This is not a complaint just an observation. The courses were in very good condition.
Bob
✓2 Oct 2018
Excellent facilities and fairways/greens in very good condition. Very nice clubhouse with reasonably priced drinks
Check-in from 2pm | Check-out from 10am
8-10am
Smart Casual
Fairways Restaurant
Yes
Yes
No caddies available
None
There is 1 bar on site
There is complimentary car parking
