Becton/Needles at Barton-On-Sea Golf Club

Barton-On-Sea Golf Club operates two courses on the cliffs above Christchurch Bay in New Milton, Hampshire. The Becton and Needles courses were designed by Harry S. Colt and J. Hamilton Stutt, with the club established in 1897. The clifftop setting provides views across the Solent toward the Isle of Wight, and the courses occupy heathland terrain characteristic of this stretch of the Hampshire coast between Bournemouth and the New Forest.

The Becton course is the longer of the two layouts, while the Needles course offers a shorter complement. Both courses reflect Colt's design principles from the early twentieth century, incorporating natural contours and heathland vegetation into strategic layouts. The proximity to the coast means wind is a regular factor in play, though the courses sit on elevated ground rather than true links terrain. The sandy subsoil provides good drainage typical of heathland golf.

The club has served as a traditional members' facility for over a century, drawing from the local Hampshire community and visitors to the south coast. The clifftop location remains the defining characteristic of the property, with several holes playing along or near the cliff edge. The combination of two courses allows the club to accommodate varied levels of play and provides options for members and visitors seeking different lengths and challenges within the same heathland setting.