
Becton/Needles Course
Barton-On-Sea Golf Club


About this course
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.
Quick facts
- Location
- New Milton, Hampshire, England
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1897
- Designer(s)
- Harry S. Colt, J. Hamilton Stutt
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,443 yards
- Difficulty
- 71.6/120
Getting there
The journey to Barton-On-Sea Golf Club begins most commonly at either Southampton Airport, roughly forty minutes west, or London's Heathrow for international arrivals, followed by a two-hour drive southwest through the New Forest toward the Hampshire coast. The route transitions from motorway to quieter country lanes as you approach New Milton, the landscape gradually opening to reveal glimpses of the Solent and the Isle of Wight beyond. The final approach along Marine Drive delivers you to the clifftop setting of Barton-On-Sea Golf Club, where the English Channel stretches wide and the white chalk Needles stand sentinel in the distance - a dramatic coastal arrival befitting one of southern England's most scenically positioned clubs.

FAQ
Common questions about Becton/Needles at Barton-On-Sea Golf Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Becton/Needles was designed by Harry S. Colt and J. Hamilton Stutt.
Yes. Becton/Needles at Barton-On-Sea Golf Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Becton/Needles is 72.
Becton/Needles plays 6,443 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Becton/Needles is 120.
Becton/Needles is a 18-hole course.


