
Lakeland/Parkland Course
Dorset Golf Resort
About this course
The Lakeland and Parkland courses at Dorset Golf Resort form a 36-hole facility designed by Martin Hawtree, situated in the heathland and woodland landscape near Poole in southern England. Hawtree, a member of Britain's most prominent golf architecture family, created these courses to take advantage of the natural Dorset terrain, which blends sandy soils typical of heathland golf with mature tree cover and water features. The courses opened in the 1990s as part of a larger resort development that includes hotel and leisure facilities. The Lakeland course, as its name suggests, incorporates water hazards more prominently into the design, with several holes playing alongside or across lakes and ponds. The routing moves through varied terrain, with elevation changes and wooded corridors framing many holes. The Parkland course offers a different character, with tree-lined fairways and a more traditional inland feel, though both layouts share the underlying sandy soil that provides good drainage and firm playing conditions typical of southern England's better courses. The facility serves both resort guests and members, offering accessible golf in a region better known for its heathland classics at courses like Parkstone and Broadstone. The Hawtree design provides strategic interest without excessive length, making the courses playable for a range of abilities while maintaining enough challenge for accomplished players. The setting, close to Poole Harbour and the Jurassic Coast, places the resort within one of Dorset's more scenic areas.
Quick facts
- Location
- Near Poole, Dorset, England
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1978
- Designer
- Martin Hawtree
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,027 yards
- Difficulty
- 74/136
Getting there
The journey to Dorset Golf Resort typically begins at Bournemouth Airport, a compact regional gateway less than twenty minutes north by car, though many international visitors route through London Heathrow or Southampton before the scenic two-hour drive southwest into Dorset's gentle countryside. The final approach follows quiet lanes that wind through the heathland and pine forests characteristic of this corner of southern England, the landscape gradually opening to reveal glimpses of Poole Harbour's shimmering waters in the near distance. As you turn into the resort grounds, the transition is immediate - from the unhurried rhythm of rural Dorset to the manicured serenity of a property where lakes, woodland, and fairways converge in understated harmony.

FAQ
Common questions about Lakeland/Parkland at Dorset Golf Resort
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Lakeland/Parkland was designed by Martin Hawtree.
Yes. Lakeland/Parkland at Dorset Golf Resort is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Lakeland/Parkland is 72.
Lakeland/Parkland plays 7,027 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Lakeland/Parkland is 136.
Lakeland/Parkland is a 18-hole course.


