Needles/Stroller at Barton-On-Sea Golf Club

Barton-On-Sea Golf Club sits on clifftop land overlooking Christchurch Bay on England's south coast, between Bournemouth and the New Forest. The club operates two courses: the Needles, designed by Harry S. Colt and opened in 1932, and the Stroller, a shorter layout designed by J. Hamilton Stutt. The Needles takes its name from the famous chalk stacks visible across the water on the Isle of Wight. Colt routed the course across gently rolling heathland terrain characteristic of this Hampshire coastline, with heather, gorse, and mature pines framing the holes.

The Needles course measures around 6,200 yards and features Colt's trademark strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward thoughtful approach play. Several holes run along or near the cliff edge, offering views across the Solent toward the Isle of Wight, though the routing moves inland through wooded sections as well. The clifftop setting provides both scenic appeal and exposure to coastal winds that can significantly affect play.

The Stroller course, added later by Stutt, provides a shorter alternative at approximately 5,000 yards. It serves as both a members' course for casual rounds and an accessible option for visitors. The club maintains a traditional members' club atmosphere typical of English seaside golf, with a focus on the game itself rather than elaborate amenities. Both courses share the clifftop property, offering different experiences of the same distinctive coastal landscape.