The Purbeck at Isle of Purbeck Golf Club

The Isle of Purbeck Golf Club sits on the Dorset coast near Swanage, occupying elevated ground with views across the English Channel. Harry S. Colt designed the course in the 1890s during his early career, before he became one of Britain's most influential golf architects. The layout reflects Colt's emerging design philosophy, working with natural terrain rather than imposing artificial features on the land.

The course runs across rolling downland characteristic of this stretch of the Jurassic Coast, with the routing taking advantage of the natural contours and coastal exposure. The terrain provides both elevation changes and strategic interest, with holes playing across slopes and through corridors defined by the landscape rather than heavy tree planting. Wind from the Channel influences play throughout the round, particularly on the more exposed holes.

At just over 6,000 yards from the back tees, the course places emphasis on accuracy and course management rather than length. The green sites show Colt's attention to natural placement and strategic bunkering, rewarding well-positioned approach shots. The setting within the Purbeck peninsula, an area known for its distinctive geology and coastal scenery, gives the course a sense of place distinct from inland layouts.

The club maintains a traditional members' operation, serving the local golfing community and visitors to this section of the Dorset coast. The course offers a straightforward test of golf in a coastal downland environment, representative of Colt's early work in southern England.