March 2024 by Amelia Brewer
Had an amazing stay at the Bell Inn. All staff were extremely accommodating. Was my partners birthday was all one big surprise. Got a free upgrade which was such a lovely gesture. Food was a 10/10 we were so amazed by the quality. I also booked us both a massage. First time experiencing a massage and we both came out wanting to do it more in the future. I couldn?t fault anything until the following day. I booked surprise golf for my partner and his friends who travelled far to surprise him. Sadly the course they were booked for was closed due to the conditions and the gentlemen working that day accommodated them playing on a members only course due to the distance we all travelled. However the grief they received from members was honestly discusting and degrading. To the point the gentlemen who kindly put them on this course came up to them and assumed they weren?t following rules and attacked them for doing things they weren?t doing. It?s real shame because the respect I had for him rapidly disappeared. I spent a decent amount of money to stay at the bell inn plus the dinner to then be quickly disregarded as they weren?t a member. The morning staff in the hotel were less than half accommodating then the evening staff and I wish I could remember there names to recommend them. It really did dampen the whole stay with the whole disrespect my partner and his friends recieved on the course and the lack of help from the reception staff. I will say they won?t be returning. I would have put a 5* review if it wasn?t for the pure disrespect on the golf course and apologise. Came for a birthday celebration and was ruined by members and the gentleman working on the day. Not to mention the lack of sorry for the close of the course that day. Those that are not members should not be told ? how much did you pay to have the privilege to play today? when they also let them go ahead. I hope those is in future don?t have to experience this after spending well earned money.
October 2023 by Michael Chapman
2 great courses very different one parkland one links
October 2023 by Dave Smith
Disappointed with the fairways all though in good condition for forest course, they could at least farrow the animal droppings the fairways were covered.
September 2023 by Mark Snape
Massively gone downhill over the last couple of years. Played today and such a pity to see - the worst greens I have ever played on for a "proper" golf club. It is a fun layout with some interesting holes but until they invest in the course I would avoid.
August 2023 by Martin Rose
A good round of golf! A semi challenging one for a beginner like myself. The course was very playable, especially seeing that there had been a shed load of rain a couple of days prior.The greens weren't the best, but this is totally understandable again due to the conditions in the days before.Staff were welcoming and friendly.Would definitely come back for another round, and hopefully a lower score!!
June 2023 by Samuel K
If you?re playing the forest course be prepared to check in and then get back in your car to drive 600m to the first tee off.It was difficult to work out where to go on some holes, even when referring to the map on the score card, so some more signage would be useful.Be prepared for fences around the greens (to stop animals accessing) and damage on the fairway by hooves. Greens and fairways often had horses in the way. That?s all to be expected in the new forest, but it did make play less smooth.Also there is public access throughout the course, so expect to drive over picnics in the summer.That being said, there were some interesting holes to play and the greens were in a reasonable condition.I would expect more for the price.
June 2023 by Richard Taylor
A really lovely golf club. The Manor course is challenging but very rewarding, and the scenery is delightful. Food was very good. The Forest course sounds really interesting, too. A very friendly club.
June 2023 by Reece T
Course was OK, could do with some maintenance!staff were a bit condescend with their Manor!Treated as lesser players for not being members as we were out of town visiting and wouldn't be a member as over priced for what you get!Won't be returning!
June 2023 by james elliott
An extortionate price for a very un rememorable and poorly looked after course. Ball cleaner on the first tee had no water whatsoever, none did the tee box have any grass on it (same with most of the tee boxes). Considering we had literally has one day of sun this year so far, the course was completely dying and lifeless. Greens were not receptive to spin and putts did not roll true. Had this had been a £30 a round course I would have said it was mediocre, but at £55 twilight rate I felt hard done by, luckily we didn't play in the morning at £90+!
June 2023 by Gintautas Verikas
For twilight rate of 55 pounds ( trough golf now ) it wasnt great. Ball washer on the first had no water, tee boxes have no grass on them, fairways burned out, so were the greens. Greens rolled ok, but were looking horrible. For 30 pounds it would be passable, but if you pay 95 pounds for morning round its very disappointing.
May 2023 by Keith Dumper
Great course, manor.Very friendly staff ,food excellent.Made to feel welcome from members.
May 2023 by Sam Clarke
I don?t think I can agree with the previous reviews?. For £75 a head min it is not worth it.The rough is too long and we had lost balls just off the fairway. Just slows play down massively ? Even lost a ball in the fairway from a tee shot down 16 and 17!! Members even watched and didn?t help. The course is so much wetter than my home course and others in areaNot friendly at all.Members were served their food and we were forgotten about. No apology ? we got back to clubhouse after round and mentioned it to another bar man? he offered us a drink foc .., which isn?t foc as we had paid for food we didn?t get. But at least he was polite and tried.I wouldn?t come back.
May 2023 by Sadie Pemberton
The Bell Pub/hotel. The best in the New Forest. Lovely coffee pit stop for me from Pompey to Poole. I'm going to book up for Father's Day
February 2023 by Mark Howson
I had played at Bramshaw a few years ago and played the Manor course which I recall being lovely so thought why not return to try my hand at the forest course.I hadn't realised how much of a contrast two courses within 1/2 a mile of one another could differ and in a good way. We were met at the first tee box by the helpful starter who gave us the usual tips and directions and his parting words, "enjoy, its just you and nature". How right he was, what an amazing experience. Its fair to say that the condition of the greens was average and parts of the fairway carved up by cattle but I couldn't care less. Its one of the most memorable courses I've ever played. We started off down the long par four with a heard of cows grazing in the middle of the fairway only to be met by sun bathing horses on the green at two. The course is a joy with huge fairways and lovely little streams running in front of the greens in part. It really felt so peaceful that condition of the course became irrelevant. It is unusual, rustic and fantastic all rolled into one. Anyone heading into the new forest with a set of clubs in their boot should have this course on their hit list.
November 2022 by Tom
I think I can some this review up as a bit of a shambles.I booked the 'winter offer' for me and two other pals, this entitled us to a breakfast bap, coffee, a round on the forest course and then lunch. A pretty decent offer.When we arrived we were told that breakfast wasn't being served and that no food was available until 8.30am (we were teeing off at 7.40am). They did say that they will give us a pudding or something with our lunch to compensate for this, however, none of us had eaten so this wasn't great.We asked where the forest course was and the guy at the desk said we could walk out of the car park and up the road. Luckily, we checked with a member in the car park who informed us that we were better off driving, and it was a good thing we did as it was a good 15 minute walk away.Course was OK, it's November so difficult to judge. Greens were particularly bad with patches everywhere. Not worth playing without an offer IMO.We finished at 11.30am and when we went to the bar to get some food, the weren't serving food (breakfast ended at 11am and lunch was at 12). They told us that coffee wasn't included and charged us for this (I got this refunded later when I should them the offer).The clubhouse and proshop were decent and the location is in the heart of the new forest.Overall, I'm really disappointed with an offer that seemed good on paper at a club that's a higher membership premium.I'd recommend New Forest Golf course as a better alternative.
