Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club

Great course great views challenging. Great clubhouse and staff. Probably one of the best courses i have played in uk

Lovely course, great greens and fairways. Very windy today which made it a great challenge but still loved it. Stunning views on the cliff tops certainly worth a visit.

Very enjoyable day. Like everywhere else at the moment very dry and burnt in places. Very good layout great views up and down the coast. Clubhouse lovely, bar staff very courteous. Would recommend to anyone coming to the area you won't be disappointed!

We played in 20 mph winds all day, which made this a real challenge, greens are in great shape. Fairways are hard and fast, rough is high.

A fun day out on an interesting course with fantastic views in all directions.

Quirky layout, very busy and too much waiting on every shot.

Staff were great and restaurant/bar was very good, although a little pricey.

Lots of unsighted shots and some odd green to tee transitions. Somewhat unsafe layout in terms of proximity of tee boxes to greens.

Amazing views and some memorable holes, but won’t be rushing back.

I emailed the club on Friday 11 July 2025 with some concerns.

They have completely ignored me.

I do think this is a great golf course, but sometimes I think you need to take rain check from all the 5 star reviews!

I'm not trying to be prescriptive here, and I appreciate there are different views. But this is my experience.

This is the email I sent:

Hi there

My wife and I recently played on your course on Monday 7th and Wednesday 9th July 2025, both teetimes at 07.18.

We are experienced golfers.

First, your course is tremendous, with challenging holes, spectacular scenery, and generally well maintained.

Most of your greenkeeping and catering staff are really friendly and helpful.

The rounds.

Monday 7th was good, round in about 4 hours, though I did spend some time raking other footprints in a couple of bunkers, as well as my own.

Wednesday 9th was a nightmare.

My wife and I happily teed off at approx 07.18, looking forward to a good round. We finished the 18 holes at 10.35 - i.e. a 3hr 17mins round, so an extremely good pace - bearing in mind we are both in our 70s.

But we were hounded from behind all the way by (as we later found out) members.

We were playing at a very good pace, but this has happened to us at your course a few times.

Once you let one group through, another follows at lightning speed - especially those zooming along on buggies - followed by another and you are left waiting for no good reason with your game totally disrupted, whilst group after group pass through.

The most annoying factor was that we were held up ourselves on at least three occasions whilst a greenkeeper removed the flag and mowed the greens - without a by or leave. He knew we were there but just cut in.

The 7th hole was a particularly long wait - about 6 or 7 minutes. No attempt from the staff member to make eye contact, communicate or even smile.

I did try to explain how we felt to your staff member in the clubhouse after the round. But basically all I got back was that the "speed etiquette" is you let people through if they are faster than you.

I felt this was really dismissive - in fact quite intimidating - but also ignored several key issues.

1. There are many more elements to golf etiquette than speed.

2. Every bunker we went in (6 or 7 between us from memory) was full of footprints and had not been raked properly.

3. There were quite a few unrepaired divots on the fairways.

4. On several greens, I repaired quite a few pitchmarks other than my own.

So all this must have been from the groups ahead of us who were speeding off into the distance.

5. I did have a little time to observe the pair behind us. I cannot honestly say I saw them fall foul of 2,3, and 4 above. But what they did was, e.g., while one was still putting out, the other was halfway to the next tee! What kind of golf is that?

6. One instance that really annoyed me was, whilst in the process of playing my second shot near the wall on the 12th, at the top of my backswing I heard the crunch of the tee shot from one of the guys behind, and the thud of the ball landing not that far behind me.

7. Far be it for me to tell people how to play. But, forgive me, I do like the occasional luxury of a practice swing, lining up a shot - and even marking my ball on the green before putting. We felt we almost did not have time to even take a sip of water!

My suggestion - please tell your members to respect visitors to the course, and hold back just a touch - especially on days when the temperatures are rocketing up to mid 20s celsius!

And if they are desperate to play through, how about a bit of polite communication.

It's not a race or a forced march, it's supposed to be a leisure sport.

Your staff member seemed quite proud when he told me that some of the experienced members knew the course backwards, knew exactly where to hit the shots etc, and could forge round in 3 hours.

I believe there are training issues here.

May I suggest, with respect, that those 3 hours would turn into more like 3 and a half if other areas of golf etiquette were adhered to.

There is too slow, and there is too fast. There is respecting the course and others on it, or not.

We visit Dorset a lot and play golf a lot, but would have second thoughts now on another round at your course.

I look forward to your comments.

Many thanks

Kim Callaghan

Last time I played Bridport the weather was dull and wet and the rough was penal. Monday was bright, sunny but with a daunting sw wind that took 30 yards off any shot into it. This explains my double visit to the pond and the cricket score as a result. But a good day out on a wonderful course. But watch out for the wind.

A beautiful links track with stunning scenery and outstanding green and general facilities. Would wholeheartedly recommend

Fantastic views, course, amenities. Cannot find any fault

Greens and bunkers to die for.

Groundsmen do a wonderful job

Highly recommend

Great course and in superb condition, still on temp tees but great all the same.

Great course and very dry with interesting holes and a cracking par 3 6th

Course in incredable condition considering all the rain we have had. Greens are pristine , shower than normal but true and diesel free

When everywhere else is waterlogged and playing on a handful of temporaries or totally closed, this is the place to come.

Conditions were extremely good. Very clean, good grass cover and on full greens.

Nothing could ease the cold though, nor the biting wind and we decided to call it a day after 12 holes.

Played this course now in all weathers and it's always a good place to be.

Here's to returning in the Spring.