If any opening hole describes a course, this is it. You cannot push the ball from the first, a driver is probably not the club, and too far left makes the second much more difficult.

The second is a good par three made much more difficult by the sheltered tee shot then its on to the third tee, set into the banks of the little lake that makes the first vista you will remember from the course. Position is everything on this par five, for both the tee shot and for placing the lay-up. Few can go for the green and five is a good score. If you are looking for your first real birdie chance, the 4th is it.

Under 300 yards, have a go for the green with a fade. Anything pushed or pulled, or long will find trouble and the perfect shot will find the front half of the green or its surrounds, where it’s more easy to make a birdie.

You have to be brave with your approach to the 5th and the bold line at the 6th will give you another chance at red numbers, playing up to the hillside setting of the green. Whilst there is a blind approach on the third, for nearly all the course, the course view values (how natural and positive the design is) are perfect, something more modern course golfers will soon appreciate. Playing uphill to the 7th, everything is there to make you know what sort of shot and how good it needs to be to walk away with a par.

You can now take in the vista of the bay to your left, across the back nine, before playing a precision tee shot from the par 4 8th tee. It’s only a short iron in but like what has gone before and what is to come, you can see the target and you must hit the shot.

The 9th is the third of five tough par fives, each presenting a different challenge. It’s the best of these five, especially in design ethics. To get home in two, you must be long at up the right. Anything pulled and the lay-up must go towards the right and the OOB which lines this hole. With the lie of the fairway gently taking you into the green, it’s a long iron or wood which must be drawn. This green has just been re-laid, its set across the direct route to the pin …. and the OOB hedge is just a few paces away … an absolute classic.

10 is a medium length par four then comes another par 5 with the drive to the start of a hill. Everything slopes to the right (and OOB) and laying up needs local knowledge (very few can go for the green). The 12th looks a simple short par four with a really inviting drive back down the hill however, the trees right and left can block out anything not played perfectly and you are left with a pitch – or longer shot – to a tiny tiny green.

You still don’t turn for home, not until you’ve played back up the hill for the 13th, a blind approach and then played the absolute classic which is the 14th. This is a very slightly uphill par three with the green set into the bowl of this beautiful place. This is the farthest from the clubhouse, flats and houses looking down on a perfect golf hole. Pins on the left have a gathering bunker and putting back down the hill to protect par, going to the back of the green is always more difficult but when the pin is back right, the tee shot has to be played to a hidden extension to the green over two pot bunkers.

For the 15th, you can either cut your drive into the slope or gamble on a long draw. Any approach with a mid iron or longer is going to be very tough so making distance is a must. There are now two par threes left and 16 is probably the easiest on the course, a short iron down to a large green.

Ignore the course guide for the driving line at 17 unless you are going to use an iron. This is a gambling hole and you can go much further right than you think with a draw if you want to try to get home in two. Should you make that decision, you now need a fade to what is a very narrow approach to a green with no bunkers.

There are two bunkers guarding the 18th, a long par three to back under the clubhouse. The left hand one is an obvious one, making you play short and right if you have any sort of score to protect. Leak this shot and you’ll find more sand. A great finish.

If you are a course condition ‘expert’, these are heathland fairways so go take some lessons if you can only hit off shag pile carpet. The tees and greens can be excellent for much of the year but there is no over watering and application of chemicals. The bunker sand is excellent and there is no sign of any tinkering by a graduate of computer designed course architecture.

This is a beautiful ‘proper’ golf course. It’s a must for any visit.

For our review of the town and our accommodation suggestions, go to the Golf Tour review for Bournemouth