New Forest Golf Club

A proper 18-hole course tucked into the woodland just outside Ashurst, New Forest Golf Club is the sort of place where you'll spend a morning among the trees rather than gazing at manicured fairways. The layout winds through natural forest landscape - no pretentious clubhouse grandeur here, just straightforward golf in genuinely pleasant surroundings.

It's best suited to golfers with at least intermediate ability. The course demands accuracy rather than length, which sounds genteel until you find yourself in the rough trying to locate your ball among the bracken. Handicap golfers will enjoy it more than beginners; complete novices might find themselves frustrated after the first few holes.

You'll need to check their website for green fees and membership details - they're not the sort of place to throw open the gates to casual walkers. Expect to spend a decent four hours over the course. The best time to visit is May through September when the forest is in full growth, though autumn brings a particular beauty to the tree-lined holes.

If you're camping in the New Forest itself - and there are seven decent campsites within walking distance, including Long Meadow and Ocknell - the club makes a sensible day out alongside exploring the National Park proper. You could easily combine a round here with a morning's forest wandering, then head back for an evening pint in Ashurst. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a New Forest break it slots in nicely if golf matters to your group.