Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Havant

Golf in South-East Hampshire

Havant sits in one of the more rewarding areas for golf in southern England, largely because of its geology and geography. To the south, the coastal strip and Hayling Island provide genuine links conditions: sandy free-draining soil, marram-covered dunes, firm fairways and constant sea breeze. To the north, the chalk downland of the South Downs produces springy turf, elevated views and natural undulation. Between them lie parkland courses on heavier soils with mature tree cover.

This variety means a golfer based in the borough can play three genuinely different styles of course within a short drive, which is unusual outside a handful of regions. The mild coastal climate and free-draining soils also mean year-round play with far fewer course closures than inland clubs on clay typically endure.

Links, Downland and Parkland Explained

Links golf, found on the coastal sand belt, demands a low ball flight, creative running approaches and acceptance that wind will dictate club selection more than yardage. Fairways are firm, rough is wiry, and bunkers are often deep and revetted.

Downland courses sit on chalk, offering excellent drainage, tight lies and significant elevation change. Approach shots frequently play uphill or downhill, and exposure to wind on ridge holes can be severe. Parkland courses, by contrast, are softer underfoot, tree-lined and more sheltered, rewarding accuracy and higher ball flight.

The Top 10 Best Golf Courses in Havant and the Surrounding Area

1. Hayling Golf Club

Hayling Golf Club is the outstanding course in the area and one of the finest true links in southern England. Laid out over sand dunes with expansive views across the Solent and Chichester Harbour, it offers firm running fairways, natural humps and hollows, and a routing that exposes players to wind from every direction. It is a genuine test that rewards imagination and ball control rather than raw distance, and it enjoys a national reputation among links enthusiasts.

2. Rowlands Castle Golf Club

Just north of Havant, Rowlands Castle is a well-regarded parkland and heathland course set in mature woodland. Its tree-lined fairways demand accuracy from the tee, and the greens are consistently praised for their quality and pace. The club has a strong competitive tradition and a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

3. Portsmouth Golf Centre at Crookhorn

Located on the western edge of the borough, this downland course offers elevated positions with wide views across Portsdown Hill towards the harbour and Isle of Wight. Its exposed setting means wind is a constant factor, and its accessibility and pay-and-play structure make it a popular option for casual and improving golfers.

4. Southwick Park Golf Club

Set within parkland to the west of the borough, Southwick Park combines mature trees, gentle undulation and well-protected greens. The course rewards steady, positional play rather than aggression, and its setting within historic parkland gives rounds a tranquil quality.

5. Cams Hall Estate Golf Club

A short drive along the coast, Cams Hall offers a combination of estate parkland and links-influenced holes bordering the water. The waterside holes are the highlight, exposed to wind and requiring committed shot-making, while the parkland sections provide contrast and shelter.

6. Goodwood Golf Club

East of Havant on the downland above Chichester, Goodwood provides classic downland golf with spectacular elevated views towards the coast. Springy chalk turf, natural contours and significant elevation change make for a memorable round, and the estate setting adds considerable atmosphere.

7. Chichester Golf Club

A short journey east, Chichester Golf Club offers multiple courses catering to different abilities, with water features prominent throughout. Its flatter layout and generous fairways make it welcoming for higher handicap players while still presenting challenge through strategic water hazards.

8. Waterlooville Golf Club

Immediately north of Havant, Waterlooville is a mature parkland course with established tree cover and well-bunkered greens. Its established membership base and traditional clubhouse culture give it a strong club identity, and the course presents a fair but demanding test.

9. Great Salterns Golf Course

Situated on the Portsmouth side of Langstone Harbour, Great Salterns is an accessible municipal-style course with waterside holes and open, wind-affected terrain. Its affordability and relaxed approach make it an excellent option for beginners and for casual rounds.

10. Havant Golf Practice and Driving Range

Not a course but an essential part of the local golf ecosystem, this practice facility provides floodlit driving bays, short game areas, putting greens and coaching. Year-round floodlit practice matters considerably in a sport where winter skills decline without regular work, and the coaching provision supports player development across all levels.

Playing Conditions Through the Year

The area's free-draining soils are its greatest asset. Links and downland courses remain playable through wet spells that would close inland clay courses entirely, and winter golf here is a realistic proposition rather than an endurance exercise. Summer brings firm, fast conditions on the links, where the ball runs considerable distances and approach play becomes an exercise in judgement.

Wind is the constant variable. On exposed coastal courses it can change club selection by several clubs between morning and afternoon, and learning to flight the ball lower is genuinely necessary rather than optional.

Trends in Local Golf

Participation has broadened considerably, with clubs relaxing dress codes, introducing flexible membership categories and offering shorter formats to accommodate people who cannot commit a full day. Junior and women's sections have grown, supported by targeted coaching programmes.

Technology has also arrived, with launch monitors, simulators and video analysis now standard in coaching. Sustainability is increasingly prominent, with courses reducing irrigation, managing rough as wildlife habitat and cutting chemical inputs, work that suits links and downland environments particularly well.

Final Thoughts

For a relatively compact area, the golf around Havant is genuinely exceptional. Hayling Golf Club alone justifies a trip for any links enthusiast, while Rowlands Castle, Goodwood and the surrounding parkland and downland courses provide variety that few regions match. Combine that with free-draining soil, a mild climate and year-round playability, and the borough makes a strong case as one of the better places in the country to be a golfer.