Local Rules
Stone-filled ditches
Stone-filled ditches not designated as hazards allow free relief.
Preferred lies
Preferred lies apply at all times within the fairway boundary of the hole being played.
Stones in bunkers
Stones in bunkers may be removed without penalty.
Course access and public rights
Players must respect the rights of the general public to walk across the course.
Water hazards
Water hazards are marked with yellow stakes and lateral water hazards with red stakes.
Immovable obstructions
Fairway lines, fences, paths and sprinkler heads are treated as immovable obstructions from which relief may be taken.
Out of bounds
Out of bounds are marked by white stakes: left of the 3rd, right of the 10th and 12th, and anywhere inside the clubhouse boundaries.
Course Intelligence
Course Character
The course rewards steady positioning and awareness of boundaries, paths and wildlife; the setting is open and natural, but the published rules create several important relief and direction decisions. New Forest Golf Club is a heathland course on the edge of Lyndhurst within the New Forest National Park, where natural parkland, open heath and roaming ponies and cattle shape the playing experience. Heathland golf among New Forest wildlife
Major Risks
Wildlife and public access Ponies, cattle, donkeys and walkers can share the course, so maintain distance and wait when necessary. Hole-specific boundaries White-stake boundaries on the 3rd, 10th and 12th make direction control more important than a marginal extra distance.
Blue Tee Strategy
Confirm the active blue tees and current course status before play. Keep the published out-of-bounds sides outside the normal miss on holes 3, 10 and 12. Allow time for walkers and livestock and never approach animals closely. Use the preferred-lie and obstruction rules only when their conditions are met. Position carefully in natural heathland
Golfer Reviews / Consensus
Current conditions were not verified Official club material presents a natural heathland course where wildlife, public access and clear local rules are part of the playing experience. HIGH New Forest National Park setting Natural wildlife and heathland character Accessible members-owned club
Course Conditions
NOT_VERIFIED Current conditions not verified Check the official course status before play. Confirm any temporary notices and tee arrangements at check-in. Wet ground, weather and temporary restrictions may change the setup and effective distances. The official site reports course status separately, but no retained conditions report was found during this research.
30-second Pre-round Brief
New Forest Golf Club in 30 seconds Ponies, cattle, donkeys and walkers may share the course; keep distance and allow them priority. Expect a living course The 3rd, 10th and 12th have published white-stake out-of-bounds sides. Protect the boundaries Preferred lies and specific relief for animal damage, obstructions and stone-filled ditches are published on the scorecard page. Know the relief A natural New Forest heathland round where wildlife, public access and boundary-aware positioning matter as much as shot-making.
Regulations
Animal damage
Relief may be taken for a ball lying in or affected by animal damage, excluding water hazards.