Bowood is an 18 Hole parkland Golf Course designed by the late architect Dave Thomas
Official PGA Golf Course In Wiltshire
Bowood also has a 3-hole Academy Course, a Driving Range, putting green, golf shop, dining, spa, and lodging. Visitors are welcome; rates vary by season and are posted on the club’s web site.
Course Overview
Set amidst a beautifully landscaped English country estate, Bowood is renowned as one of the finest golf courses in Wiltshire and is the PGA Official Golf Course for the South West.
Designed by the renowned Dave Thomas, the stunning PGA Golf Course is currently ranked as number one in Wiltshire by Top 100 Golf Courses
Course Scorecard
Course Rating and Slope Rating
| Tee | Par | Course Rating | Slope Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 76.1 | 134 |
| White | 72 | 73.8 | 132 |
| Yellow | 72 | 72.5 | 128 |
| Purple (Men) | 70 | 69.8 | 126 |
| Purple (Ladies) | 75 | 75.5 | 133 |
Individual Hole Analysis
Hole 1 Par 4
GOLDEN GATES
BLACK 419 YARDS | WHITE 402 YARDS | YELLOW 397 YARDS | PURPLE 388 YARDS
This hole is a straight 400 yard gem. Favour the left side of the fairway as it slopes towards the right. Bunkers placed left and right of the fairway may catch out the longer hitter. More trouble beckons with 2 bunkers guarding the entry to your approach shot.
Choose your clubs wisely to ensure safety to the green for a secure par.
Hole 2 Par 3
FITZMAURICE
BLACK 217 YARDS | WHITE 203 YARDS | YELLOW 187 YARDS | PURPLE 177 YARDS
A tough par 3 with a large bunker at the front right of the green. Clear this bunker from the tee to find your ball on another two-tiered green.
Hole 3 Par 5
SHELBURNE’S CHALLENGE
BLACK 568 YARDS | WHITE 533 YARDS | YELLOW 500 YARDS | PURPLE 488 YARDS
Drive to the left of the fairway to avoid water hazard, beware the fairway slopes towards the water. Take an extra club for your approach, the hole plays uphill and two sets of bunkers await.
Hole 4 Par 5
CHURCH RIDE
BLACK 573 YARDS | WHITE 555 YARDS | YELLOW 532 YARDS | PURPLE 460 YARDS
An accurate tee shot, not necessarily a driver, to a narrowing fairway leaves an easier lay-up shot. A well-placed approach offers a birdie opportunity.
A two-tiered green sloping from back to front. If the flag is on the top tier, the putt will swing more than you think.
Hole 5 Par 4
LANSDOWNE MONUMENT
BLACK 400 YARDS | WHITE 360 YARDS | YELLOW 343 YARDS | PURPLE 323 YARDS
Straight drive required between the bunkers to leave a short second shot to a large double green.
The only double green on the course slopes from back to front. Beware the pace, the ball will run out more than you think. Try to keep the ball below the hole.
Hole 6 Par 3
CORONATION AVENUE
BLACK 216 YARDS | WHITE 202 YARDS | YELLOW 191 YARDS | PURPLE 179 YARDS
This green is difficult to hit, so take an extra club. Long and right of the flag is the best position to make par.
A challenge to hit the green! The green is fairly flat and gathers pace as it slopes towards the left side.
Hole 7 Par 4
CLANMAURICE
BLACK 423 YARDS | WHITE 402 YARDS | YELLOW 383 YARDS | PURPLE 363 YARDS
Drive down the right side of the fairway bunkers. Setting up a second shot to a tricky green well-guarded by bunkers.
A tough green to hit. The green slopes from back to front. Beware the speed of this as it is faster than
you think.
Hole 8 Par 4
QUEENWOOD
BLACK 475 YARDS | WHITE 435 YARDS | YELLOW 398 YARDS | PURPLE 352 YARDS
This is Bowood’s signature hole highlighting a sharp dogleg with water guarding the left side. Long hitters beware of water hazard over trees. Shorter hitters leave a long second to a small 2-tier green with the right side favoured.
The green slopes from back to front. You must hit the correct tier to give yourself an easy putt.
Hole 9 Par 4
BUZZARD’S SPIRAL
BLACK 397 YARDS | WHITE 379 YARDS | YELLOW 370 YARDS | PURPLE 356 YARDS
This hole requires a well-placed tee shot to leave a mid to short iron into the green. Longer hitters may wish to hit over the right bunker to leave a short approach to the flag.
Bunkers placed either side of the green will swallow anything offline. However, this hole could leave a good finish to a strong round.
Hole 10 Par 5
DEER MEAD
BLACK 582 YARDS | WHITE 577 YARDS | YELLOW 564 YARDS | PURPLE 454 YARDS
This hole is a long par 5. The target line for most is just left of the right hand bunker.
Long hitters may be able to carry their tee shots over the bunker on the left which will leave a fairway wood to lay up or attack the green in two.
Two bunkers guard the green requiring superb distance control.
Hole 11 Par 4
BRICK KILN
BLACK 408 YARDS | WHITE 365 YARDS | YELLOW 350 YARDS | PURPLE 306 YARDS
The brave may take on the tallest tree with a driver on this short dogleg. Others aim at the corner avoiding out of bounds on the right to leave a short second favouring the left side of the green.
This green looks flat but has lots of subtle slopes. Watch your speed as the ball will run out more than you think.
Hole 12 Par 3
CASCADES
BLACK 178 YARDS | WHITE 167 YARDS | YELLOW 157 YARDS | PURPLE 132 YARDS
This elevated green requires one more club than normal to hit the correct tier.
You may not feel the wind swirling in the corner of the course, on the tee, so take care and avoid the hazard short of the green.
A vicious 2 tier green. The green slopes from back to front. An over-hit putt can miss the green and end up in the water.
Hole 13 Par 4
WYATT’S SPIRE
BLACK 440 YARDS | WHITE 423 YARDS | YELLOW 407 YARDS | PURPLE 392 YARDS
Drive towards the church steeple to leave a long second shot to a green with a large bunker front and right.
Those requiring three shots should play to the left of the fairway bunker.
The green gently slopes from back to front. Watch your speed as you do not want to catch the tier!
Hole 14 Par 4
WHITE HORSE
BLACK 412 YARDS | WHITE 357 YARDS | YELLOW 337 YARDS | PURPLE 308 YARDS
A good tee shot can set up a birdie opportunity on this short par 4. Hitting the right part of this shared green is essential. Anything short is gathered by these difficult bunkers.
Part of a double green – watch for the tier on the back right, be careful not to get the wrong side or you will have a tricky putt!
Hole 15 Par 5
THE MOORS
BLACK 542 YARDS | WHITE 529 YARDS | YELLOW 515 YARDS | PURPLE 497 YARDS
This tee shot is protected by mature woodland either side leaving very little room for error. Favour the left with your second leaving a short approach to a well-protected green.
Hit enough club to avoid the deep bunker at the front of the green.
The green runs from the back to the front, watch the pin placement, as there are some wicked slopes on the top tier. Third shot placement is critical.
Hole 16 Par 4
CATHILL
BLACK 449 YARDS | WHITE 433 YARDS | YELLOW 375 YARDS | PURPLE 355 YARDS
The challenging par 4 features one of the toughest tee shots on the course, 220 yards off the tee will get you at the top of the hill, leaving you a downhill approach to the green.
Bunkers placed both right and left of the green will capture any wayward attempts.
The green slopes from front to back so be cautious in your club selection, a ball over the back of the green will leave a tricky chip to return.
Hole 17 Par 3
THOMAS’ SHORTEST
BLACK 157 YARDS | WHITE 149 YARDS | YELLOW 145 YARDS | PURPLE 137 YARDS
The par 3 features a sizeable green with two tiers and bunkers on both sides.
A good birdie opportunity on one of the short par 3’s at Bowood.
The green runs from back to front. Very quick from above the hole. This green is another that swings a little more than you think.
Hole 18 Par 4
HOME FARM
BLACK 420 YARDS | WHITE 373 YARDS | YELLOW 354 YARDS | PURPLE 334 YARDS
A mid-length par 4 with a visible dogleg to the right. Any wayward tee shots may be captured by the bunkers on either side of the fairway.
Long hitters may reach the water from the tee, but a straight drive will set up an approach to this difficult multi-level green.
This hole runs back to front. It is very quick. Take care when reading this one.
