
Teeing off! (l-r) Daryl Dampney, manager, Mike Travis, mens captain, Emma Millward, ladies captain, Tim Parker, club captain and Ian Noble, head greenkeeper.
The brand new course at Parley Golf Centre has officially opened with the captains driving off in front of a big crowd.
The course is part of a £250,000 redevelopment at the centre opposite Bournemouth Airport that has doubled its size.
At 5,169 yards long, the nine-hole course is designed to be challenging but enjoyable – and the first golfers back in the 19th hole said it played superbly.
Opening soon is the dedicated short-game practice area and a huge practice green, to accompany the smaller pre-game practice green.
Two academy holes are available for warm-ups and there is a state-of-the-art indoor coaching area as well as a simulator and shop.

Club secretary Simon Hentrich explains how the first competition on the new course at Parley was going to run
The club captain Tim Parker Christened the course by driving off up the new first fairway and he was followed by Mike Travis, the men’s captain, and Emma Millward, the ladies’ captain.
Looking on were Daryl Dampney, manager of the centre, and Ian Noble, the head greenkeeper who has built the new course.

Teeing off! (l-r) Daryl Dampney, manager, Mike Travis, mens captain, Emma Millward, ladies captain, Tim Parker, club captain, Simon Hentrich, secretary and Ian Noble, head greenkeeper.
Daryl said: “We have not only invested a lot of money, but all our staff have invested a great deal of time and effort.
“It was a hugely ambitious project from the start, but the ground staff have worked wonders and crafted a magnificent course.
“Even before it opened membership was growing so quickly that we have had to expand the car park.
“There are nine new greens and seven new fairways and the first to play the course were incredibly enthusiastic about it.
“The new short game area will open soon; it just needs a week or two to bed down. But it will mean we have the best practice facilities in the region – our professional coaches are very excited.
“You don’t have to be a member to play, just turn up and tee off.”
The team which won the first ever competition on the new course were Bob Lloyd, Gary Banks, Logan Davies and Dennis Wilkinson.
Notes to editors:
Parley Golf Centre in Dorset is set within a beautiful 800 acre farming estate next to the River Stour close to Bournemouth Airport.
It is home to the 17th century Parley Manor and to Parley Equestrian Centre. Wildlife includes roe deer, badgers, foxes and a pair of rare Grey Partridges. And you are likely to see a family of alpacas roaming around too!
Parley Golf Centre opened in 1991 as a six-hole course, but quickly expanded to nine holes and a 27-bay, floodlit driving range was added.
Currently the site is being transformed into a centre of excellence (which does not affect the course). When completed it will be twice its current size.
The nine-hole course is being rebuilt with carefully configured tees allowing for a round of 18 with a total distance of 5,111 yards.
There will be a huge short-game practice area, bunker practice facility as well as a state-of-the-art indoor coaching centre.
Also being built are several ‘academy’ holes from 50 – 100 yards. The café-bar remains a popular venue for golfers and non-golfers alike.
Head greenkeeper Ian Noble is assisted by Mark Gregory and John Morey.
Resident professionals include Chris Brook, Marcus Urbye, Andrew Pakes and Peter Thompson.
For more information contact Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 01202 534487 or 07788392965