Westridge

Par 62s don't always get the respect they deserve, but Westridge earns its place in any honest conversation about golf on the Isle of Wight. Sitting in the Hampshire corner of this compact island, the course offers a genuinely accessible round without the pretension that longer layouts sometimes carry — the emphasis here is on shot-making, precision, and enjoying the surroundings rather than grinding through a full championship test.

The Isle of Wight has a character all its own: separated from the mainland by the Solent, it feels unhurried in a way that few parts of southern England still manage. The island's rolling, pastoral interior provides a natural setting for golf, and the mild maritime climate means playable conditions across much of the year.

For visitors arriving by ferry from Portsmouth or Southampton, Westridge offers an easy introduction to island golf — or a relaxed afternoon round for residents who know it well. Short-format courses like this reward accuracy over power, and on a course where every par matters, a wayward iron can cost you quickly.