Played in 1997. Hillside downs course beneath Corfe Castle. Long views of Bournemouth and Portsmouth are nice, but distant. I would have to agree that it is a was a bit rough, but it is a country course. Lots of heather and wind. I had a pleasant round with members, took time to marvel at the fossils in the clubhouse (Bill, I'm talking about rocks, nor ancient members). Scratchy round but I remember a hole where I was advised not to hit driver because of a creek, said I didn't travel 5000 miles to lay up and promptly bounced the tee shot across the lone bridge . That was the only time that the trite line actually worked. Definitely not a 6 hour round.
It was on the itinerary because of the CG and I was travelling from one golf pod near Deal to the next pod in Cornwall. Overnighted in Portsmouth, toured HMS Victory in the morning, noon golf at IoP, then drove to the next destination. Pretty much out of the way so visitors don't stumble across the course.
Unlike any other course I played during the month, conditioning was on par with Littlestone.