I recently had the pleasure of playing Ipswich Golf Club (Purdis Heath) and it comfortably exceeded my expectations; this is a seriously enjoyable and thoughtfully designed golf course.

The standout feature for me was the quality of the green complexes. The green sites are superbly positioned, with subtle slopes and run-offs that demand precise approach play and reward creativity around the greens. Combined with well-placed, visually striking bunkering, the course consistently asks intelligent questions without ever feeling unfair.

The variety in elevation is another real strength. It’s not dramatic, but there’s enough movement across the routing to keep things visually engaging and strategically interesting throughout the round. That variation, paired with excellent overall conditioning, made for a really satisfying test of golf.

A couple of small areas for improvement; the tee boxes in places could have been a little sharper, and there were signs of winter restoration work still ongoing. However, these were minor points and didn’t detract significantly from the overall experience.

There are some memorable holes that really stay with you. The par 3s are particularly strong, each offering a distinct challenge, while several of the par 4s demand careful positioning from the tee to set up scoring opportunities. The course has a great rhythm to it—no two holes feel the same, and it builds nicely as the round progresses.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Purdis Heath. It’s a course with real character, strong architectural features, and enough challenge to keep you thinking all the way round. I’d happily return and would recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality inland course.