Playing at Came Down During Autumn

With breath-taking panoramic views of the Dorset countryside ablaze with fiery colours and an abundance of wildlife to spot, including rutting Sika deer, autumn is the perfect time to visit Came Down for a round of golf.

If it feels a bit chilly, you’ll certainly warm up quickly as you play the 18 holes around our scenic course and if you’re still feeling cold, you can pop into our cosy clubhouse post-game.

We are a friendly and inclusive club, welcoming visitors and societies to our downland course seven days a week, all year round.

Top reasons to play golf during autumn

·       You don’t feel too hot and sticky whilst playing and carrying your equipment around

·       The gorgeous backdrop of red, orange and yellow hues

·       The course has been well taken care of over the summer, with autumnal rain and dew nourishing the grass for great playing conditions

·       Play at your own pace without feeling the need to speed around the course

Autumn wildlife & plants around the course

During the rutting (breeding) season, from the end of September to November, Sika stags are often spotted fighting each other for the female. You may feel tempted to take some photos but please don’t get too close as the males can be particularly aggressive during this time.

Sika deer have distinctive mating rituals and their theatrical behaviour makes for one of the most dramatic events in the wildlife calendar. Known for their repertoire of calls, you may hear the stag’s high-pitched whistle before you see their mating dance and clashing antlers with their rivals.

During autumn, you may see a variety of small animals preparing for winter around the course. Wood mice store hazelnuts, whilst dormice and hedgehogs eat more to increase their body weight for hibernation. Hedgehogs will also be seeking out hibernation sites and collecting deciduous leaves to line their nests.

Although many birds migrate to warmer climates during winter, plenty of birds arrive in Dorset during autumn for its milder temperatures. Fieldfare and redwing fly here from Scandinavia and gorge on the autumn berries. Tiny goldcrests and firecrests also arrive in the county to settle for winter.

Beech, field maple, hawthorn and silver birch trees will turn a stunning array of autumn colours. Look out for the vibrant hues of guelder rose, rowan, spindle, blackthorn and wayfaring tree berries.

If it’s particularly humid, you may see the fruiting bodies of fungi, in the form of toadstools, brackets, puff-balls and jellies.

Get cosy in our Clubhouse

Relax after your round by tucking into a warming locally-sourced meal, such as our Dorset Blue Vinny & Steak Pie, and a cuppa or perhaps a glass of wine from our fully licensed bar.

From the clubhouse, you can gaze at the spectacular sunset over nearby Dorchester, perfectly complimenting the scenic autumnal landscape.

Autumn events in Dorset

If you’re in the area for longer, you might enjoy these seasonal events taking place nearby in October.

Octoberfest will be making a return to Weymouth Pavilion from 7-8th October, with over sixty real ales and ciders from Dorset to sample.

Dorchester Literary Festival is taking place from 15th-22nd October this year with a fantastic line-up of authors, including Damien Lewis, Ray Mears and Minette Waters.

Shiver me timbers! On 15th October, Weymouth will be taken over by swashbuckling pirates. Weymouth Pirate Fest will feature live music, re-enactments and a Pirate Bazaar with various stalls.

Autumn walks in Dorset

You can’t visit us in autumn without taking the opportunity to have a leaf-crunching woodland walk in the area.

With 26 hectares of land, there’s plenty to explore at Thorncombe Woods on the outskirts of Dorchester. When the leaves are changing colour the woods are very photogenic. Kids will have a great time building dens, foraging for conkers and spotting squirrels and wild ponies.

For another chance to see rutting Sika deer, head to Arne Nature Reserve in Wareham. With a mix of ancient woodland and heathland, there are trails of varying distance and you can pop into a hide as you go round to see migrating birds.

We look forward to welcoming you at Came Down this season. Visit our website to book a round and please feel free to contact us if you have any queries.