| About
the courses |
* Abbey Hill is laid out in loops of eight and ten holes.
Howard Swann significantly improved the course by providing
eleven new tees, six new greens and brought into play a number
of water hazards. A particular feature is the Par 3 17th,
which requires a carry over water.
* The Academy Par 3 Course was built and designed by Howard
Swann in 1996. The course was built to full USGA specification
and benefits from full irrigation.
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Course
Reviews |
For a municipal pay-and-play
course, you won't get much better than Abbey Hill. Recently
wrestled from council control by a private company that appears
to be investing a few quid in improvements, Abbey has come
on leaps and bounds.
The clubhouse and pro shop have just been refurbished, the
changing rooms are basic but clean, tidy and do the job and
there is a good practice putting green, separate chipping
area and a floodlit driving range.
But the course is what it's really all about, and this lengthy
(for a pay-and-play) 18-holes offers interesting golf. It
is split into an opening 10 and closing 8 by one of Milton
Keynes' many straight grid-roads, but you would never really
know it from the course. The par 3s, while not particularly
long (two of about 160/170yds and two of about 120) are picturesque.
The par 5s are challenging, particularly the 3rd, which is
a monster uphill drag from the medals with trouble all the
way on the left and out of bounds all the way on the right.
And the par fours are all different, with some neat dog-legs,
interesting levels and thought-provoking distances (be ready
to think about an iron for position off the tee).
Money has been spent on improving the bunkers, although there
is still not enough sand in them, and the greens are in excellent
condition, particularly when you consider how much traffic
they get; the greenkeeping staff have not been afraid to keep
play on the winter greens to protect the main ones.
Book in advance and you'll get a decent tee-time to enjoy
a course that could easily be private.
Lee Bearton
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