http://www.manorashbury.co.uk

1. Oakwood: 5400
2. Pines: 5628
3. Beeches: 5460
4. Willows: 2018
5. Kigbeare: 6379

* 8 bay undercover driving range, 18 hole putting green, academy course and chipping and putting practice area.
* Limited stock of "shower proof" buggies also available
* 6 full size snooker tables, ten-pin bowling, games room & indoor bowls hall, heated indoor swimming Pool, spa bath and sauna, outdoor tennis court etc...
For Hotel details, click here

"The new Kigbeare course (Opened 2007) is the longest of the courses here at Ashbury. Set in the grounds of Kigbeare Manor adjacent to our existing courses the holes make excellent use of the rolling pasture, natural woodlands and plantations. We have also transplanted some 6000 trees to shape and define the holes.
The third hole is a dramatic par 3 of 205 yards from the white tees. The hole drops approximately 50 feet to a large green surrounded by trees and protected by a brook running around the front of the green.
The sixteenth hole is another breathtaking hole. A 546 yard par five. After teeing off over a large pond, the fairway runs uphill to a tree in the middle of the fairway then drops down approximately 100 feet to a well guarded green."

Exc. from Ashbury's own website

Have been on holiday here for 3 of the last 4 years. and will continue to come back.
3 x 18 hole golf courses, the Oakwood, Pines and Beeches. These courses contain some truly amazing (and bl**dy challenging) holes. Definitely set up for the "thinking" golfer as oppose to the big hitters. All 3 courses are under 6000 yards. Don't let the lack of yardage make you think these are easy courses. there are so many blind tee shots, lakes, bunkers, ditches, hedges etc... you really do have to plot your way round.
My personal favourite hole is the oakwood 12th.. a 417 yard par 4, with a 72ft downhill dog-leg to the left. your drive needs to ideally be around the 220+ mark (avoiding the tree in the middle of the fairway!!!) then you have a choice with your approach shot, either land one on the brow of the hill letting it bounce/roll down to the green. or fly one all the way to the green, praying you dont come up short...hit the downslope..and shoot straight through the green.
My only small gripe is the greens. The grass on them seems a little long.
Definitely a golf complex worth a visit.

J. Jack January 16, 2005

Having been to the Ashbury for a number of years I have seen the golf provision improve phenominally!
The four main courses are well maintained (greens can be a little fluffy because the need to keep them long due to the high traffic) and they are constantly striving to improve the courses, adding viewing podiums for safety, providing great hole information at the tees and continuously improving teeing areas and greens.
The real triumph however is the new Kigbear course. You cannot fail but be impressed by the holes that have been created. The views are amazing, the variety of hole is impressive, the greens are monstrous in size with plateaus creating some really testing putts, all adding up to some really challenging and entertaining golf.
The "signature hole" at the moment is the beautiful 3rd however when the 16th opens (I gather pretty soon) it could well take that honour, I fully intend another visit if only to play that hole!

Kris Whitmore April 13, 2007

For a golf tour this is a superb venue.  The website is very honest.  It is about the extent of golf available and not the hotel.  I wouldn't take my wife here for  leisure break but for a tour it is perfect.  Great value for money.  Rooms are clean with controllable heating for drying clothes quickly. On a negative they insist you only use the buggy paths which waste a lot of time.  Perhaps in the summer they let you use the path until the position of the ball and then drive on the fairway which would be better, we played in a wet spring so the rule was understandable.  The practise range and putting greens are completely inadequate though only 8 driving bays and a very short range.  For the number of courses this element must be improved.  Best course is Oakland and Kigbaire but all are good and challenging whilst remaining playable.  The local rule of dropping out from tree plantations is excessive on some of the more established tree areas as there is no penalty but again understandable for new trees.  The bar/restaurant is like an old clubhouse and coud do with a freshen up and it shuts way too early at 12 midnight given that 99% of the guests are men on golf weekends.  Golf buggies are very cheap at £10 for a round and
beer and wine in the restaurant is also fairly priced.  These niggles are very minor though.  Superb.

Rob Darrow April 14, 2008