Abridge - Essex - England

Abridge Golf & Country Club was formed in the early 1960s and has come a long way since The South Essex Jewish Golfing Society decided they needed a golf course. Today Abridge is indisputably one of the best courses in the county of Essex and, to finally herald the club’s coming of age, Open Championship Regional Qualifying was staged at Abridge for the first time in 2009.

Despite being located close to the M25, Abridge is shielded from the motorway and is situated in a pleasantly undulating area of natural beauty in the heart of the county and this was the first course designed by Henry Cotton.

At around 6,700 yards it’s not the longest course in Essex, but with a number of surprising elevation changes and several plateau greens you can factor in an additional several hundred yards to the overall length. Be prepared for a testing challenge regardless of your golfing standard.

Abridge is renowned for exceptional greens and well maintained fairways, coupled with some great golf holes. The 10th, 11th and 12th holes are known as the Abridge 'Amen Corner' – all three par fours stretch out beyond 400 yards with out of bounds all the way on the left. The favourite hole for many will be the par three 2nd and the introduction of a pond that eats into the green on the right hand side is an exciting feature.

Essex boasts around ninety golf courses and Abridge Golf & Country Club is certainly in the county's premier league.