The enchanting Ashridge Golf Club is set amongst thousands of acres of National Trust-owned woodland. The scene is set as you drive to the clubhouse.
Ashridge Golf Club
The enchanting Ashridge Golf Club is set amongst thousands of acres of National Trust-owned woodland. The scene is set as you drive to the clubhouse.
The enchanting Ashridge Golf Club is set amongst thousands of acres of National Trust-owned woodland. The scene is set as you drive to the clubhouse. The long approach road takes you through parts of the ancient Ashridge estate, giving you a fleeting glimpse of the 8th and 9th holes between the beautiful mature trees (more about the 9th later).
Founded in 1932, Ashridge was originally designed by Sir Guy Campbell, Major C K Hutchison and Woodhall Spa’s Colonel Hotchkin. Around 1939, Tom Simpson made a few minor but significant changes. These architects made perfect use of Ashridge’s gently undulating land and inherent natural beauty. The great Sir Henry Cotton was club pro in the late thirties and during his time at Ashridge, he won the 1937 Open at Carnoustie. Alex Hay was also another famous Ashridge pro, staying here for twelve years from 1964.
The par threes are very strong at Ashridge, with prominent bunkering providing clear definition from the tees. There is a noticeable split between the front and back nine (par 35 & par 37) and the inward nine plays significantly harder than the shorter par 35 outward nine. Accuracy, rather than length from the tee, especially at the turn, will be rewarded and mistakes will invariably be punished. At first glance, the greens at Ashridge appear fairly flat, but do not be fooled as there are many subtle borrows, leaving you questioning your eyesight. These greens are very tough cookies to read. The only minor criticism is that there is currently only one genuine three shot hole (15th) and that, too, is relatively short. On the plus side, there are birdies on offer.
Ashridge was one of the very first private clubs to pioneer “society days” by welcoming groups of visiting golfers; the club continues this approach to the present day. Societies are treated as day members and many groups return year after year because a warm welcome is guaranteed. The club does not insist on visitors using the red and yellow tees. The whites can be used if desired, leaving the choice to the player and not the club. There are three starting points (1st, 10th and 13th) all within 50 yards of each other, close to the new clubhouse. These loops of holes make up the “clover leaf” shaped layout of the course and provide a number of options for players not wanting to play a full round.
Probably the most memorable hole is the par four 9th (stroke index 7). It’s not a long hole, measuring 337 yards from the yellow tee but the drive is to a blind landing area and the approach shot must carry across a valley to a kidney-shaped plateau green below – four is a great score here. This hole is affectionately named ‘Cottons’ after the great man.
The freshness of spring and the autumn colours at Ashridge are breathtaking. Oh, and keep an eye out for the deer. They have life membership and a habit of grazing to the right of the 17th hole.
We will let Bernard Darwin bring Ashridge to a close: “The romantic and traditional names have not been lost. Witchcraft Bottom and Nob’s Crook, Thunderdell – a wood of splendid beeches where blasted trunks bear witness to its evil reputation; Princes Riding – a long avenue with a stately monument at the end of it; were there ever more thrilling names? Today they have been transferred to appropriate holes upon the course, and the holes are worthy of the names.”
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
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The purpose of the Review of The Month feature is twofold. Top100GolfCourses has always aimed to salute and encourage those who are putting admirable effort into reviewing the world’s great golf courses. Moving forward, we are also looking to learn from these experts! We’ll be chatting with the month’s star authors and discussing topics such as golf in their area, what they like to see in a strong course review, and of course dig a little deeper into their own winning review. December 2023’s Review of The Month comes from David Scoular, who traveled to the northernmost corners of Hertfordshire to play the chalk-soiled gem that is Royston Golf Club, which claims to be the oldest 18-hole golf course in England. You can read David’s winning review, and find other Royston writeups here. -- There is truly something special about traversing out and back across Therfield Heath. Although Royston Golf Club was founded in 1892, the course will be celebrating 400 years of Golf in 2024, providing justification to the note emblazed across the scorecard, "The Oldest 18 Hole Golf Course in England". The course features firm, fast fairways, playable all year round. This is thanks to its location, upon fast-draining chalk-based downland. Making the course a worthwhile pilgrimage for any golf starved individuals throughout the winter months. Royston is regarded as short by modern standards, measuring 5,910 yards. but due to its exposed position, perched high on common land. The varying wind direction and small green targets require well planned shots. None more so than the 8th, "Rand's Folly" . The hole stretches along an undulating fairway with a slight right-to-left slope from a blind tee location. requiring a drive to the left side of the fairway setting up a precise shot into the raised, fort like green. The par threes are all interesting. The two stand out holes, been the 5th & 10th. The fifth, requires a long iron across a broad valley, played predominately into the prevailing wind. The Tenth, a 221 yard valley hole, played from an elevated tee to a well guarded green, can be regarded as the courses hidden gem. Pars on either holes are well received. The stretch from the fifteenth to the eighteenth tee, offers wonderful variety, and excellent opportunities to improve a score. The climb up to Wee Knock, the short 16th will require a few moments to catch your breathe, in this moment make sure the correct club is selected. Anything short or left will be thrown off this blind raised green. The18th, played from a high tee with wind normally behind offers most golfers the opportunity to reach this Par 4 in one. I am pleased to see Royston feature in the county rankings. A county well regarded for its parkland golf. The Par 70 course has no two holes alike and should delight the enthusiastic golfer. I look forward to my next visit.
Bishop's Stortford Golf Club, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England Click any of the large images to return to the main Bishop's Stortford page All photographs courtesy of Bishop's Stortford Golf Club 2nd green 7th hole 3rd hole 12th green 17th tee 18th tee Aerial view Clubhouse
Hadley Wood Golf Club, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England Click any of the large images to return to the main Hadley Wood page All photographs courtesy of Hadley Wood Golf Club On the tee 7th hole 12th hole 13th hole 17th hole The clubhouse
