Long Ashton - Gloucestershire - England

Long Ashton for me is a tale of two parts, the first ten holes and the last eight starting from the 11th tee adjacent the clubhouse. After an innocuous opening hole the front nine has some interesting holes including the very short 2nd which sits in front of an old quarry face. A blind tee shot on hole 3 and then back to back par 5's; the 4th is a good hole with the drive needing to hit the hogs back of a fairway followed by a dog-leg, whilst the 5th is fairly straight but uphill and playing long with a tricky green. Then three par 4's, the 6th is the best looking tee shot on the course (but the fairway can get wet here), then a tough long dog-leg par 4 with pond left, followed by a short dog-leg par 4 with OB right. Hole 9 is a short uphill par 3 and then a drive over a road to a narrow fairway at 10. So enough interest up to this point, but for me this where my interest seems to wane as holes 11-18 seem to be fairly standard parkland holes that you come across on many courses. Practice facilities are good and I have found course condition fine when I have played.

Obvious comparisons with the nearby Bristol & Clifton GC, but in my opinion not as much variety or interest.

Very well presented course with rapid greens.

Several tricky to hold (all left to right) fairways and one very tricky green at the16th.

A coupl of very scenic holes that would grace most courses and some stunning views from various parts of the course.

Well worth a visit.

Course #422 worldwide and #287 in England