Ashburnham Golf Club

My own heathland course has taken a rain-soaked pounding of late, so it was another pilgrimage down to the "Ash".

What rain? We ask ourselves. Firm fairways, playable bunkers and greens (even though recently aerated) running fast and true.

Like most links, holes look relatively short on paper, but you have to plot and plan your way around these holes, with bumps and hollows and narrow fairways dotted with the traditional pot-bunkers, this is no easy ride.

Signature holes are the deceptive par 3 6th, the labyrinth-like 14th and the thinking-players18th. Friendly 19th with good food and a great pub of Guinness.

Good pro shop and helpful pro.

If you want dry fairways and fast greens during the winter months get down the Ash. Be warned , summer months really speeds things up!

A quality and classic links track. Great condition and layout with the perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment. A true gem. Pace of play was frustrating but still overall a fantastic day.

I booked a round as a sole player but was lucky to meet 2 American visitors who made my round more enjoyable and my past experience of the course benefitted them as I was able to give some pointers. The day was windy but dry so the course was challenging for the outgoing holes 3 to 8 but it helped on the inward 9, which are usually the more difficult. The day was busy but the round was reasonably quick at 3 hours 40.approx.

The back 9 holes on this course rival any other great links course in the UK. The members and staff were very friendly and welcoming, with the pro taking the time to talk me through the holes before I played. The setting is excellent and the course is a great challenge, and has to be the best course I have played in South Wales so far. Drive past Machnys and play here instead, as the course and club is an absolute gem.

A great course, which was challenging, as the front nine were all played into a strong breeze.

Unfortunately we teed off directly behind a club match (4 x 4 balls), so pace was pretty slow, as we were a 2 ball.

The group in front, did offer to let us play through, but we felt we would probably just end up being sandwiched between the groups in the match.

Unfortunately didn’t use the clubhouse, due to time restrictions

We were disappointed that winter greens were in place until 1.00 pm, so we played the first 6 holes and the 14th hole on temporary greens.

As a member of P&K playing Ashburnham for the first time, I was left a little under whelmed. I guess I expected more. It wasn’t a patch on my home club (tees, fairways and greens) but I did enjoy and I would like to come back in the summer months to see how it plays then.

As normal plays really well in winter , greens very good , Tricky as ever , nice bit of wind also , shame the 8th is still closed as it stops you putting a card in as more are needed now with the new system , unfortunately the heavens opened up on the 10th which totally spoiled our round as it didn’t stop .

I might be expecting too much from the course based on its rating.

Positives

Course in great condition

Fastest greens I've played on

The lad in the shop could not have been more helpful

Negatives

Took over 4 hours for a 2 ball, seemed a reluctancd to let play through. Also people coming up wrong fairway whilst waiting to tee off and then looking for their ball.

Its such a shame you don't really get to see the coast apart from 2 holes.

enjoyed a breezy round around this links. Course was in great condition and the wind made for an interesting 18 holes.greens and tees were in amazing condition

Came here with Great Expectations, left with A Tale Of Two Courses; the one we played, and the one it might have been. Had the course coped with the prolonged dry spell better I could have forgiven the bland nature of the terrain. As it was, a forgettable experience. Great greens, but not enough in other areas to justify the green fee

A great links in great condition, the best greens I’ve ever played on . Could do with more yardage markers

Course was great, the greens were brilliant - rolling fast and true. Staff were friendly and helpful. Food and drinks were good quality and great value. Can't fault it!

Greens absolutely mint for time of year always a pleasure to play

From the opening shot, which had the boys on the terrace clapping, to the final putt it was excellent. Very friendly welcome in both the pro shop and the bar.

We caught the course on a sunny but breezey day but the wind just added to the overall experience