The main feature on this opening hole is the fairway cross bunker. At approximately 230 yards from the back Tee it is very much in play and the longer hitters will need to choose their club wisely. The ideal Tee shot will lay up as closely as possible to the bunker on the right side of the fairway to give a better line in to the green which is well protected by a left hand green side trap.

The lengthened back Tee has changed this hole dramatically as the hole will usually play into the wind. A solid drive will set you up nicely but the preference is down the left side to open up the green which has a deep bunker to the right side. Any shot overly to the left will catch the run off area and leave you a tricky pitch shot to a very undulating green.

There is opportunity here at the 3rd hole, a reasonably short par 5 will see the longer hitters reaching the green in two shots. Any Tee shot down the left will have the sight of the green blocked out by the gorse bushes that extend out into the fairway so the preferable drive is down the right. The back left part of the green is well protected by a deep left hand side bunker and with the green sloping from front to back and left to right only a very well executed approach will see you finishing

The cross bunker is a decent carry for most golfers and the preferable shape from the Tee is a fade for this dog leg to the right. The green sits at a lower level to the fairway so depending on the time of year your approach shot may be required to pitch short of the green. As with many of our greens this one is filled with subtle breaks so don’t be fooled.

“The Dogleg” A sharp dogleg to the left, this hole requires a precise Tee shot of approximately 210 yards from the mens back Tee to position you ideally for the approach. The white marker post is perfectly positioned for the line, anything to the left could be a little greedy but will leave you a shorter second. This green is slim and well protected left and right but is deceptively long so get your yardage to the pin correct!

The raised Tee box gives you a better view of the green and the pin position but the wind here can be deceptive, the Tee is sheltered so be mindful of what wind there may be up above the trees. The front bunkers left and right can make the hole appear shorter then it’s actual length so club selection at this par 3 is crucial.

At 474 yards from the men’s back Tee this is a real beast of a par 4 especially as the prevailing wind is usually “hurting”. Missing the fairway to the right will find you in an area heavily protected by trees but there is more room to the left then it appears. Getting to the green is difficult enough and will be a 3 shotter for most but by the time you reach there is still work to be done. The green slopes from back to front and any ball above the hole will leave you a very tricky fast putt.

Following the long difficult 7th, the 8th offers an element of opportunity. In the Summer months the longer players may be able to reach the green but the entrance is narrow and requires an accurate and long hit. Any Tee shot to the left will no doubt end in an unforced error as the approach shot from that side will be very difficult to get close. A front pin will require a delicate approach and most will find themselves going beyond the pin.

A straight, medium length par 4 to close the front nine. The cross bunkers will block out any view of the bottom of the pin for your approach shot and it can be a difficult shot to judge. Be mindful that there is plenty of dead ground between the cross bunkers and the front of the green but also that the front of the green slopes downwards towards the pin.

Another one of our signature long par 4s to start the back nine. Any Tee shot tugged slightly left can quite easily leave you blocked out, the preferable drive is with a touch of fade. The approach shot for those who may be able to reach will be inevitably long and the raised green can require an additional club too. Any 4 made here will be in the minority.

This medium length par 3 is all about the difficulty of the green, A fairly severe slope from back to front makes it difficult to get a get a putt to the hole from below but will leave you a very speedy putt from above. However, the trickiest putts on this green will be from “pin high” when you will be putting across the slope.

Holes 11 and 12 make up “the Paddock” here at Ashford Manor and anyone making two pars through the paddock will have done very well. The 12th, another par 3, is much longer and will require all you’ve got for most golfers. Short and to the right is the best place to miss the green and will leave you a pitch and run up the slope of the green and a chance of your 3.

A tight driving hole protected by a fairway bunker on the right but any drive to the left will leave you blocked out by the big trees for your second, a positional shot is required. Not only is the drive tight but the approach to the green is too, bunkers left and right with a two tier green with a severe slope to the front portion. The back pin can be more accessible but don’t be too greedy, there is not much room behind and any shot long will be punished.

The shortest hole on the course but a challenging par 3. The back portion of the green behind the right side bunker is small and can offer a sucker pin. This short hole requires the most precise distance control.

The second and final par 5, the 15th offers the opportunity to the longer players to get close to the green in 2 shots. However, the approach is well protected by several fairway cross bunkers that are somewhat disguised from view. A deceptive green, slopes towards the front at the front and is quite deep in length making any pitch shot tricky to get the distance correct.

A reasonably short par 4 and perhaps the last reasonable chance at picking up a shot. The Tee shot has a “dip” which is out of view from the Tee and a sensible drive will be laid up short to give a better view to the green. Protected all round by bunkers, including one at the front, the bottom of the pin will be hidden so another hole that requires a good judgement of distance.

Two fantastic and challenging par 4s to finish. An extended back Tee for the men requires an accurate long Tee shot through a narrow path preferably with a little right to left flight too for this dogleg to the left. One of the most challenging Tee shots on the course. If you are up to the challenge of the Tee shot don’t think that all the work is done, there is a narrow entrance to the green which then slopes severely from left to right and back to front.

A true risk and reward Tee shot for the finishing hole. The fairway narrows the further you drive the ball with a dip to the right and an Oak tree that can block your approach to the green. The sensible Tee shot will lay up short of the dip on the right but leaves you a longer second to a difficult green. The back left of the green is protected by a deep bunker and the out of bounds is only a few feet beyond the green, anywhere right will catch the slope of the run off area and leave you a trick