Redpost Golf - Ashley Wood Golf Course Review

ASHLEY WOOD GOLF COURSE REVIEW DORSET,UK

Ashley Wood is a course in the northern part of the county of Dorset and has been developed over the years from initially being a 9 hole course. The last time I played there it was in superb condition and was a credit to the green keepers. the course is almost in 2 parts the first 9 holes being quite hilly and the back 9 has relatively flat terrain.

Course Layout

Many different species of trees abound in this superb course

The first hole is a par 5 and is just the thing you need to start  a game when not properly warmed up. 

The 2nd is a straight hole with OOB on the left and a plantation of trees on the right of the fairway leading up to a raised green. 

The 3rd hole is my favourite, you tee off from a tee situated behind a dense growth of bushes, where you hope to land your ball on a sloping left to right fairway and not block your next shot out behind  a row of trees on the left. The shot into the green which is normally payed blind as it is up a steep slope.

Hole4 is a par 3 with enough strategically placed bunkers to cause trouble and OOB at th back to protect the greenkeepers and their accomodation. 

The 5th is another interesting and up and down hole with a deepish valley as you approach the green which is surrounded by trees.. 

From the 5th green looking back towards the fairway

A good drive is needed on the 6th hole , too far right and there are some annoying grassed banks usually with longish growth at a driveable distance, the fairway being the ideal place to land your drive. 

On to the 7th which is a shortish par 3 and was until recently protected by a full width bunker but has now been modified into 2 seperate bunkers leaving a nice route into the green between them if you happen to duff your tee shot. 

Leaving this hole you play the next hole a par 4 straighish hole with a drainage ditch on the right hand side which seems to attract my ball like a magnet and a green well protected by deep bunkers. 

The 9th hole is my least favourite, another longish par 3 with not very good visibility of the green because of stategically placed trees and bushes. 

If you are lucky you will find the Halfway House open after you finish this hole. Here you can sit and study the 10th hole which is the SI 1 hole whilst taking a well earned break. 

This hole does not appear that difficult but requires a drive slightly to the right but missing all of the trees on this side. The left hand side is bordered with trees growing through thick undergrowth, so don't go there. 

The woodland holes 10 to 13

The 11th,12th and 13th are all straight par 4s and are supposedly the easiest longer holes on the course and is where you should make up a few points, the only thing to be wary of on these holes is overconfidence so do not take your foot off the gas.. 

Leaving the wooded part of the course you play the 14th which is again a straight hole but has a quite narrow fairway with dense vegetation along the right handside which is great for us slicers to lose another ball. 

After playing out this hole you turn round  and play the 15th whose green is at the most easterly part of the course. 

The 16th is a par 4 and is played up a gently sloping hill with a slight left dogleg. 

The last long hole on the course is the 17th and a good drive is needed to get across a grassed valley onto the fairway. OOB runs along the left hand side to protect people using the driving range.

The patio adjacent to the 18th Green

 Finally you get to the 18th a long par 3 which I believe is not very common on golf courses. I have only reached the green from the tee once using a 5 wood. If you do manage to achieve this the people sitting on the patio adjacent will surely be impressed.

Any golfer who is thinking of taking a holiday in Dorset would be well advised to visit this challenging and interesting course with friendly and welcoming staff.

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Scorecard