A Tour of Astbury Golf Course

  

Astbury is a good test for all levels of golf and whilst undulating it is by no means hilly, with the 3rd, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 18th holes being the heart of the test -  manage your round well on these holes and you are well placed for a good score. Natural obstacles are a feature of the course though with mature trees and the canal running through its heart.

In preparing for the challenge of the course don't overlook the extensive practice facilities that are situated just across the road. Without doubt these are the envy of most clubs in the Cheshire area.

Before playing at Astbury please take note of our Dress Code.

 
A Video Tour of Astbury. ( Updated for May 2010)

The following 6 short ( 3 or 4 minute) You Tube videos are a tour of Astbury Golf course taking 3 holes at a time. Holes 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9, 10 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 18. Play in full screen and HD for best view. I would welcome feedback, suggestions on this approach and if it gives a useful insight into our club. email p.s.collier@homecall.co.uk

 

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE VIDEOS - PLEASE READ

1. EXPLANATION :- The video is streamed (i.e. you don't have to download it all before you can start watching it). This means smoothness of playback depends on your broadband download speed at the time as it is a kind of race between the player showing the video and your broadband getting the next bit there in time. (This is what the fainter red slider bar shows in the player.}

2. You Tube videos use FLASH in the browser you will be asked install that if  you don't have it - it's safe and used everywhere for web movies.

2. If you want to watch in full screen (best)  press THE 4 RED ARROWS " full screen" button before starting to play.

3. If you dont want music select "no sound" by pressing the speaker button. To get rid of adverts you will need to pause after start and click on the X

4. Now press "play" button. You may get viewing problems (pauses) first time through depending on your broadband speed ( you need about 3 meg for viewing to be smooth in a streamed movie). If you do get a viewing problem (pauses and sound jitters) then just press pause while You Tube gets ahead of your browser. Once viewed  at the end, you can just replay the video and it will be smooth ( as all the video has by then arrived).

 

Holes 1 to 3

Holes 4 to 6

Holes 7 to 9

Holes 10 to 12

Holes 13 to 15

Holes 16 and 18

 

FLY ROUND Astbury - Drive your own 3D Satellite Tour of Astbury Golf course.

NEW NEW NEW - TRY the Google EARTH Satellite view of the course.
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Select the EARTH view on right of view below ( and allow Google to download and install the Google EARTH PLUG IN )

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Use the 3D Controls to set direction and Zoom level to fly round the course

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Steer your way around the course and follow the LINES

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Click on lines or Golfers to see details of the holes 


View Astbury golf club in a larger map

 

Here is a player's ( 18 Hcp) guide round the course :- The card of the course.
1st  

A fairly straightforward slightly dog leg hole to start your round. You will see two bunkers which are 44 yards to the centre of the green and would catch a very good drive. For most players a solid drive leaves just a short iron to the green, whilst the longer hitters may be tempted to clear the bunkers and go for the green - but don't get caught up in the trees on either side of the fairway. The green; recently guarded by a sneaky bunker at the front right is 28 yards deep with a gradual slope from back to front.

Yards Par SI
286 4 17
282 4 17
267 4 17

 

2nd  

The fairway doglegs right at 240yds to a well protected green. Accuracy off the tee is the key to this hole as it is better to be on the left hand side of the fairway to have a better view of the green but easy to get caught up in the trees there.  For long hitters maybe a lesser club than a driver would pay dividends. As you will see from the tee, the copse of trees on the right is uncompromising and comes into play for any shot on the right of the fairway, but it is also very easy for a good but drawing drive to get tangled in the small trees on the left at the dog leg. The second shot is usually a long/mid iron to the green and a word of warning is that Out of Bounds awaits any shot that is slightly left of the green. The green itself is 31 yards deep and after a slight fall from the front then rises to the back. On completion follow the footbridge over the canal to the 3rd Tee.

Yards Par SI
353 4 9
348 4 9
294 4 9

 

3rd  

This is the first Par 5 and although not long at 480 yards (476 yellows and 427 Ladies ) it's a risk/reward hole. Care is required on this hole as a good long tee shot to the right half of the fairway for the men or a good second from the ladies tee then leaves a "make or break" shot over a series of ponds known as Jones's Creek that lie in the gulley in the fairway. There is a 120 yard carry between the tops of the banks of the gulley which really challenge the shot selection here. The hedge and trees on the left of the fairway is the boundary of the course and anything going over this is out of bounds. For those who prefer to lay up with their second shot it is 173 yards from the end of the fairway prior to the gulley to the centre of a plateau green which lies angled to the fairway. The best line to take with your approach shot is to the left side of what is a quite long narrow green.

Yards Par SI
480 5 7
476 5 7
427 5 1

 

4th  

A par 3 of 170 yards (163 yellow  and 135 Ladies). This may look a simple par 3 with a bunker at the front and two deep bunkers on the right hand side of the green,  but most would be very pleased with a par here. The green slopes from back to front which becomes more pronounced on the right hand side. There is Out of Bounds on the right beyond the tree line and also the hedge that lies beyond the green.

Yards Par SI
173 3 13
168 3 13
135 3 15

 

5th  

This long par 4 (Par 5 Ladies) plays longer than its yardage as the fairway rises quite steeply for the last 80 yards to a long deep green. An alternative men's tee closer to the Canal requires a fade (right handers) to keep away from the Lake. The hole requires two good shots and as the green is blind it is wise to make a note of the pin position. The lake on the left comes into play at about 207 yards, with a recent addition of a bunker at about 215 yards on the right of the fairway. Out of bounds creeps towards the right side of the fairway to the right of this bunker.  The two bunkers on the crest are well short of the green and there is a third bunker guarding the left of the green. Please note the local rule that any ball hitting the power cables which pass over the course in front of the tee has to be replayed.

Yards Par SI
413 4 1
401 4 1
401 5 11

 

6th  

Rather like the previous hole it is on the boundary of the course, which again is the hedge on the right. From the back tee the second bunker guards the right side of the fairway and is 247 yards from the back tee. The perfect shot is between this and the electricity pole on the left of the fairway. A straight drive leaves a long to medium iron to a wide green which has one bunker on the left and two on the right. The raising at the front of the green is a deceptive defence to any underhit  shots.

Follow the path on the left of the green and through the hedge to the next hole.

 

Yards Par SI
405 4 3
382 4 3
341 4 5

 

7th  

The second Par 3. A deceiving hole with a kidney shaped green which always seems smaller than its yardage. The front of the green is not visible from the tee and anything short tends to kick left leaving a tricky chip or worse runs into the hidden bunker at the front left of the green. This is one of the larger greens with a slight slope from front to back.

Yards Par SI
165 3 15
162 3 15
156 3 13

 

8th  

This is the longest Par 5 on the course and you need 3 good shots to reach this. From the tee the best line is towards the water tower in the distance as this keeps you to the right of the large tree which appears to be in the centre of the fairway. The fairway narrows and turns left at about 150 yards to the green. Just short and right of the green is a large pond which captures any shots which are leaked to the right. At 26 yards this is one of the smaller greens with bunkers on both the left and right.

Yards Par SI
531 5 11
523 5 11
423 5 7

 

9th  

The final hole of the first nine - but a deceptive challenge for most.  The crucial shot here is the drive which needs to be placed between the two trees in order to have a clear shot to the green. Care also needs to be taken with the shot to the green as anything which misses either left, right or goes long can get into big trouble. Playing up short of the green and relying on your short game is probably the safest medal strategy here.

Yards Par SI
404 4 5
385 4 5
362 4 3

 

10th  

The test continues - a Par here is to be celebrated. The opening hole on the back nine curves and doglegs left with an internal Out of Bounds down the left. Care needs to be taken with the tee shot and without doubt a draw is the best shot if you can pull it off but the youthful and adventurous may try and go over the corner of the trees. The safe shot is down the middle which can leave a long to mid iron to the green. This is one of the smaller greens on the course with a bunker on the front left and two more on the right of the green which are hidden from view.  Approach shots tend to move from right to left with the natural slope.

Yards Par SI
374 4 4
368 4 4
314 4 6

 

11th  

The hole tends to play slightly longer than it looks, mainly due to the fact it is set on a plateau, which blocks any shots that try to run up onto the green. There are bunkers on the left at the rear of the green and three that guard the right hand side. Once on the green there are various borrows to consider.

Yards Par SI
167 3 16
162 3 16
119 3 18

 

12th  

The last par 5 and perhaps what most would see as the signature hole of Astbury. The ladies and seniors get the bonus here of playing from the "safe" side of the ravine. It is most daunting from the men's tee in having to make the opening shot over the ravine with a carry of 150 yards for the men; but the challenge is between your ears far more than from  absolute distance.  With a strong southerly wind into your face this can make even the best player's knees knock. Many a good card has come to grief on this hole and concentrating on making a good tee shot is the key as out of bounds lies to the right side of the fairway once you have carried the ravine. With two bunkers at 100 yards from the green the longer hitters may have to decide whether or not to lay up with their second shot and leave a short iron to a flat green but most mortals will lay up short and play a short/medium iron to the green. There are a further two bunkers that can be seen short of the green which are 46 yards from the centre. Note that the Canal Towpath hedge on the left is the boundary of the course and there is also an internal Out of Bounds line on the 3rd fairway. Pat yourself on the back if you get a PAR here. It is now back over the bridge to play the final 6 holes.

 

Yards Par SI
481 5 6
476 5 6
316 4 6
304 4 4

 

13th  

A relatively short hole requiring a good drive to the right half of the fairway avoiding the deep hollow in the centre, which gives access to the green which lies in a drop in the fairway. The approach is typically hidden but is usually played with a short iron. Not to be underestimated for the ladies as the banks and drops in the fairway are really awkward. This is only a small green protected by a deep pot bunker short left and a long bunker round the right side.  A pear tree on the left of the fairway at about 200 yards can tangle you but the main danger on this hole is on the left with the canal which is quite naturally Out of Bounds.

Yards Par SI
302 4 18
301 4 18
289 4 8

 

14th  

Yardage would suggest this is a straightforward hole but it is anything but...as the tee shot is vitally important. The two large trees in the fairway at 258 yards come into play and course management and positioning is the key. With Out of Bounds on the left and a grass ditch ( a lateral hazard these days) running across the fairway underneath the big tree 100 yards short of the green, positioning of the tee shot to allow a clear path to the green is crucial. The Stroke Index for men is undoubtedly a challenge to a good score.

Yards Par SI
349 4 14
343 4 14
321 4 2

 

15th  

The finishing 4 holes can make or break your card at Astbury and it starts here for most golfers. This is a long par 3  to a sloping green back to front which is protected on the left by a large bunker. Into the wind, and especially from the ladies tee, seeing your ball come to rest on the green is deeply satisfying but don't count any chickens until you hear that welcoming plonk of the ball in the hole.

Yards Par SI
188 3 12
183 3 12
164 3 14

 

16th  

3 strong Par 4's finish the round with accuracy paramount here. A straight drive can leave a long to mid iron to a green protected by bunkers. Trees are the main obstacle, particularly the two that are in the fairway and also big hitters should beware of the pond on the right.

Yards Par SI
372 4 10
367 4 10
301 4 10

 

17th  

A really tough par 4 which plays every yard of its length. A testing hole and it is important that the drive finds the fairway to give any chance of reaching the green. The main danger on this hole is the pond on the right which is 208 yards from the tee. The green is protected by the large tree on the left and two small greenside bunkers on the right. A tricky green that slopes from back to front. A very satisfying par 4 if you are lucky enough to grab it here.

Yards Par SI
436 4 2
432 4 2
424 5 12

 

18th  

This is a dogleg right to left with preferred tee shot to the left of the large tree in the centre of the fairway. This is a large green that is well protected by trees on the left and there is a noticeable ridge running along the front of the green. There is one bunker on the back left and Out of Bounds just beyond the green.

Yards Par SI
372 4 8
368 4 8
359 5 16

 

Having finished the course we hope you have enjoyed your round and will want to use the facilities of the clubhouse to "unwind".

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İAstbury Golf Club Ltd 2009