The Abbey Hotel Golf and Country Club

Played here 9/6/2013, took us nearly five hours to play 12 holes. We eventually gave up and walked off, which i have never done before having played golf for 25 years. The course itself has some interesting holes and is in average condition, not really a £38 course more of a £20-£25. What was worse was when we complained, the course had obviously been over booked, but the golf shop staff were adamant it hadnt been. They gave me the impression that this was a regular occurence and they offered no refund or compensation. I would recommend avoiding this course, not down to the course itself (although i only saw 12 holes lol) but rather because it seems the golf staff view a 5+hour round of golf and having to wait 10-20 minutes on each hole as being normal.

Played on 18/05/2013 course in very poor condition the greens are especially poor condition and the bunkers have lots of stones and for the price we paid not worth it £38.00 will NOT be going there again

I have played this course a few times and it is a good quality course and there are good deals to be had on the Internet which makes it a bargain. There is a major problem though is that it is ridiculously slow. When I last played there you were looking at a six hour round. The rough was very thick and the course is long and requires good driving . The course tends to attract poor golfers ( as a lot of corporate courses do) which really slow things den. It was not uncommon to see three groups waiting on the tee on occasion.

Sixteen of us played here last weekend and enjoyed the experience. It is a longish course with 6500 yards off the yellows. We didn't seek to use the white tees but would comment that the additional lengths involved on some of the holes would make the course very difficult indeed unless you are in low single figures! The course was well presented and is very challenging. The view from the patio makes it look quite straightforward but the reality several holes in is that the holes are very varied and whilst some fairways are quite wide, they often slope so straight hitting is an even more desirable attribute. The greens were quite quick and quite consistent. The problem we really had was the length of the rough which did make ball searching a lengthy process at times even if you knew where it had gone. The weather of the past few weeks with torrential rain and followed by scorching sunshine would have doubtless meant it had been difficult for the greens staff to catch up but it did mean a round of 4.5 hours as predicted on the score card and which we achieved. This is an excellent and challenging hotel course - in my experience it's not often one can say that - and the hotel facilities are outstandingly good to go with it.

We have just come back from a weekend at Abbey Hotel (8 members in our party with very different golf handicaps) and all I can do is to echo the previous reports. There are some good holes on this course; the par 3's are very good. Hit the right shots and you will be rewarded. This is a good place for a society as the course, while testing better golfers, will not harshly penalize those of lesser ability. The greens deserve special praise. Whilst not the quickest I have played they were consistent across the course. The only downside is slow play (5 hours plus for a round of golf) caused in the main by a society of 24 totally unaware ladies who wouldn't let anyone through no matter how slow they were. I think the course in general would benefit from a roving marshal in a buggy 'chivvying' them along. Believe me they needed it. The staff in the hotel were excellent and nothing was too much trouble including the retrieval of a lady golfer's Powercaddy which she had somehow managed to steer into a deep stream! We will return.

Just returend from a 2 day golf break on the hottest two days of the year - so far. Our group of 12 teed off on time, only to spend over 1 hour before we had completed 3 holes! The course was hosting Land Rover's Golf Day and although they had all cleare the first hole okay, it resulted in horrendous queues on all subsequent tees. Therefore we were never able to get into any rhythm during a round that took nearly 6 hours to complete! Monday was a different story with the round taking less than 4.5 hours. Course was in good condition except for the bunkers which had variable quality of sand and inadequate quality rakes (some were just heads without any shafts). Some nice holes throughout the round, although it was unusual not to have any Par 3's after the 11th. Off the course the hotel couldn't be faulted. Rooms and food were good, and the staff friendly. Nice leisure centre with a good sized pool.

I organised a society weekend for 40 golfers here in May and everything about the trip was a pleasure. The course is both challenging but does reward good shots and the banter on the 18th is a great way to finish a round of golf. The staff in all areas of the hotel & golf were very helpful and made us very welcombe. The food was excellent and we will be coming back.

I played this course on a weekend golf break a fortnight ago and it had been raining non-stop for days. Nice. Play was suspended for an hour or so due to a couple of water-logged greens, but we managed to get out. Obviously very soft and the greens were surprisingly quick ! Not too many bunkers protecting the greens but I managed to find plenty fairway ones ! Condition very good considering atrocious recent weather. Quite a challenging course, pretty narrow with water on 8 holes. The front 9 is quite short - 3000 yards off the yellows, with the back 9 being 3400, with plenty of par 4 holes. Despite this, every hole was very different - I liked it ! Due to the rain, we didn't use the driving range/putting green but the pro shop was well-stocked and 'Tawny' bar above the shop was very pleasant. Decent food & drink and a terrace area overlooking overlooking the 18th green. £115 for a 2 rounds of golf, dinner, bed & breakfast ? Can't go wrong !

Our fourball found the course to be superb value as part of a 'Sunday Driver' package. The course was very well maintained with the rough well controlled, although the greens were a little dry and bumpy. Par 3's over water offer an excellent distance/accuracy challenge. Most of the other holes have wide fairways and are pretty forgiving of wayward drives. The green of the 18th is right in front of the hotel bar, making for some real pressure shots as everyone is watching.

Great Course, enough difficult holes to make it challenging it is a little boggy in the winter but apart from that very well kept If your in the area its worth playing

It's easy peasy, no real trouble, fairly flat but not dull so it's good for a confidence boost. It's very odd walking through a posh housing estate between 1st and 2nd then again on 9 to 10th but it's worth it. The tees and fairways were very good but the greens were rubbish. Our society played there 2 weeks ago and stayed overnight in the hotel too. We paid £100 for two days of golf and an overnight stay with breakfast and evening meal. We won't be returning there, mainly because both rounds took 5 hours because they bunch people too tightly together and there is nobody marshalling the course to make people get a move on. That in conjunction with the appalling greens and pricey food, drink and rooms means that I wouldn't recommend it.

Very Good course, does not feel like 6400yds (off yellows) Well laid out although oddly the walk between some holes takes you through a housing estate! The par threes and the 18th are the most difficult holes take great care with club selection on these but the other holes give you plenty of chance to rip it off the tee without being penalised too much for wayward shots.The greens very fast and tricky. We got round in 4 hours - a 3 ball no problem. Only complaint is the lack of signage to the next tee's. Great value with 2 fore 1 vouchers if you have them, I would definately play there again.

A nice fair course, however some of the back nine are a little boring, greens are excellent and the staff are always very helpful.

12 guys just had a brilliant w/end.Superb golf,excellant food and accommadation,all staff very helpfull and friendly.Not one complaint amongst the twelve

Played this course on 2nd June. In excellent condition, particularly the greens, it is clearly well looked after. £18 for the green fee - very good value. I went round alone and it took about 3 hours and would not consider that the course is overly long. do play it if you are in the area.

Played this course a few times and loved it every time. It is very long so if you stike the ball long gives you good chance to test your ditances and greens are in very good condition. As well as long holes the par 3's are very challenging and require lots of right club selection and accuracy.

Played the course w/e 31st October. The course was a real challenge due to being very very wet. The greens were excellent when i finaly got there. Not a course if you want a quick game it took over 5 hours each round.Quite a distance between tees. In good conditions this course would be excellent and a good challenge to all golfers. The hotel is good with excellent leisure facilities. Hotel offer special golf packages.

Really enjoyed both days here. Course is very good especially when the sun is out,lost a lot of balls though(you will need loads if you play like I did). Hotel was very good well recomended,price of the beer not to bad either. Only snipe no four seater buggies. Apart from that nice greens and staff very friendly. Good course for a beginner to get a couple of pars under their belt like I did. Would come again later in year see if it was any different. Quick tip turn left/right opp Citreon garage and your on the right road as directions a bit fuzzy.

great course great hotel great food all in all great day well worth the money a must for any golfer

Very challenging course especially for high handicappers. The course has several water hazards which have to be played over so take plenty of balls. One problem is getting a game it is booked solid all week with corperates, members like me find it very difficult to book a time. Good course but do not join unless you are very flexible with your tee off times.

Hey what a weekend, great food and beer and a great golf course to play. The Abbey is unique that you actually play at the side of a newish housing estate but dont let that put you off, the course is testing and the par 3s are perfect for recking a card - beware of the swans on the 11th, bloody things wouldnt let us by because of her signets. The 5th is a great par 4 The 6th agreat par 5 , long and blind for two or three shots. The 18th , well go for the green if your big but if you have agood card in your hand it should be an easy par or easy birdie.. Cant wait for next years visit.... Cheers - Daz Woolley , Maywood G.C. handicap of 5

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

this course is a great test of golf,ive played it many times.its long and there's water on 7 holes to catch you out,greens and fairways are looked after well. a lot of work has been done on drainage because it used to suffer in the winter being a clay bed course .if you like a challenge .this is the one for you !

I think the codition of the greens and the standard of maintenance is a credit to the staff who look after the course,well done.