|
 |
 |
Abridge, England |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abridge Golf & Country Club
Epping Lane
Stapleford Tawney
Essex
RM4 1ST |  | Henry Cotton |  | Steve Tyson |
|
 | +44 (0) 1708 688 396 |  | M25 J26, direction Epping, |
 |
Golf Club Website
|
 | Welcome, contact in advance. |  | Scott Morley |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Abridge Golf & Country Club was formed in the early 1960s and has come a long way since The South Essex Jewish Golfing Society decided they needed a golf course. Today Abridge is indisputably one of the best courses in the county of Essex and, to finally herald the club’s coming of age, Open Championship Regional Qualifying was staged at Abridge for the first time in 2009.
Despite being located close to the M25, Abridge is shielded from the motorway and is situated in a pleasantly undulating area of natural beauty in the heart of the county and this was the first course designed by Henry Cotton.
At around 6,700 yards it’s not the longest course in Essex, but with a number of surprising elevation changes and several plateau greens you can factor in an additional several hundred yards to the overall length. Be prepared for a testing challenge regardless of your golfing standard.
Abridge is renowned for exceptional greens and well maintained fairways, coupled with some great golf holes. The 10th, 11th and 12th holes are known as the Abridge 'Amen Corner' – all three par fours stretch out beyond 400 yards with out of bounds all the way on the left. The favourite hole for many will be the par three 2nd and the introduction of a pond that eats into the green on the right hand side is an exciting feature.
Essex boasts around ninety golf courses and Abridge Golf & Country Club is certainly in the county's premier league. | |
|
| |
If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
|
|
|
|
|
 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | I went to Abridge to watch Regional Qualifying in June 2011 and was lucky enough to play the course later that week with a friend who is a non-Jewish club member. Presented in its championship livery, Abridge is a great course and I have played it many times over the years and yes, it can get soggy in the winter (as can Chigwell and the vast majority of other courses in this area) but Abridge is always in better condition than the others. Overall I think Abridge is a solid golf course that tests the very best. Only three players broke 70 during Regional Qualifying this year and that is why it’s used. I suspect had the same pros played at Chigwell most players would have scored in the 60s. Don’t get me wrong, I like Chigwell, but it’s not in the same league as Abridge re the golfing test. |
|
|
| 16 August 2011
|
Reply
|
| | The R and A came here and chose to host Open RQ hope they sort out the appalling 18th hole - considering they have the whole of suffolk and essex to choose from i cant believe its for golf reasons they chose this, very bland up and down side by side design- the members who payed to build this couldnt get on the waiting list at Chigwell ,a proper course , there is an almighty large practice ground the track is heavy underfoot in places - uninspiring |
|
|
| 08 January 2009
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | David Keller | 09 October 2010 | | The reason why the Abridge members paid to have this course built is because they were jews and Chigwell refused them entry to their "proper" course! | | | Hugh | 16 August 2011 | | Not the best closing hole I agree, but have you played the 18th at the PGA Centenary? That's a shocker and I think the Ryder Cup is a more prominent event than RQ! | | | BEN | 31 August 2011 | | Chigwell a proper course. Don't make me laugh. I've had gnat bites bigger than some of the greens. I think you'll find the reason is deeper rooted than simply couldn't get on the waiting list at Chigwell! | | | Conor | 21 July 2012 | | Abridge is 100000000 times better than chigwell, harder, always in better condition, you don't know what your talking about!! Plus abridge was built because chigwell didnt let Jewish people play at the club!! |
| | | I found this to be a decent course with some pleasant holes, although I have to agree with earlier reviews that there are too many holes where you can't see the bottom of the flag on your approach. There needs to be a little more varity. To cap it off there is quite a poor finishing hole. |
|
|
| 04 November 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Abridge has been chosen to be an Open qualifying course for next year so I was expecting it to be a level above the other local courses but it left me slightly disappointed. There is no doubting the course is well maintained and there are several holes where standing on the raised tee it’s very pleasing on the eye with the hole laid out in front of you, the par 3’s were varied and testing but what bothered me was that the majority of the Par 4 & 5’s you were hitting into a raised green where you either couldn’t see the bottom of the flag or even see the green at all. |
|
|
| 19 October 2008
|
Reply
|
| | Having lived in Essex for more than 15 years I can safely say that there isn’t a single Essex course that has managed to get my pulse racing. Abridge is another of those Essex tracks, along with Thorndon Park, Orsett, Channels, Five Lakes (Lakes), Stoke by Nayland, The Warren, Braintree, Frinton and Chelmsford that falls into the almost good category. Abridge is certainly in the upper tier of Essex courses but has no premier league competition. It plays longer than its length suggests as the heavy ground tends to get damp. Quite tight in places and with some memorable holes including the 2nd and 9th Abridge is certainly a nice layout and a decent club but few people who want to play truly great golf courses will choose Essex as their golfing destination. |
|
|
| 13 October 2008
|
Reply
|
| Response: | | | ivor | 27 September 2011 | | Try Rochford Hundred Golf Club near Southend. Not terribly long but accuracy is key. Club house very historic. Anne Boleyn's Hunting House. |
| | | Abridge is a good course but not quite in the very good category. There is a great clubhouse atmosphere and a healthy membership but the course sort of echoes Essex golf as a whole, which is ok but not stunning. Great 2nd hole (par-3 with a pond at the green) but overall there are far too many uphill approaches to the greens (12 holes I think). Biggest memory coming away from the course is the high tees, driving downhill, and then playing to the flag or at least the green, blind. Course maintenance is good and the aprons in front of the greens really smart but not enough holes to excite me enough to return I think. |
|
|
| 22 September 2008
|
Reply
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
