[62] SEPTEMBER 2016 | UK TRAVEL
GOLFNEWS.CO.UK
MAKE A BREAK FOR THE MANOR If variety is the spice of a golfer’s life, then you should book your next golfing break at the Manor House and Ashbury Hotel in Devon, a delightful Dartmoorbased resort that boasts no fewer than seven 18-hole courses
A
lthough they say that good things come in small packages, when that package refers to golf courses, I’m firmly in ‘the bigger the better’ and the ‘more the merrier’ camp. And there are few more enjoyable places to play, and no venues in the UK with a wider golfing menu, than that offered at the Manor House and Ashbury Hotels in Devon, which lays claims to being comfortably the largest golf resort in the United Kingdom. The popular Okehampton-based resort boasts a staggering seven 18-hole courses – adding up to a whopping 99 holes – all on the same 600-acre site. This unique complex offers four full-length 18hole courses (6,528-yard Kigbeare; 6,400-yard Pines, 5,765-yard Beeches, and the 5,502-yard Oakwood), and a further 18-hole par-3 course, the Willows. And if that wasn’t enough golf to be going on with, two further different 18-hole loops can be made from
TheManor House
& Ashbury Hotels
- The Only Sport, Craft & Spa Hotels in the UK
Among the many highlights are the par-three third and par-five 16th, which features a 180-foot drop on your approach to the green, while the driveable par-four 4th is also a cracking hole to test your accuracy with a wood or hybrid. It would be wise not to think that the lack of yardage on other layouts means they are easy courses. With lakes, bunkers, ditches, hedges and the occasional blind shot to contend with, and not to mention the huge greens, many of which are tiered, you really do have to plot your way round to score well. And with so much great golf on offer, it requires more than a weekend to tackle all the holes on offer, so 3-4 night breaks are ideal if you want to get the full Manor House experience. The golf break packages on offer are stacked with extras, including free 27 holes of golf per day throughout your stay, and golf buggies for as little as £8 per round, so that guests can play all seven layouts without fear of running out of stamina! Away from the golf courses there is plenty to keep couples, groups and families occupied, with many facilities available free of change to guests, including 11 tennis courts, 12 badminton courts, 13 bowls rinks, 30 snooker tables, 10 lanes of ten-pin bowling, three swimming pools, five target ranges, team sports, and numerous exercise classes. Guests also enjoy free use of two state-of-the-art hydro spas throughout their stay, and with saunas,
FREE GOLF at
steam rooms and relaxation loungers also on offer, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind after a busy day of activities. Visitors can also pamper themselves with a choice of over 20 health and beauty treatments, including hot stones massage, facials and manicures – all at great value prices. There is also a brand new 18-hole adventure golf course that is available to test putting skills on free of charge, while a children’s games room features pool, table football, air hockey and games consoles. For the more artistically-minded guests, two craft centres offer 17 tutored crafts, including pottery, glass engraving, hot press printing and woodwork. All tutoring is offered free of charge, with guests only required to pay for minimal material costs. Accommodation is spread across the Manor House Hotel, which offer 203 comfortable en suite rooms, and Ashbury Hotel, which boasts a further 222 rooms, all of which feature TVs, tea and coffeemaking facilities and hair dryers. With all packages offering full board, guests can indulge themselves, with the buffet style breakfast proving a big hit with golfers looking to build up their energy levels before a full day’s golfing. Perfectly set up to accommodate golfing groups of all sizes, as well as couples and young families, The Manor House and Ashbury Hotels should be high on your list for your next golfing break. For the latest packages, call 0800 389 9892 or visit www.ashburygolfhotel.com.
“I’ve never played such fantastic courses”
The UK’s Largest Golf Resort
Stephen W - Trip Advisor
Set in the foothills of Dartmoor National Park, Devon. The Ashbury Hotel is the ideal venue for your golf break. At least 27 holes of FREE golf with each night of stay! Pines 17th 442 yards, Par 4
Oakwood 16th 172 yards, Par 3
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06/10/16 - 26/04/17 • FREE Golf • ½ Price Buggies - £8 • 10% OFF Health & Beauty
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Autumn to Spring
combining two of the nine from either the Pines and Ashbury layouts. The golf courses, which all offer stunning views of Dartmoor and across the rolling Devon countryside towards Exmoor, utilise the natural features of the landscape, making the most of mature trees, hedgerows and ponds to provide truly breathtaking holiday golf, while the region’s free-draining soil ensures playing conditions are perfect throughout the year. The Kigbeare is the longest and arguably best of the courses on offer. Starting and finishing outside the clubhouse on two of the original holes built in 1991, 14 of the holes have been constructed on the Kigbeare Estate and include some of the finest holes on the complex. Over 8,000 large, mature trees give the course a feel beyond its years, while helping to provide the tree-lined fairways that define many of the holes.
Oakwood 4th 321 yards, Par 4
Multi Sport Simulators
November & December Bargain Breaks from £50pppn Full Board!
PLUS unique Craft Centre featuring 17 tutored crafts, including Pottery, Woodwork, Glass Engraving & Hot Press Printing
0800 389 9892
Par 72 Par 72 Par 69 Par 68 Par 69 Par 71 Par 54
6528 6400 5803 5502 5775 6111 1939
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Sports Racket Sports Leisure Ranges Family Bowls Swimming Funhouse Tennis Archery Table Tennis Badminton Spa & Sauna Gamezone Air Pistols 5-A-Side Snooker Waterslides Air Rifles Squash Basketball Short Tennis Ten-Pin Lasers Play Area
Kigbeare Pines Beeches Oakwood Ashbury 9 + Pines Front 9 Ashbury 9 + Pines Back 9 Willows
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Additional Facilities FREE to residents of our hotels
All Weather Sports Pitch & Running Track
ashburygolfhotel.com
• All prices per person • All rooms en-suite • Full board • Party discounts •