Minchinhampton (Avening)

Minchinhampton (Avening)

Nearby Courses

19 miles away

Cleeve Hill

24 miles away

St Pierre Country Club (Old)

28 miles away

Rolls of Monmouth

Renowned as one of the best complexes in the west, Minchinhampton is home to three top-class courses. Built on limestone, high up on the rolling Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, the Old, the Cherington and the Avening handle rain exceptionally, thus offering play throughout the year. Their location also makes for scenic views and each track has its own distinct feel and character. As you’d expect, the Old was the first course here. Built in 1889 it is as traditional as you are likely to see, with no bunkers and a distinctly links-type feel.

There are bumps and mounds to navigate and sunken greens that slope and undulate. If you play golf along the ground you’ll love this course.

The Avening – a Fred Hawtree design – is very different. With a whole host of tricky bunkers, and several lakes, there is a lot more to catch you out and overall the test is much more modern.

The Cherington is arguably the club’s prized asset. Although the newest course, it held regional Open qualifying from 2002 to 2007 and was also host of the 2007 Mid Amateur.

The Cherington has a links feel with large, testing greens that are seriously tricky to read. The courses are quietest on Wednesdays and Thursdays so they are great times to visit.

Top Holes, by staff writer Joe Whitley


Old Course: 9th, par 4, 373 yards

Regarded by many as the best hole on the course, this sharp dogleg left is a real challenge to all standard of player. The green is guarded and the tee shot is tight thanks to trees at either side of the fairway. In a style typical of the course, there are plenty of bumps to consider when hitting your approach.

Avening Course: 15th, par 4, 420 yards

Another dogleg that is highly regarded. The hole bends from left to right and the corner is heavily guarded by bunkers and a tree. Play your tee shot up the left of the fairway to have the best chance of hitting the tiered green guarded by bunkers.

Par is always recognised as a good score here.

Cherington Course: 12th, par 4, 428 yards

Moving onto arguably the club’s No 1 course, this is officially the second-hardest hole on the card. This lengthy par 4 features what looks like an open tee shot but is in fact home to plenty of thick, spindly rough and is flanked by dry-stone walls.

The green, which is slightly below your approach shot, is large and undulating with significant borrows.