THE COURSE

The course measures 6334 yards from the white tees (Par 70), 6116 from the yellows tees (Par 70) and 5381 from the ladies tees. Ashton & Lea is a fairly flat course and provides a fair test of golf for players of all abilities, but it is a course that requires the player to think and plot their way round.

The course features three tricky par-3's, most notably the 6th, where out of bounds awaits any errant tee shots leaked to the right. Water plays its part at Ashton & Lea, as seven holes on the back nine are affected by it. Another of the outstanding holes is the short par-4 13th - on the tee the player is faced with either attempting to fly the water that lurks around 210 yards from the tee, or play safe and lay-up short leaving a longer second. The approach shot is played downhill to a bowl shaped green; a par here is readily accepted.

The greens at Ashton & Lea are small and elusive and the course has a reputation for being one of the best kept in the North West.