
Avon Course
Woodspring Golf and Country Club

About this course
Woodspring Golf and Country Club sits in Long Ashton, a village on the southwestern edge of Bristol in Somerset. The course was designed by Donald Steel, Peter Alliss, and Clive Clark, a collaboration that brought together Steel's architectural expertise with Alliss's playing experience and course design interests. The layout occupies gently rolling parkland characteristic of this part of the West Country, with the Mendip Hills visible in the distance on clear days. The design takes advantage of the natural contours of the Somerset landscape, incorporating mature trees and strategic bunkering throughout the routing. Steel, who established himself as one of Britain's most prolific golf course architects in the latter half of the twentieth century, worked on numerous courses across the United Kingdom and Europe. His partnership with Alliss, the former Ryder Cup player and longtime BBC commentator, resulted in several courses during the 1970s and 1980s. Clive Clark, also a touring professional turned designer, contributed his playing perspective to the project. The course serves as the centerpiece of a country club facility that includes additional amenities typical of such establishments in England. The Somerset location places it within reach of Bristol's population while maintaining a semi-rural setting. The layout provides a test for members and visitors navigating the parkland terrain, with hole variety shaped by the property's topography and the designers' strategic use of hazards and green complexes.
Quick facts
- Location
- Long Ashton, Somerset, England
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1994
- Designer(s)
- Donald Steel, Peter Alliss, Clive Clark
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 37
- Length
- 2,948 yards
- Difficulty
- 34.1/130
Getting there
The journey to Woodspring Golf and Country Club begins at Bristol Airport, a compact regional hub less than twenty minutes south by car, or via the more distant London Heathrow for international arrivals, followed by a two-hour westward drive through the Cotswolds and into Somerset. From Bristol city center, the route is a brief ten-minute escape southwest along the A370, crossing the River Avon and climbing gently into the elevated village of Long Ashton, where suburban sprawl gives way to open farmland and hedgerow-lined lanes. The final approach reveals sweeping views across the Avon Gorge and the Bristol Channel beyond, a dramatic natural amphitheater that frames the club's secluded hilltop setting. Arrival feels less like reaching a destination than ascending into a private enclave suspended between city and countryside, where the hum of Bristol fades into the quiet rustle of Somerset's rolling green.

FAQ
Common questions about Avon at Woodspring Golf and Country Club
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Avon was designed by Donald Steel, Peter Alliss, and Clive Clark.
Yes. Avon at Woodspring Golf and Country Club is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Avon is 37.
Avon plays 2,948 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Avon is 130.
Avon is a 9-hole course.



