The Astbury, Shropshire

Arriving at The Astbury, the home of a bona fide rockstar, you can’t be quite sure what to expect but one thing you certainly wouldn't expect to find is an 18-hole golf course. The entrance to KK Downing's Astbury Hall complex is surprisingly understated but don’t be fooled – there’s a sizeable manor house to be found and preparations are underway to transform the site into a village of holiday homes. For more news from a golf club near you CLICK HERE Downing, the former Judas Priest heavy metal guitarist, has retired to this corner of Shropshire and embraced his new passion in some style – by actually designing the course himself. Situated as it is in two distinct fields on the estate, the layout has an exclusive feel. Make sure you download the free app before you arrive to make sure you can plot your way around the course – there is certainly a lot of plotting required. Hazards can be hidden from view. On one hole, having chipped up to a flag above me, I confidently strode up the slope only to discover I was nestled snugly in a bunker I didn’t even know existed. Take a buggy to the 1st tee, which is built on the new side of the course. Glass-like greens built to USGA specifications are extremely testing while the fairways are firm and run true. But the wispy rough is extremely punishing so discretion is often the better part of valour. But it’s the 10th tee where the course really explodes into life, and what attracted Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke to sign up as official ambassador. From the championship tees, you drive from in front of the manor house, and with outbuildings on either side, you really get a sense of golfing in a millionaire’s playground.

"I confidently strode up the slope, only to discover I was nestled snugly in a bunker"

It’s the clay that has allowed the course to be sculpted by Downing and the former rocker now stands in the upstairs windows of his manor house and looks out over the course, planning the next set of improvements. Speaking to Ken afterwards, he explained how he has never been a long hitter, and the design of the course reflects this. Fairways appear wide-hipped from the tee and get progressively narrower as you head towards the green. Laying up is not to be sniffed at, especially when the rough is up in the summer. My advice is to use your driver sparingly, and focus instead on staying on the fairways. Similarly, while the professionals can spin the ball and hold the greens, mere mortals should consider playing for the front of the greens and allowing the ball to roll on. Despite the spectacular weather, the course was deserted and our round was interrupted only by the occasional whistle from steam trains on the Severn Valley Railway or cantankerous pheasants crossing the course. [gallery ids="eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbmNnLWxpdmUtYXNzZXRzLmFtczMuY2RuLmRpZ2l0YWxvY2VhbnNwYWNlcy5jb21cL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTVcLzA1XC9JTUdfMzM0MS5qcGciLCJ0aXRsZSI6IklNR18zMzQxIiwiY2FwdGlvbiI6IlRoZSBBc3RidXJ5IiwiYWx0IjoiVGhlIEFzdGJ1cnkiLCJkZXNjcmlwdGlvbiI6IlRoZSBBc3RidXJ5In0=,eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbmNnLWxpdmUtYXNzZXRzLmFtczMuY2RuLmRpZ2l0YWxvY2VhbnNwYWNlcy5jb21cL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTVcLzA1XC9JTUdfMzMzOS5qcGciLCJ0aXRsZSI6IklNR18zMzM5IiwiY2FwdGlvbiI6IlRoZSBBc3RidXJ5IEdvbGYgQ2x1YiIsImFsdCI6IiIsImRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIjoiIn0=,eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbmNnLWxpdmUtYXNzZXRzLmFtczMuY2RuLmRpZ2l0YWxvY2VhbnNwYWNlcy5jb21cL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTVcLzA1XC9JTUdfMzM1Mi5qcGciLCJ0aXRsZSI6IklNR18zMzUyIiwiY2FwdGlvbiI6IlRoZSBBc3RidXJ5IEdDIiwiYWx0IjoiIiwiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiIifQ=="] The Astbury culminates in a spectacular par 3, back towards the manor house. The carry is almost entirely over water, so it can make or break your round. It is easy to imagine the crowds and television cameras looking on at the tour event which Downing so covets. The pro shop and a cosy bar at The Astbury can be found in one half of the manor – with the other half forming the owner's residence. The current clubhouse facilities are lavish but will soon be replaced – the construction of a clubhouse and Irish pub are planned for land on the other side of the driveway. He has lofty ambitions for this course, and a passion to showcase it on the highest stage, so take the opportunity to play on it now, while a round remains incredibly reasonably priced.