Birmingham, United Kingdom

Ackers Adventure DGC

Permanent course
3.175(based on 3 reviews)
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13 0
Jillian
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 4.9 years 27 played 27 reviews
3.00 star(s)

Great layouts, underserved course 2+ years

Reviewed: Played on:Jan 22, 2022 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

-Very fun red and white layouts. The course makes great use of woodland and elevation to make some very replayable holes. There are some super tight tunnels to hit but also some more open opportunities and alot of ace runs. Expect to be challenged to throw dead straight.
-Easy to navigate. Baskets have arrows on directing you to the next tees for each layout. The tee signs themselves accurately describe each hole really well.
-The staff at the centre were friendly and have ammenities.
-£5 for an all day pass is great value for money.
-Super easily accessible via public transport.

Cons:

-For a pay to play course, the maintenance wasn't great. It's already not in the best area and the broken glass and empty vodka bottles littering the course made it feel a bit sketchy for a kids activity centre. The rough is also violent. Super dense brambles and spiky bushes immediately border the very narrow fairways.
-Similar to the above point, random ramblers/dog walkers/kids will walk through the course. Can be an issue on blind shots/just not what you'd expect when paying to play.
-The tees feel unfinished. All are uneven earth tees, some are in tee boxes, some have woodchips.

Other Thoughts:

The course itself was incredibly fun to play. It's well set up, engaging and easy to play. It made me feel like I was playing in WACO and I really lost track of time and kept going round and round and round.
The surrounding package felt a bit hostile and unloved, which is a big shame. The course definitely doesn't get the traffic it should (potentially as it's only 9 holes), but a bit of love would go a long way there.
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6 0
lathama
Bronze level trusted reviewer
Premium Member
Experience: 8.4 years 45 played 45 reviews
3.00 star(s)

A hidden gem 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 27, 2019 Played the course:once

Pros:

Baskets: Brand new baskets which are really easy to see in the dark areas of the course with their yellow rims.

Tee Signs: All really easy to read and follow. I like the elevation changes on the bottom of the maps. Especially for holes where there is a blind tee shot this gives an indication of what to expect.

Managed site: I was lucky enough to meet the centre manager whilst playing (he was crossing the site from the climb tower to the ski centre and had decided to play a couple of holes along the way). He was really excited about the course and the developments that were possible. He also told me of the extreme course the staff have been playing - which includes teeing off from the top of the abseil tower and aiming at basket 5! That sounds epic! All the staff I met were extremely knowledgeable and interested to learn more.

Access: This course is less than 200m from Small heath station. However if arriving on foot, do not walk down to the road entrance of Ackers and follow the drive, it is much quicker to walk along the canal towpath and then cut down the hill to the entrance at the white bridge.

Cons:

Location: This isn't the nicest area of Birmingham and as much as the course is a superb layout, the location its built in may hinder visitor numbers. I was wary about leaving my bag on the ground and looking for baskets when I was faced with a blind tee shot. Please take this comment the wrong way I really enjoyed the course I just felt wary of people around me virtually my whole round

Cost: If you come just to play 1 round £6 is a bit steep. If staying longer then this might make it worth a day trip but for just one round I felt over charged.

Direction maps: Between some holes (clubhouse to 1, 1 to 2/3, 6 to 7) there are direction maps to help you find the next tee. I feel that the one which shows holes 2 and 3 quite confusing and may need reworking. Also maybe next tee arrows could be added to baskets?

Other Thoughts:

This course is superb. It makes full use of the elevation changes which are available and gives some unique holes which I have not seen anywhere else in the UK.

All my descriptions are for the white tee's


Hole 1: A nice S shaped hole, which bends right off the tee and then back left through a small gap in the trees. The basket is cut into the hillside across the dip.

Hole 2: the only wide open hole on the course. Enjoy the freedom to play a nice hyzer to the basket, this will be your only chance.

Hole 3: A blind uphill tee shot, into a deep valley before throwing up again to a plateau where the basket is sat near a deep pot hole. The second hill also has a narrow gap to hit or you will be deep in the hawthorn. A really unique hole and a challenge to get right.

Hole 4: 2 routes off the tee, FH or BH routes available, but both require you to hit small gaps. Overthrow either side and you will be faced with a tricky up shot

Hole 5: Get your crampons out, your gonna need them here. A flat tee shot around 3-4 tress and then up steeply to the basket. The chance of a roll away is great here so be careful.

Hole 6: A superb hole, a blind tee shot down a thin gully. Once you clear the ridge the hole falls away. A low straight shot with a bit of a skip is what you need here. Anywhere left or right and you are in trouble. Careful not to go too far left and the zipwire track comes down.

Hole 7: This hole plays across the old car park, to a low ceiling where the basket is set back in the trees. When the laurel hedges grow up a bit this could be a really difficult hole.

Hole 8: The way this hole has been cut, tricks the eye. Off the tee there is a path which curves slightly left with old tree stumps. Don't be tricked to play up this gully. The basket is over on your right. through the tree base.

Hole 9: A thin tunnel shot to end which plays across a 45 degree slope. Expect a roll away or 2 from here, it is extremely difficult to get a disc to stick on the green. The trees to the right are very dense so any upshot from here could be a fight.

I really enjoyed my round and will return, but only when I have a day free and so I can get better value for my money than one round.
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7 0
rhatton1
Silver level trusted reviewer
Experience: 17.6 years 51 played 49 reviews
3.50 star(s)

Fun and unique course in central Birmingham(Course designer reviewing) 2+ years drive by

Reviewed: Played on:May 18, 2019 Played the course:2-4 times

Pros:

- Baskets are great
- Each hole is unique
- 2 holes, 3 and 7, are unlike any others in the UK and were universally well liked at yesterdays competition.
- Great use of elevation available, ups/downs and sideways.
- Good signage at tees and directing to next holes.
- Disc Hire on site
- Friendly staff on site + lots of other activities.
- Central Birmingham course, easy access without a car.
- Safely designed, no interaction with other holes, no path crossing, no interaction with other park users whilst on the course.
- The wild garlic on hole 9 gives a great scent when walking down the fairway.
- Two distinct sets of tees give two very different rounds

Cons:

- Lacking some length
- Rough at this stage is in places still very rough although this is already starting to break in.
- Some of the bramble/hawthorn patches still around are vicious!
- The area of Birmingham is not the nicest, the area around is industrial and the Rubbish dump nearby smells a bit when the wind is in the wrong direction.
- Slightly RHBH biased as a course
- Hole 6 tee is not finished yet and currently not long enough.

Other Thoughts:

Whilst only 9 holes this is a really really fun place to play and I'd well recommend a trip.

Each hole is totally different to the next and have all been purpose cut through thick woodland and very nasty rough patches. Most holes have multiple ways to play them with different tunnels or routes available.

Notable mentions go out to hole 3 which plays up a hill over a steep valley, up over a steeper hill and then on to a wide green surrounded by trees. All through a wooded tunnel. It's a great looking hole and the 2 is well earned here.

Hole 7 plays across the old car park and asks you to throw above two laurel hedges whilst underneath a low tree canopy with a couple of different gaps to hit. The basket is nestled in the far tree line.

Woodchip tees tie into the surroundings and give good footing at the tees.
It's a really fun course and a must play in the area. Once expanded to 18 holes it will become an easy 4 starrer.
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