Garden Park Golf Club ****

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, Chester, CH3 9DQ

Website: www.devereonline.co.uk

Nearest main town: Chester

 

Carden Park is a member of the Jack Nicklaus design stable and is also the first co-design in Britain with his son, Steve.

The first course at Carden Park has been open since 1993, but the addition of a Nicklaus course makes it a popular venue for visitors and societies. Essentially, this is a one-stop shop for golfers with the Nicklaus teaching facility, one of the best pro shops in the country, an excellent driving range and a luxury hotel.

But Carden Park has essentially received the accolades on account of the course, an innovative, imaginative layout, demanding the best from players, whether you're a scratch golfer or a high handicapper. Even though it can be relatively short off the front tees, the tiger tees transform the challenge to 7010 yards.

The course embodies the ethos of the Nicklaus design - golf should be fun, challenging and fair (some say this means easy). Everything is in front of the player with no blind shots, hidden obstacles or surprises. Two holes, the 7th and 15th, embody the characteristic Nicklaus double-fairway option with the emphasis purely on risk and reward.

An elevated tee with a dramatic drop to a fairway bordered by trees on the left is the start of the Nicklaus experience. Immediately from the 450-yard, par-4 1st, the emphasis is put on length and accuracy, qualities the Golden Bear had perhaps more than anyone.

After the short par-4 2nd, you face up to one of a tough selection of par-3s; the 205-yard 3rd is perhaps the pick. The 12th is another strong par-3 at 231 yards with water on the right and a well-guarded green. Two par-5s on the back nine at the 13th and 18th make a tough closing loop, but those who can drive the ball will really enjoy the test.

 

Secretary: Ms G. Burgess

Tel: 01829 731600 Fax: 01829 731629

Professional:

Tel: 01829 731500 Fax: 01829 731629

Playing: Midweek: round £40.00 (Cheshire), £60.00 (Nicklaus); day n/a. Weekend: round £40.00 (Cheshire), £60.00 (Nicklaus); day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Bar snacks.

Comments: Beautifully presented course with excellent facilities... Fair to all handicaps. .. Young course but a club with the right attitude. .. Best course played since St Andrews. . .Top-class practice facilities... Very good driving range for practice... Nicklaus boys have excelled themselves . .. Progressive club going the right way with this park­land layout - keep it up.

 

Birchwood Golf Club ***

Kelvin Close, Birchwood, Warrington, WA3 7PB

Nearest main town: Warrington

 

Secretary: Mrs A. Harper

Tel: 01925 818819 Fax: 01925 822403

Professional: Mr P. McEwan

Tel: 01925 816574 Fax: 01925 816574

Playing: Midweek: round £18.00; day £26.00. Weekend: round £34.00; day £34.00.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 12pm-6pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Excellent facilities all round... Just under 7000 yards but still a fair test. . . Moorland marvel.. . 612-yard par­5 a novelty... Bit of everything on this underrated, undulating layout.