Manchester Golf Club ****

Hopwood Cottage, Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6QP

Nearest main town: Manchester

 

Unlike London, which has many fine courses in its suburbs, Manchester is not well blessed, and its best courses are located to the north of the city, where the moorland landscape provides excellent drainage. For many, the best in the area is Bolton Old Links; a venerable course set on the side of a hill with ravines and grand trees. Others choose Manchester, a fine parkland/moorland course located just 10 miles north of the city centre.

Manchester is a very user-friendly course as it is never too busy (peculiar for a course next to such a large urban centre) and has excellent practice facilities. Once you tee off, it won't take you long to realize that the course is not so accommodating, with the wind whipping across the rugged moor­land landscape and accentuating badly struck shots, particularly so with the proliferation of sloping lies you can get on these undulating fairways.

Despite the temptation to try and overwhelm the course with brute strength, Manchester embraces intelligent play, and the members generally cite the 12th as a good example. At this par-4 a driver off the tee will leave you with a longer approach shot but a flat lie. These trade­offs are classic Colt design traits and if you bear this in mind throughout you should have few problems with the course.

As you would expect in this area of the country, the reception at the club is always first class and you always feel as if you are a member of the club, if only for a day. Recommended.

 

Secretary: Mr K. Flett

Tel: 0161 6433202 Fax: 0161 6439174

Professional: Mr B. Connor               

Tel: 0161 6432638

Playing: Midweek: round £25.00; day n/a. Weekend: round £40.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch from 12pm-2.30pm. Dinner by arrangement.

Comments: A course that puts golfers first and not profit...High-class moorland golf at an affordable price. . . Characters at this club make it a pleasure to play...Good finish.

 

Chorlton-cum-Hardy Golf Club ****

Barlow Hall, Barlow Hall Road, Manchester, M21 7 JJ

Nearest main town: Manchester

 

Secretary: Mrs K. Poole

Tel: 0161 881 5830 Fax: 0161 881 4532

Professional: Mr D. Valentine            

Tel: 0161 881 9911

Playing: Midweek: round n/a; day £25.00. Weekend: round n/a; day £30.00.

Facilities: Bar: 12pm-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11 am-9pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Average meadowland course...Keep clear of the streams and ditches...Fair condition but nothing special...Good matchplay course.