Carden Park (Nicklaus) - Cheshire - England

17th Cheshire - Best in Area
Carden Park,
Broxton Road,
Nr Chester,
Cheshire,
CH3 9DQ,
England

  • +44 (0) 1829 731000

Championships hosted: PGA Seniors

The Golden Bear team of Jack and his son Steve worked their magic on Carden Park’s Nicklaus course and it opened for play in July 1998. It was quickly recognised by a leading golf magazine as one of the ten best new courses to have opened since 1996. The historic 17th century Carden Park estate occupies some 750 acres of prime Cheshire countryside and has become a golfing Mecca in the northwest of England; it’s worth a detour on the way to the links wonderland between Liverpool and Blackpool.

The Nicklaus course has appeared highly in our rankings but has recently fallen from favour. So, what is it really like? Well, it's a tough golf course but then it would be, wouldn’t it, if Nicklaus had a hand in it, it was bound to be challenging.

Park-like ground is not always conducive to all-weather golf, but the drainage has been installed well. The conditioning of the course is generally good and the holes are typically Nicklaus-like, pleasurable but eminently fair, everything is laid out clearly in front of you. There are two double fairways, there’s plenty of water and many strategically placed bunkers. Additionally, as is normal on Nicklaus courses, there are plenty of teeing areas, five in total. Consequently, it makes the course playable for golfers of all standards. Measuring a chunky 7,045 yards from the black tees to a leisurely 5,211 yards from the reds.

In essence, the Nicklaus course at Carden Park is fun. It holds your interest very well. It isn’t the most inspiring piece of parkland in the world, but Nicklaus has made full use of the land that was readily available. Despite being in its infancy, the Nicklaus course at Carden Park has already played host to the PGA Seniors Tour on two occasions.

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Reviews for Carden Park (Nicklaus)

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Description: The historic 17th century Carden Park Estate occupies some 750 acres of prime Cheshire countryside and has become a golfing Mecca in the northwest of England with the Nicklaus course the jewel in the crown. Rating: 3.9 out of 10 Reviews: 13
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Paul Howard

This is a strange one... quite frankly, I didn’t know what to make of it. I probably felt a bit disappointed due to the Nicklaus name.

Without a doubt the layout is above average but when you consider courses that Jack has designed this is hardly in keeping with it. The set out accompanied with the hotel, spa and the driving range is fantastic. The clubhouse is fabulous too.... but there was nothing above average about the course, I’m afraid.

There are some lovely holes, and some nice views. However I didn’t leave thinking that I’d like to play one particular hole again. One of my fourball suggested the course had just landed on a farmers field.

Condition wise the greens were good albeit it very slow. The rough was poorly defined in terms of there was no semi cut. Given the pandemic their was no rakes so it’s unfair to discuss the bunkers. The fairways are in need of sprinklers in order to create the lush surface a good drive deserves.

Yes I would play it again... yes it’s good... it’s just not in keeping with the good name of Jack Nicklaus.

July 21, 2020
5 / 10
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Dan Hare

A very nice golf course, excellent facility and a great day to be had if you also play (as noted in the main review) the superior Cheshire course which has some great fun golf with changes of elevation and green locations (4 ball).

July 15, 2016
4 / 10
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Aidan Healey
Played here in November last year when it was wet and windy but was very impressed. Being a member of DeVere Oulton Hall it was nice to come a way and play a different course and was glad I chose Carden Park. The course was in excellent condition for November with the only downside been the greens had just been hollow tined but still run fast and fairly true. A very modern course with plenty of lakes and water hazards with the standout holes been the drive able par 4 6th , split fairway 7th and the 16th and 17th holes respectively, in my opinion better than the Hunting at Slaley and very similar to Wychwood Park. Would recommend it to anyone and look forward to coming back and playing the Cheshire course in the future!
December 09, 2012
6 / 10
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Pete Peterson
Played this course on 9th Aug 2011 and was very disappointed especially as the Cheshire Course at Carden Pk is wonderful. To be blunt, the Nicklaus course is boring with many of the holes drab and featurelss. It's a difficult course and the bunkers are impressive as traps but on the day we played there was virtually no sand in any of them and getting out was a lottery. Some of the holes are unreachable in regulation even for the medium handicap golfer so words like "unfair" may be bandied about in the bar afterwards. Play the Cheshire Course at Carden Park instead.
August 09, 2011
4 / 10
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dan
August 12, 2011
I didn't find it unfair (10 hcap), but certainly it is the second course to the Cheshire.
Eugene Kirk
August 23, 2011
Cheshire undoubtedly the better course both from a design and maintenance point of view. I thought that the second shots to all par fives were so fraught with danger as to make going for the greens very unwise and as so frustrating. Some drivable par fours and long par threes-very tough finish to Cheshire-would not relish standing on the 16th tee with a good score going!
David
June 11, 2012
Played the course last year and loved it. Played yesterday and no sand in the bunkers and first cut of rough 3 to 4 inches long on the whole course. I will be very disappointed if this is a permanent feature as it was no fun at all to play and will stop me returning.
Lucy Slater
Magnificent course, after reading the reviews below I was a little dubious about booking this course but I have to say that I was extremely impressed. I spent a couple of days at Carden Park and played both courses and found them both to be most enjoyable. The Nicklaus Course is testing and because we could go off any tees this made it enjoyable for our whole group as we have a wide mix of handicaps. Talking to a couple of members in the bar they explained that there has been a great deal of work done on the course over the last couple of years which has taken place since the new Estates Manager arrived. I will definitely be returning as the whole experience was wonderful from the courses to the staff I couldn’t fault a thing. We are planning to return in the next couple of months to play both courses.
October 17, 2010
8 / 10
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Billy Bob
September 16, 2011
It would be interesting to know who wrote this review, sounds like an inside job. Nobody I know enjoys playing this course. How it's got a rating, heaven knows. If you're going to Carden play the Cheshire, it's got a cracking back nine.
Carl Tushingham
Not sure how this course has any sort of ranking? There are no stand out holes just lots of well placed bunkers and water. The tee boxes were poor, the fairways had drainage lines everywhere and the greens were covered in moss. It is no better than many average courses nationwide, infact The Cheshire course on the complex is much more attractive and in much better condition and does have some very nice holes. The hotel and service you receieve is top notch, shame the course isn't, Big Jack would not be a happy man with this.
July 07, 2009
2 / 10
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Blake Norton
Don't bother with this course. If you want to play at Carden Park then play the Cheshire course. I've played the Nicklaus 4 times and it has never been in good condition. Last time I played they were digging up all the fairways. We was not told of this when we booked or even before we went out to play. Big disappointment and won't be bothering again.
March 10, 2009
1 / 10
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Rod
May 25, 2009
Couldn't agree more. It is a hard course, but I can't say I really enjoyed any of it, just a dull slog. Like you say though, the Cheshire course is better (beautiful, aside from some very average middle holes) and I'd far rather play that one again. No idea what it's doing with a ranking, it's flat, uninteresting, and maintained poorly. It may bear the Bear's name, but I don't think he'd be impressed if he played it now.
GOLFNUT
Myself and 18 players from Sherwood Forest Golf Club had a one night and two round break in May and the course was in poor condition ( Nicklaus )no memorable holes to speak of. The second course back 9 was better but will not be going back again.
June 03, 2008
2 / 10
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Joe
Played the course in March, thinking that after some nice weather the course would be in good condition (as my home course was). However, after playing with 2 other friends there I have to say that this is the biggest waste of money course I have ever been to. The fairways were under repair (every 60 yards there were big ditches running the width of the fairway) and the tees resembled a pitch and putt course. We paid full green fees and were disgusted when a refund wasn't offered afterwards.
May 17, 2008
1 / 10
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Pantera_Heath
A rather disapointing golf course. Shuts for the winter because it has american drainage. Not up to normal Nicklaus standards and you can tell it was not designed by him personallly. Poor
August 30, 2007
2 / 10
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