The Mere - Cheshire - England

Although I live less than 30 minutes away I hadn't managed to play at The Mere for seven or eight years prior to last month's visit. I think most people would agree that the back nine is the more interesting half by far at this well maintained parkland layout, but the flatter front nine contains a handful of quality holes that are well bunkered and visually appealing.

Following a pleasant opener you encounter the strong 2nd, an attractively designed dogleg right with a testing two-tiered green. Others worthy of a mention would be the 4th and 5th, two very different but interesting par fours and the 7th and 8th which are both approached over water. Eight fairway bunkers must be avoided on the 7th to have a realistic chance of attacking the sloping green situated over a small pond. The demanding par three 8th keeps up the pressure with a shot over another much bigger pond. Don't be short.

The back nine begins with a couple of good solid par fours at 10 and 11 followed by the difficult and well bunkered par three 12th. At the 15th we begin a sequence of memorable finishing holes with considerably more undulation than we have seen previously. The par four 15th is a lovely valley hole where you are faced with a dilemma, can you clear the stream running across the fairway at 215 yards with the downhill drive or must you layup. The 16th is a wonderful hole, doglegging around trees on the left with houses and OOB awaiting anything blocked right. A good drive will still leave a difficult downhill second to a wickedly sloping but beautifully positioned green. The uphill 17th may play short but the challenge remains as your approach can easily run through another severely sloping green. Then we come to 18 and could we have possibly saved the best till last? The finale certainly provides a cracking finish and would, I imagine, be the favourite hole of many. A classy risk and reward par five which bends right around the mere before revealing a magnificently situated green in a lakeside setting.

The course is a solid four ball offering and I would give four and a half if I could. The resort as a whole is comfortably a five ball. Brian W

It appeared to be a nice layout and in fair condition, its just a shame that the course is not fully open. after contacting the course and the automated serves stating 18 holes open and buggies were available, and then speaking to the club shop, who also confirmed that 18 holes were open and there were no temp tees or greens. as the round progressed it was frustrating to find out that 14 of the holes were on winter tees despite the fact it was the 1st of april and the tee boxes appeared to be in good condition, and large enough to render the winter boxes obsolete. The winter tees shortening the course considerably, the 4th hole a par 4 was reduced by 80 yards for the yellow tee markers. If i hadn't been misled by the staff i wouldn't have reserved a tee, and will not be returning. 'Honesty, integrity, courtesy: three words that have come to represent the spirit in which the game of golf is played.'

I played mere today and was very suprised. The green fees are expensive but cant get cheaper if u use the internet to find a good price. Today the greens were fantastic and although the front nine was slighty flat and uninteresting the last 4 was fantastic. Really nice people and would play again.

Mere is a typical country club course, nicely laid out and always in good condition but lacking in any real high spots. Having said that, the 18th is actually my favourite finishing hole, a curving par 5 with the green jutting out into the mere. The last 4 holes have some elevation change and are comfortably the best few on the course. A pretty course and a nice days golf, but no more.

Expensive to play here and highly rated. Waited to play here for years before I finally got the chance. However, I found it to be completely boring, yawn. The first 9+ holes are played up and down the same field, with only the last few holes being different. The last few are very nice but not worth that much for 3 or 4 holes.

A bit footballers wives, but a good layout, normally in good condition. A few hole where you want to have 'a bit of a go' and a few ordinary ones, but a good place for a day out.