I played Moor Hall for the very first time today, and what an incredible experience it was. From the moment you drive through the gates to the moment you leave, everything about the day feels first class.

On arrival you’re greeted with fantastic facilities. A wonderfully stocked pro shop and an inviting clubhouse sit side by side, just a short walk from the putting green and first tee.

As good as the welcome is, the course itself exceeds all expectations. Recent work to expand the green complexes has created some fascinating run-off areas on almost every hole. It adds an extra dimension that many other courses simply don’t have. Around the greens, you’re given genuine options: high chips and pitches, bump-and-runs or even putter can all be the right choice when played well. Reach the greens themselves and the challenge continues. Don’t be surprised if you’re faced with a 20-foot putt that features two or even three distinct breaks.

The variety of holes is another real highlight. There’s everything from short, testing par 3s to long but reachable par 5s, with plenty in between. The closing stretch leans more on length, while many of the earlier holes reward strategy and thoughtful course management.

Perhaps most impressively, Moor Hall achieves all of this without ever feeling intimidating to the average golfer. There are opportunities for players of every ability to enjoy themselves, and that’s something that sets it apart from many other courses of a similar standard.

The hospitality deserves a mention too. The members, bar staff and professional were all welcoming, and the atmosphere throughout the club was relaxed and friendly.

Overall, Moor Hall ranks among the very best courses I’ve played. Many courses in that bracket rely on 7,000-yard layouts and a grand, resort-style feel. Moor Hall takes a different approach, and that’s exactly what makes it so special. It has the feel of a traditional members’ club, while offering the quality of green complexes, teeing areas, bunkering and hole variety you’d expect from a course charging two or three times the price. I rarely come away from a round as impressed as I was today, and I’d recommend anyone with the chance to play Moor Hall to take it.