Wilmslow - Cheshire - England

Wilmslow is one of the many fine wooded parkland courses to be found in the tranquil Cheshire countryside. It’s also one of the oldest, the club having been founded in 1889 and relocating to its present site in 1903.

Many notable players have walked its fairways over the years - including Jacklin, Gallagher, Langer, Woosnam, Torrance and Faldo - thanks largely to the staging of the Greater Manchester Open and the Martini International in the late 1970’s and early 80’s.

Fast forward to today and whilst the 6,600-yard, par 72 layout is no longer a tour test for the World’s best players in more recent times it has still been selected as a regional qualifying course for The Open and to this day is the venue for many county championships and inter-county matches. There are many subtleties to the course which has an understated persona.

Located a couple of miles away from the town centre, within 10-15 minutes of the motorway network and not much farther from Manchester Airport, the course was presented superbly on my most recent visit in the “summer” of 2016 for the Wilmslow Crow scratch tournament. Indeed it was testament to the greenkeepers that it was in such good condition especially considering the second half of this WAGR 72 hole event, due to be played at nearby Stockport the following day, was postponed due to recent rainfall. Here the fairways were generally firm and fast running so consider it a well-draining course.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

If you have played the course you will know that the opening tee shot, when starting the course from the 1st is quite an intimidating hole and to walk away with a par is an achievement, as you must hit from an elevated tee, outside the pro shop, over and between the 18th and 9th greens to land on the fairway across the valley. Not forgetting the brook below. I think the term simple might be slightly understated. Theres plenty of variety, with well guarded greens, which usually play fairly quickly, in play most of the year. The bunkers can be a little inconsistent, but they are meant to be hazards. A good test of golf, and has played host to many great players over the years. Scoring well on the par 5's is the key to playing the course to your handicap or below. Enjoy