Wilmslow

The founding members of Wilmslow Golf Club played for fifteen years on a course designed by George Lowe, the first Royal Lytham & St Annes professional, before moving a couple of miles to what was then called Pownall Brow Farm in 1903.

It’s not known who laid out the new 18 holes but over the years a procession of famous architects have advised, suggested, altered and modified the course.

Early design credits have been attributed to Sandy Herd (1910), James Braid (1929) and Tom Simpson (1932) with more recent contributions coming from CK Cotton, Pennink, Lawrie and Partners (1980s), Donald Steel and Dave Thomas.

The fairways of this former tract of wooded Cheshire farmland provide a very pleasant test of parkland golf with the meandering Mobberley Brook coming into play at several holes.

The opening hole at Wilmslow Golf Club is a simple, but strategic par four that nicely sets the tone for the round as it’s one of many subtly doglegged holes to be faced.

Both the par fives on the outward nine (at 3 and 7) offer birdie opportunities to big hitters but the defensive bunkers on these two holes demand more than a modicum of respect.

The short par four 11th is a highlight on the back nine and this tantalizing hole precedes tough back-to-back two-shotters at 15 and 16, followed by the last of the four short holes on the card at the 169-yard 17th.

Georgina Blackman from Chelmsford Golf Club won the English Women’s Amateur Championship here at Wilmslow in 2018, although the club is well used to holding important competitions, having staged the European Tour’s Greater Manchester Open in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Wilmslow also hosted the very last Martini International ever to be staged, which Nick Faldo won in 1983.