What's to See Around Warrington, UK or between Manchester and Liverpool ?

[Steve Lang]

   Where does a jet-lagged Yankee GCA Tourist go to see or play near Warrington, UK this Sunday?

[Pete Lavallee]

Delamere Forest is not far. Played there with the wife last September. They start off 1 & 10 so you might have a chance to get a game on a Sunday there; not sure what their visitor policy is on weekends. Excellent work by Fowler, fabulous clubhouse, best sausage rolls on the planet!

[Josh Stevens]

surely you would venture a bit further west to Formby?

[Sean_A]

Steve


You have three good options fairly close (and not terribly expensive) to Warrington in Prestbury, Delamere and Reddish Vale.  I think Prestbury is probably the best of these three, but Reddish Vale is easily my favourite. Your choices will be limited because of Sunday.  All three courses are fairly hilly, but easily walkable. 


Further afield there is all the grand (and expensive) golf on the coast of which I believe Formby to be the best. About the same distance is the wonderful Cavendish in Buxton...my favourite of the lot.  However, check the weather from the past few weeks to gauge the rain and therefore course conditions.  It seems like Charlie Brown, a black cloud hangs over the Peak District much of the time. 


Ciao

[Richard Fisher]

and if in your jet-lagged state you can stay awake until mid-afternoon or beyond on Sunday, you should be able to take advantage of twilight rates that in some cases may actually begin earlier on weekend afternoons than on weekdays...the age profile of several of the distinguished clubs cited suggests that in practice they are busier on weekdays than at weekends, and indeed Sunday afternoons can be one of the quietest times of the whole week for member play. Good luck!

[Duncan Cheslett]

Steve,

I'd be delighted  to host you at Reddish Vale on Sunday. We're 20 minutes from Warrington.

Message me if you're interested.

Duncan

[Bill_McBride]

Steve, you will love the golf in that area, it's all good.   I absolutely loved Herbert Fowler's Delamere Forest.   If you can stay awake I til you get up to the Wirral, Wallasey is terrific.  It was the second qualifying course for the 1930 Open during Bob Jones' Grand Slam.   I would play it if at all possible, not far from Hoylake. 

[Steve Lang]

    Thanks gents for all the info


Pete, I would have expected a recommendation also on your favorite ale!


Arriving 10:50 AM in Manchester, twilight adventure seems possible, though with 14degC temp, will need my winter jacket!


Regards   


ps Duncan, check your PM Inbox

[Steve Lang]

  Well,

Reddish Vale was an excellent adventure, thanks to Duncan and of course, the good Dr. A. Mackenzie, and FW Reed & JW Dudley who first amused themselves and friends with hitting golf balls on a piece of land known as Wilcock Eye. 

We had a great Sunday round, golfing on the vale along River Tame after the opening 5 hole loop in the highlands.  It  was stirring and helped fight off the jet lag, and after starting in mild sunshine conditions, Duncan brought in some cool front winds, rain, and some finishing sunshine to have a complete experience of NW England golf.    Though I barely survived playing #18, The Hill, I was already thinking how to replay it once I caught my breath and we enjoyed our post round libations watching some interclub players finish up properly. That explained most of those pin placements!

A sunny and warm 15degC tues coming, hmmmm hoping my biz meeting is over early.  This sure ain't TX !

[Duncan Cheslett]

Great to meet you Steve!

[Bill_McBride]

Duncan, did he win a few quid?

[Steve Lang]

   Bill,

No wagering, maybe next time... Duncan was the perfect host, providing clubs and a trolley, even giving me his umbrella during our rain play 5-6 holes, as my coat was not quite fit for purpose as the Sutherland's jacket he pulled out of his bag.  The only one making some quid was the Pro after I bought hat, glove, & balls; we were too busy talking gca, defining the lines of play & I admiring the setting.





Yes, the view from the first tee is rather plain, aim at or left of that rounded tree top 250 yards out,... hmmm where's the bottom of that tree, The Dip?



but the first approach is rather nice.  And a bit of synoptic challenge if too far left


 
View up Hillside, the par 3, #4... accuracy definitely required on this one shotter.  I remember offering to pay Duncan to hit one for me after he went pin hunting, but I played hole high right of pin and we both two putted and walked off with pars.. did I mention that I was using my 4 iron to putt?  Sure glad that 5 hole loop starts things off! 

[Steve Lang]

   Into the vale..


#6, Needle's Eye ... the view from on high, the thought of climbing The Hill, #18 adjacent to #6 lingered on as I traversed the vale.. 






The greens in the first 5 highland holes had many fall offs, those in the vale less so, like at the end of #7 Longest.



View to #9, Summit, my joy to find the tiny pot bunker front right, Duncan's hell left.


#10 Railhole and classic MacKenzie green.  I didn't come all the way to Reddish, Stockport to play safe, so over the hill, damn the rain and OOB left... roll up and onto the upper terrace in 2!  One of the great set of short par 4's at RV.

[Steve Lang]

   The finish of RV's 6100 yards...


Two more of the short 2 shotters at RV, Cottons and Bridge, watch out for the River Tame when you first bend it right on #16 and then bend it left on #17 to stay off the ridge.








Having lost only two balls, both to The Tame from elevated tees, at #6 Needle's Eye & #14 River View and warmed up, I was looking forward to playing if not walking up #18, The Hill.




Two more lost balls to the right, which allowed one to catch a breath, and a final climb to the clubhouse and the finish was quite a nice view to enjoy and watch the real players get home in regulation and better.

[Duncan Cheslett]

It was great to meet you Steve, and I'm pleased that you enjoyed your visit despite the changeable weather that I managed to lay on especially. 


Nice pics too.