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Richard Crumb

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Manchester UK area golf
« on: May 04, 2011, 10:03:17 AM »
I'm traveling to the UK for business in late June (19-24).  Flying in and out of Manchester.  I have a day on either end of the trip for golf.  Any suggestions of must do's from the esteemed group here?  I'll only be able to get in 18 on the day I fly in but will be looking for 36 holes on the other end.  Will have a rental car, and I don't mind a reasonable drive for good golf.  Links golf preferred, 6.2 index.
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Mark Pearce

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2011, 10:09:28 AM »
If you want links golf then it's the Lancashire coast.  Three Open rota venues (Hoylake, Birkdale, Lytham) and plenty of others (Southport & Ainsdale, Hillside, Wallasey, St Anne's and others).  Inland, try Cavendish, or get across to Leeds and play Alwoodley.
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In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Brent Hutto

Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2011, 10:18:31 AM »
Birkdale is a wonderful golf course. The fee is pretty high but it's very fun to play.

I've been there once and stayed in the Dormie House at Formby Golf Club. It's actually several bedrooms in the main clubhouse building and is quite comfortable, albeit with a shared bathroom in the hall. Overnighting there, breakfast served in the dining room and then a 36-hole day on their fine course is hard to beat. And the price tag for 36-holes plus an Dormie night was less than the cost of my round at Birkdale (in 2007).

For better players with a scorecard in hand I suspect Birkdale is a slightly sterner test than Formby but I found both courses highly enjoyable with a handicap well into the double digits and expectations of playing bogey golf. Formby has more variety of holes on offer including a short stretch of rather quirky ones mid-round. Birkdale is a championship course polished to a fare-thee-well with every hole offering solid though generally unspectacular and quirk-free golf.

If I recall correctly, from MAN airport to Formby was a drive of just over one hour on a Sunday morning. Coming back in to Manchester on a weekday would no doubt take quite a bit longer.
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Richard Crumb

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2011, 10:52:08 AM »
Thanks.  I don't need a big name, uber-condiitoned course, and spend a lot of money to have a good time.  Lower key, under the radar seaside tracks work just fine.
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Sean_A

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2011, 11:20:51 AM »
Richard

For the 18 hole day I would suggest Prestbury or Reddish Vale.  Both are close to the airport and both are quite good parkland courses.  If you are willing to be a bit further away near Buxton, then Cavendish is even better. 

For links I think Formby is very good.  Its slightly further than Wallasey or Hoylake and not as far from the airport as Birkdale.  The plus with Formby is the dormie house deal.  If you want a lesser known course (although Wallasey is not well known) than perhaps West Lancs may be your ticket.  Its not as good as any of the above, but it is still quite good and maybe the closest good links to the airport.  If all of these fail there is Hillside.  This is a well known course, but imo not as good as Wallasey or West Lancs.  For the lowest key links in the area with a good rep there is also Hesketh - though I have never played it.

Much depends on what you want and consider must play.     

Ciao
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Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2011, 01:54:28 PM »
I will second Sean's suggestions of Prestbury (recently refurbished Colt), Reddish Vale and Cavendish (MacKenzie). They are excellent and a lot of fun to boot. Prestbury is brilliant and maybe the best of the three. 
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MikeJones

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2011, 02:04:34 PM »
Richard, if Links golf is what you're after I recommend heartily Formby, S&A and Hillside. You'll pay much more if you got for an Open venue but I guarantee you will not be disappointed with any of the above
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Richard Crumb

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2011, 02:27:23 PM »
Gents,
Thanks for the good info.  Think I'll do something closer by MAN (non-links) on my first day, and then catch 36 at Formby (try to do the dormy house) on the other end.  Hopefully I can get a game with someone at Formby.
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Michael Wharton-Palmer

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2011, 02:36:46 PM »
Delamere Forest within 30 minutes of the airport, not links but a delightful parkland golf course.
A real treat.
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Bill_McBride

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2011, 02:38:37 PM »
Richard, Delamere Forest is a Herbert Fowler heathland course just south of Manchester, and is a lovely course with a lot of very good holes.  Should be perfect for your day one game.



Here's a course tour posted by Cheshire course expert Mark Rowlinson:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42989.msg961065/topicseen.html#msg961065

And the club's website:

http://www.delameregolf.co.uk/

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Mark Chaplin

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2011, 04:02:33 PM »
Formby top choice.

On day one swallow the hour drive and play West Lancs a very fine links course & good VFM.
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James Boon

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2011, 07:58:57 AM »
Quote from: Richard Crumb on May 04, 2011, 02:27:23 PM
Gents,
Thanks for the good info.  Think I'll do something closer by MAN (non-links) on my first day, and then catch 36 at Formby (try to do the dormy house) on the other end.  Hopefully I can get a game with someone at Formby.

Richard,

I'd certainly second the suggestion of Cavendish for your round closer to the airport, and to give you a bit of a taster of if its for you here is John Mayhugh's recent trip round Mackenzie's little beauty...
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48109.0.html

Cheers,

James
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2023 Highlights: Hollinwell, Brora, Parkstone, Cavendish, Hallamshire, Sandmoor, Moortown, Elie, Crail, St Andrews (Himalayas & Eden), Chantilly, M, Hardelot Les Pins

"It celebrates the unadulterated pleasure of being in a dialogue with nature while knocking a ball round on foot." Richard Pennell

Mark_Rowlinson

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2011, 12:48:07 PM »
Richard,

I'm a member of Wilmslow Golf Club only ten minutes or so from Manchester Airport. If you are flying in on the 19th, a Sunday, and your flight is delayed scuppering other plans you would be most welcome to be my guest. It could be fixed easily at the last minute. The course is a former European Tour venue so it is no pushover, but it doesn't have the character of Reddish Vale, Prestbury, Cavendish or Delamere Forest. GCA lurker Duncan Cheslett is a member of Reddish Vale and may see this. Delamere Forest is very rarely closed to visitors (it has a small membership) and you can almost always get on the course. Cavendish takes you up into the hills south-east of Manchester and is very pretty in good weather.

Come back to me if I can help further.

Mark.
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Richard Crumb

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2011, 11:32:37 AM »
As a follow up, I did play at Cavendish and it certainly lives up to its billing.  Wonderful use of an interesting piece of land.  I started out as a single, but caught up to a 3-some of younger players who asked me to join up for the rest of the round.  It helped to have some company and local knowledge.  The routing of the holes and the green complexes and green contours made for a very enjoyable day.  Fine work by the good doctor.
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Mark_Rowlinson

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2011, 12:15:57 PM »
Richard,

Glad you enjoyed Cavendish. Where else did you manage to play?
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Jim Hoak

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #15 on: June 28, 2011, 01:49:27 PM »
If, as I assume, you are an American and don't get to the UK and Manchester much, go the big-name course route and play Birkdale and Lytham.  Two great courses and you'll see both on the Open rotation.  Well worth the money.
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Richard Crumb

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #16 on: June 29, 2011, 01:03:18 PM »
Unfortunately I was one and done.  Worked the next 3 days and went back to the US.  I'll be back.
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Brent Hutto

Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #17 on: June 29, 2011, 01:04:27 PM »
Richard,

The old saying goes "Better to have one and done than not to have one at all". Or something like that!
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James Boon

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #18 on: June 30, 2011, 03:59:12 AM »
Quote from: Richard Crumb on June 29, 2011, 01:03:18 PM
Unfortunately I was one and done.  Worked the next 3 days and went back to the US.  I'll be back.

Richard,

I'm impressed that someone only playing one course in England, plays Cavendish, when there are Open rota courses just on the nearby coast! You sir, can come again!  ;D

Cheers,

James
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2023 Highlights: Hollinwell, Brora, Parkstone, Cavendish, Hallamshire, Sandmoor, Moortown, Elie, Crail, St Andrews (Himalayas & Eden), Chantilly, M, Hardelot Les Pins

"It celebrates the unadulterated pleasure of being in a dialogue with nature while knocking a ball round on foot." Richard Pennell

Duncan Cheslett

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Re: Manchester UK area golf
« Reply #19 on: June 30, 2011, 03:31:52 PM »
Richard,

Sorry I missed this thread. You would have been welcome as my guest at the other local MacKenzie gem; Reddish Vale.

This invite is open to any other GCAer who finds themselves in the Manchester area.
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