Macclesfield Golf Club

Macclesfield, Cheshire

Historic Cheshire course which is short but testing

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Only Royal Liverpool is older among Cheshire's list of golf clubs.

"At a meeting of gentlemen interested in the formation of a Golf Club for Macclesfield & neighbourhood held at the Bull's Head Hotel on Wednesday the 30th October 1889 - it was resolved that the gentlemen present should form themselves into a club for the playing of the game of Golf, to be called the Macclesfield Golf Club."

That's how the club came to exist and ever since then, golfers from far and wide have been enjoying its rolling fairways.

This hillside course is a superb challenge – and keeps getting better. Recent improvements include adding bunkers and extended tees to ensure the challenge remains for all golfers. The long, uphill 17th originally a par 3, was increased to a par 4 in May 2011.

Although it is is on the short side, it is by no means a pushover. It features only two par 5s, but four par 3s can damage your scorecard should you miss the green. Situated high on the hills, the course affords stunning views of the Cheshire countryside.

A warm welcome is extended to the clubhouse, where comprehensive facilities await to allow you to relax after your round.

The 10th is the first of back-to-back par 5s and here your drive must favour the left side to avoid the fairway bunkers on the corner. From there you face a blind shot so must trust your judgement and your swing to fire over the hill and try to find the green, which reachable for many.

However, a birdie putt is not guaranteed from there as there are some subtle borrows in the green and three-putting is far from a rarity.

Another birdie opportunity presents itself at the short par-4 12th. 'Shutlingshow' asks you to thread a wood or long iron up the right for a good look at the long narrow green. Bunkers await short and left but this is a chance of a three.

'Gurnett Gap' is a par 3 which sums up Macclesfield. It is no more than a flick with a 7-iron but there are bunkers right and left (the latter are hidden from view off the tee) and anything pushed long and right will be kicked further away from the green by the surrounding slopes.

A warm welcome is extended to the clubhouse, where comprehensive facilities await to allow you to relax after your round.

Macclesfield are always keen to promote junior golf with Jamie Donaldson the star name to emerge from the club; having won the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1997 he crowned his amateur career by helping GB & Ireland take second place in the Eisenhower Trophy.

Jamie is now a successful member of the European Tour and claimed his first victory in sensational fashion at the star-studded 2012 Irish Open at Royal Portrush. He secured his second European Tour win in sensational style at the the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January 2013.