While England has half a dozen golf resorts that describe themselves as ‘resorts’, few can compare to the quality and quantity of facilities at Carden Park in Cheshire, whose 1,000-hectare property not only boasts two 18-hole golf courses, but a host of leisure activities and experiences that ensure a memorable family break.
There are golf resorts where the hotel happens to overlook the course, and then there are places where golf is woven into every part of the experience. Carden Park, set amongst 1,000 hectares in the Cheshire countryside, just 12 kilometers west of Chester, falls firmly into the latter category.
From the moment you drive up the mile-long driveway, lined with fairways and mature woodland, it’s clear that this property was built with golfers in mind.
While Carden Park may lack the centuries-old charm of other country house hotels — it first opened in 1997 — what it offers instead is a modern, functional facility centered around two golf courses, excellent practice facilities, high-quality accommodations and one of the best restaurants you’ll find at any golf resort.
Whether you’re planning a community golf outing, a weekend away with your friends or a couples getaway where just one of you loves golf, it ticks a surprising number of boxes.
TWO PLAYS OF THE GAME
The highlight for any golfer visiting Carden Park is undoubtedly the opportunity to play two championship courses on the same site. Although they live side by side, the Nicklaus and Cheshire courses offer two very different tests, ensuring a stay of two or three days is necessary to benefit from the full ‘Carden Experience’.
I started on the Nicklaus Course, which you won’t be surprised to read, is the handiwork of Jack Nicklaus, although his son Steve was also involved in the project. And the influence of its legendary designer – the only English works of his to be found at St Mellion in Cornwall and London Golf Club’s Heritage Course – is evident from the opening tee to the final putt.
With five teeing options, you can choose the tee that suits your game. For men, the black champion’s back tees are 7,045 yards, and the yellow front tees are 5,906 yards. I played the whites, which equaled 6,302 yards which fit my driving range of 230-240 yards, although the blues, at 6,628 yards, are not easily accessible to a mid-handicapper, especially if the fairways run fast. The red tees are 5,211 yards and play a par of 72.
The holes I’ve highlighted include the short second par 4, which at 309 yards from the white tees, quickly entices long hitters to take the green, although well-placed bunkers around the putting green make the decision anything but straightforward.
The par-three sixes and sevens present incredible water, demanding accuracy, while the par-three 12th features a beautiful setting with real hazards due to water on the right and four well-positioned bunkers.
My favorite hole was probably the closing fifth. Playing uphill towards the clubhouse, and around the corners of the pool, offers the perfect balance of risk and reward that encourages the ultimate gamble while punishing anything less than a committed strike. It also provides a fitting end to a very enjoyable course without being tiring. Nothing feels overly punishing, but every shot calls into question your skill and game management. Fairways are generous, but well laid out and plenty of water hazards ensure you still need to think your way through to put the score together. In other words, a classic Jack Nicklaus design.
While the Nicklaus Course has hosted several EuroPro Tour and European Senior Tour events in the past, this September it will host its fourth Women’s PGA Cup, a Ryder Cup team playoff event pitting members of the PGA of America and the PGA of GB&I against each other. With the USA having won their first three games since their inception in 2019, our five-man squad, led by captain Heather McRae, will no doubt appreciate local support if you are free from September 3-5.
CHESHIRE CHALLENGE
The next morning brought a completely different challenge on the Cheshire Course. While Nicklaus is open and expansive, Cheshire, first opened in 1993, runs through mature forests, with towering pines lining many holes. Fortunately, the trees rarely feel claustrophobic off the tee, instead creating attractive corridors that draw your eye towards the road.
The unusual opening of the third section immediately grabs your attention. Starting a round with an iron longer than a driver certainly sharpens the nerves, especially before you’re fully settled into your round and the swing feels rusty. It’s followed by an excellent par five and then a demanding par four out of bounds that runs the length of the right side, ensuring there’s no easy way into the round.
The back nine is where Cheshire really heat up their career. The 10th fairway, played behind towering Scots pines, is one of the most beautiful holes in the area. The water-guarding 12 features real tension, while the deceptively short 14 demands more precision than its yardage suggests.
The closing stretch is particularly memorable. The fearsome 16th tees off through a narrow fairway of trees before the attractive par-three 17th offers the final test with a long iron. The top tee shot on the short 4th 18th is a great finishing hole, requiring careful placement rather than reaching the driver. It’s a course that grows on you with every hole and perfectly complements the Nicklaus structure.
I should add that the condition in both buildings was very good throughout. The greens were well rolled, the tees and fairways had good nick, despite the recent lack of rain, and the bunkers were all presented flawlessly.
The golf courses are accompanied by an excellent range of supporting golf facilities, including a PGA-accredited golf school with an 11-bay illuminated driving range with Toptracer ball tracking technology, a dedicated short game practice area, a custom fit studio, and a private clubhouse with a bar, lounge and locker rooms.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Away from the golf course, the beautiful Carden Park hotel has 197 rooms and 18 suites, many of which have benefited from renovations completed earlier this year. The main building offers spacious twin and double rooms, furnished with double and king-size beds, Nespresso coffee machines, stylish bathrooms and the all-important air conditioning. Be sure to ask for a ‘house view’ room which offers stunning views across the golf courses towards the distant Welsh hills.
For those looking for more space, the hotel also offers a range of Courtyard Suites which include a separate lounge with a fireplace and outdoor seating area, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the area.
FOOD OPTIONS
Hungry golfers have no shortage of dining options at Carden Park, with a variety of F&B venues to choose from depending on your taste and budget.
Redmond’s offers a family-friendly brasserie menu in the evening and doubles as a buffet breakfast in the morning, while Morgan’s The relaxed, central hotel bar offers a casual menu of sandwiches, salads, and snacks accompanied by an extensive beverage list that includes cocktails, whiskeys, and more than 20 gins. Goldie’s Loungelocated within the main hotel, specializes in serving traditional afternoon teas and bespoke evening cocktails, while Vines is the resort’s AA-Rosette restaurant, and specializes in fine dining in formal settings.
Highlights at The Vines include herb-fed chicken galantine, outstanding buttered halibut and expertly cooked Welsh hogget cutlet, while desserts such as theatrical Baked Alaska and estate strawberry trifle provide a grand finale. The attentive sommelier, who delighted us to taste a variety of wines before settling on a particular style to match our meal, added a level of service that I rarely find in a ‘golf’ hotel, and only added to the fact that the food was delicious.
After a good night’s sleep, breakfast the next morning was equally impressive, with a hearty buffet with freshly cooked options from kippers to pastries. Full English was also available, with eggs and omelettes cooked to order if required.
NEARBY, SO SPA
If golf is the main draw of Carden Park, then the spa is not far away judging by the line of couples and groups of women queuing up to sign in for treatments during our visit to the facilities. Costing £10 million to build, it rivals many private luxury spas. The outdoor heated garden is a highlight, complete with whirlpools, giant hot tubs, heated relaxation pods, saunas, fire pits and a Champagne Bar overlooking the Cheshire countryside.
Inside, hydrotherapy services, thermal experiences and relaxation rooms continue the feeling of indulgence, while an extensive treatment menu makes it easy to justify extending your stay. It’s easy to understand why many visitors visit Carden Park for the spa alone, although for golfers with non-golfer partners, it offers the perfect opportunity for an innocent couple’s break.
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Those traveling with children will find plenty to occupy their time, from archery tours and Segway tours to aerial ropeways, quad biking and falconry shows. There are also tennis courts, a leisure club, a sculpture garden and many walking paths spread throughout the farm, which also boasts its own vineyard.
So, if you’re looking for a place where first-rate golf remains the main attraction, but where every other part of the stay is up to par, Carden Park is well worth a visit.
For the latest range of golf breaks, visit www.cardenpark.co.uk/offering/golf/
