Hawkstone Park is one of the leading Shropshire venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list and you can see why. There are two glorious 18-hole golf courses, along with a six-hole Academy Course and practice facilities, a recently refurbished hotel and 100 acres of The Follies to explore in your down time.  

 

Golf was first played at Hawkstone Park more than a century ago, with the first 18-hole course being designed and opened in 1920. The Hawkstone Course is the historic layout at the resort, while the Championship Course was opened 75 years later. Both provide their own challenges, with the Hawkstone hugging the cliff tops at times, while the Championship brings lakes and streams into play. There is also a six-hole Academy Course, a par 3 course, which is perfect for beginners, along with a driving range and short game area.  

 

The resort does not have a leisure club or facilities like that, but its location is right by The Follies, which can provide a wonderful day out for the family. The Follies is a Grade I-listed landscape by English Heritage and is formed of natural sandstone which has been made into gullies, bridges, towers and much more. There is plenty to do during a trip to The Follies.  

 

At the end of the night, you’ll be looking to rest your head. The resort has a beautiful 72-room hotel, which features a range of rooms and suites, including accessible and dog-friendly varieties. There are Singles, Doubles, Superior and Superior Deluxe Rooms, along with a pair of Suites that come with a separate living area to the bedroom. Lyles Cottage and Brook House supply a more private offering, both with four bedrooms for larger groups.  

 

 

Book your trip to Hawkstone Park with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Hawkstone Park website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage. 

Hawkstone Park is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list to be blessed with two 18-hole courses. The Hawkstone Course is the original design from the 1920s, while the Championship Course opened 75 years later. The two complement each other beautifully and make Hawkstone a stunning golf resort.  

 

Hawkstone Course 

Laid out in 1920, the Hawkstone Course is routed among the famous cliffs of the Shropshire follies and around the ruins of a medieval castle. The follies look down on you in intimidating fashion as you navigate your way through towering oak and birch trees. The Par 72 course, which measures 6,497 yards, was where a young Sandy Lyle learnt his trade and the future Open and Masters champion will have relished the holes around the turn, where things really pick up in pace. 

 

The 10th – ‘The Road Hole’ – is a classic par 5 of 518 yards which hugs the dramatic cliff top. Two fairway bunkers and two greenside bunkers are ready to catch any errant shots. The par 3 12th - ‘The Moat’ - is arguably the most dramatic of a series of terrific holes around the turn. The shot to the green is played back across the 11th fairway, while the moat of the ruined castle has been cleverly incorporated into this mid-length short hole with the 18th Century follies towering over you in the background. 

 

15 and 16 are both drivable par 4s, providing birdie opportunities late in the round. The former is just over 300 yards long from the tee, while the 16th is only 254 yards from the tips. Three greenside bunkers lie in wait for anything astray, but even if you find them, you can still get up and down for birdie! The closing hole on the Hawkstone Course is a strong finishing hole of over 400 yards off the tips. Only two stiff blows will find the undulating putting surface, with the well-appointed clubhouse and a huge balcony that provides its own pressures. 

 

Championship Course 

75 years on from the opening of the Hawkstone Course, the Championship Course was opened. 1995 saw the inauguration of the layout, formerly known as the Windmill Course. The 18-hole layout was designed by former Ryder Cup captain Brian Huggett, and it is more of an American-style golf course compared to its older sibling. 

 

The Championship Course is based on the northwestern side of the venue, and incorporates oval-shaped tees, rolling fairways and a great deal of intimidating water. It is the longer of the two courses at Hawkstone Park, coming in at over 6,700 yards from the blue tees.  

 

The 9th is the first hole where water comes into play, and it begins a run of six consecutive holes where golfers will have to avoid the hazards. The 10th is the signature hole on the Championship layout – a double dog-leg right which winds its way around a lake. It is 543 yards from the back tees, and aptly named ‘Watery Grave’. 14 has an island green, but at just 502 yards, it is a par 5 that is a birdie chance. The closing hole on the Championship Course brings you back to the clubhouse, and it is a testing little par 4 to finish.  

There is a wide variety when it comes to accommodation at Hawkstone Park, which has been extensively refurbished in recent times. There are now more than 70 rooms in the Hawkstone Park hotel, while Lyles Cottage and Brook House offer a more private stay for larger groups. 

 

Each room in the hotel features its own en-suite bathroom, along with flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and much more. The range of rooms includes Singles, Twins and Doubles, with these being the standard offerings. There are also Superior and Superior Deluxe Rooms, which add another layer of luxury to a stay in Shropshire, while the two Suites are beautifully appointed and come with their own living areas which are separate to the bedrooms.  

 

There are other perks to the hotel. There is an accessible room which features a walk-in shower and wet room, for those guests that require a room with adaptations. Hawkstone Park also has a range of dog-friendly rooms, along with a room designed with a bunk bed for younger families. 

 

Lyles Cottage and Brook House are the more private offerings at Hawkstone Park. Lyles is a four-bedroom cottage with a private entrance, and each room comes with its own super king-sized bed and an en-suite wet room. Brook House has four double bedrooms and a communal living area which is perfect for larger groups to enjoy during evenings at the resort.  

Hawkstone Park’s location provides guests with incredible access to The Follies. Set in more than 100 acres of parkland, The Follies is a gorgeous area of natural sandstone hills that have been developed into caves, towers, bridges and more.  

 

The Follies is now a Grade I-listed landscape by English Heritage, which means it is a protected area of the country. There is plenty to do at The Follies, with activities, guided tours and Enchanted Trails to get the kids involved in! 

Where is Hawkstone Park?  
Hawkstone Park is between Wem and Market Drayton in Shropshire, England. Shrewsbury is 20 miles to the south, while Stoke-on-Trent is 25 miles to the northeast. Wolverhampton is 40 miles to the southeast, while the border between England and Wales is just nine miles to the west of Hawkstone Park.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Hawkstone Park?  
Both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are within an hour’s drive from Hawkstone Park. Manchester is the busier of the two, and the second biggest airport in the country behind London Heathrow. Manchester operates daily flights to most European countries and further afield, including the United States and the Middle East.   

 

Wem is the home to the nearest train station, found four miles from Hawkstone Park. It runs trains in a north-south direction, with trains coming from Manchester and Crewe, through Wem down to Shrewsbury and Cardiff.  

What golf facilities does Hawkstone Park offer?  
As well as having two 18-hole layouts, Hawkstone Park is also home to the six-hole par 3 Academy Course. There is also a full-length driving range at the Shropshire venue, allowing golfers to practice their long game before taking to either course. There is also a short game area by the 1st tee of the Hawkstone Course.  

Does Hawkstone Park offer golf lessons?  
There are a pair of PGA-qualified professionals on site at Hawkstone Park ready to help improve your game. Guests and members can receive coaching, with lessons available for golfers of all ages and abilities, including juniors and beginners.  

What are the green fees at Hawkstone Park?  
The price of a green fee at Hawkstone Park changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Hawkstone Park, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Hawkstone Park?  
There is plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation at Hawkstone Park. There are 72 rooms in the hotel, with a range of Single, Twin, Double, Superior and Superior Deluxe, along with a pair of beautiful Suites. Lyles Cottage and Brook House give the more private options to larger groups.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
Hawkstone Park is the southernmost of a cluster of venues that also have spots on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. The likes of Carden Park, The Mere, Wychwood Park, Hill Valley, Portal Golf & Spa Resort and Mottram Hall are all within an hour or so from Hawkstone. 

  

 

Book your trip to Hawkstone Park with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Hawkstone Park website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.