Hill Valley

Hill Valley

Hill Valley

Hill Valley | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

The Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf and Spa is one of two Shropshire venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list, and it has everything you could ask for. There are two golf courses including a championship offering, 4-star accommodation thanks to Macdonald, and a lovely health club and spa. 
 
The Emerald and Sapphire Courses at Hill Valley offer vastly different challenges for golfers. Both courses were designed by the duo of Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss, with the Emerald being the championship venue. Opened in 1975, the Par 73 course runs at more than 6,700 yards. Meanwhile, the Sapphire is only 4,800 yards and a Par 66, but it can easily trick you into a false sense of security. 
 
Away from the golf courses, the Vital Health & Wellbeing Club allows guests and members to work out during their time at the Macdonald Hill Valley. There is a fully equipped gym with the latest Technogym equipment, along with a 20-metre heated swimming pool. Qualified therapists are also on hand to offer massages and treatments, including full body massages, facial treatments and much more. 
 
Thanks to the resort being a part of the Macdonald brand, the accommodation is as expected. It is a 4-star hotel with a fantastic range of rooms available. The Classic and Classic Club Rooms are the standard offerings at the Macdonald Hill Valley, with the latter having views onto the golf course. Deluxe and Super Deluxe add another layer of luxury, while there is also a choice of rooms for those that require adaptations, including wider entrances for wheelchairs, lowered baths and more.  
 
 
  
Visit the Hill Valley website here.  

Hill Valley Overview | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Two Different 18s

Like a lot of venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list, Hill Valley is home to two golf courses. However, unlike most, there is almost a 2,000 yards difference in the length of the two courses. The Emerald Course is the championship offering, while the Sapphire Course offers up a short, but testing round. Both courses were designed by the duo of Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas.  
 
Emerald Course 
The championship Emerald course was designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, creators of The Belfry’s Brabazon, in 1975. The first club champion was local boy Ian Woosnam, future Masters champion. Since then, it has blossomed into a challenging parkland course, which stretches over 6,700 yards from the back tees, and where strategy, and the avoidance of ponds and numerous bunkers, is the key to prospering.  
 
The course is a Par 73 layout, measuring more than 6,700 yards, and was a host of the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2019. Four par 3s and five par 5s – one of which comes at the first hole – lie in wait for golfers taking on the Emerald Course. There are some cracking holes on the course, including the par 5 5th, the second long hole on the course. It has a blind tee shot, with the second then being played over water towards a well-protected green.  
 
The front nine ends with a tricky dog-leg left par 4. It is only 370 yards, but due to how narrow the hole is, driver might not be the right play. The tee shot is played over two ponds, and a fairway wood should leave a short iron for your approach. The final hole on the course is a cracking 400-yard par 4. Once again, you tee off over a pond, with a stream then running diagonally across the fairway further down. The approach is played to a green guarded by two oak trees, and a water hazard ready to collect any shots that are short and right of the green.  
 
Sapphire Course 
It might only say 4,800 yards on the card, but don’t underestimate the Sapphire Course at the Macdonald Hill Valley Resort. The Par 66 layout requires accuracy off the tee and clever positioning if you are to score well. It is a great track for beginners to learn the game, as distance is not the key to playing well on the Sapphire.  

Glorious Macdonald Accommodation

As one of several Macdonald venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list (along with Aviemore, Cardrona and Linden Hall to name just a few), you know what you are going to get when it comes to the level of accommodation. The 4-star accommodation can be enjoyed in a range of rooms, including the feature rooms with beautiful golf course views and a furnished patio. 
 
The Classic and Classic Club Rooms are the standard offering at the Macdonald Hill Valley, with the latter having the added extra of views over the 1st tee and 18th green of the championship Emerald Course. Each comes with Juliette balconies to enjoy the sunshine on during your stay. There are also Accessible Rooms which have been adapted to allow wheelchair users and those with disabilities to enjoy a relaxing stay. Lowered baths, wide entrances and alarms connected to reception in case of any problems are all included.  
 
The Deluxe and Super Deluxe Rooms are at the higher end of the accommodation choices at the Macdonald Hill Valley. Both come with either king-sized beds or a pair of twin beds, along with a patio and outdoor seating area. The feature Super Deluxe Rooms have separate baths and showers in the glamorous bathrooms for that extra touch of luxury.  
 
The Borders Restaurant is the spot when it comes to food of an evening during your time at Hill Valley. There is a relaxed environment, with the menu offering seasonal food and local produce. The Denby Lounge is the perfect place to relax and enjoy views over the golf course with a drink in hand.  

Leisure Club and Spa

The Vital Health & Wellbeing Club is the place to go for those looking to work out or to relax and unwind. The gym facility is filled with the latest TechnoGym equipment, with a range of cardiovascular, resistance and elliptical machines available to use for both guests and members of the club.  
 
There is also a 20-metre heated indoor swimming pool and loungers around the pool for guests to relax on. There is also a relaxation room and a mud rasul suite, with a team of therapists on hand to provide massages and treatments to those who fancy indulging in another level of bliss. 

FAQs about Hill Valley

Where is Hill Valley?  
Hill Valley is just a couple of miles from the border between England and Wales, located near Whitchurch in Shropshire. The Welsh city of Wrexham and the English city of Crewe are equidistant from Hill Valley in opposite directions. Meanwhile, Stoke-on-Trent is around 30 miles to the east. 

What is the nearest airport and station to Hill Valley?
 
Whitchurch, which is just a few miles down the road, is also the home to the nearest train station to Hill Valley. Trains from Shrewsbury, Crewe, Manchester, Swansea and Cardiff all go through Whitchurch regularly. 
 
Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are both an hour away from Hill Valley by road. Manchester is the busier of the two, and the second busiest in the country behind London Heathrow. Manchester operates flights to and from most European countries, as well as further afield, including the Middle East and North America.  

What golf facilities does Hill Valley offer?
 
Along with the two golf courses, Hill Valley also has a six-bay driving range which can see both mats and grass tees used, depending on the conditions.  

What are the green fees at Hill Valley?
 
The price of a green fee at Hill Valley 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 Hill Valley, visit their website here

What accommodation is on offer at Hill Valley?
 
As with all Macdonald venues – several of which also appear on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list – you know what to expect when it comes to accommodation. There are Classic and Classic Club Rooms, along with Accessible Rooms for those that require a bedroom with adaptations. Deluxe and Super Deluxe Rooms add to the level of luxury for guests of the resort. 

What other resorts are nearby?
 
Hill Valley is not the only venue in Shropshire to have earned a place on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Tewkesbury Park is around an hour and a half to the south of the resort. Closer to Hill Valley, the likes of Portal and Wychwood Park are just a short drive away.  
  
 
  
Visit the Hill Valley website here.