Set in the heart of the rolling Cheshire countryside, the 18-hole Championship and Premier courses and nine-hole Arderne Course have established the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort as a distinctive world-class championship golf venue. Add in the Macdonald-run accommodation and the leisure club and spa, and you’ve got yourself a cracking venue.  

 

Donald Steel was the man behind the Championship Course at the Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa, which measures more than 7,000 yards and has hosted the PGA EuroPro Tour as recently as 2019. The Premier Course sits just a mile up the road and offers a secondary course that is vastly different to the Championship layout. The 9-hole Arderne Course is perfect for beginners and those who fancy a fun round that takes no longer than 90 minutes.  

 

Looking to relax after a round? The Macdonald Portal Spa and Leisure Club is the place for you. For those that want to work out, there is an indoor heated swimming pool and a state-of-the-art gym filled with TechnoGym equipment. Relaxation comes in the form of a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, along with the ability to indulge in a range of massages and treatments from qualified therapists. 

 

The Macdonald Hotel at Portal offers elegant and luxurious rooms, right from the Standard up to the Deluxe Suites. There are also Deluxe and Super Deluxe Rooms sandwiched in between, with the Super Deluxe offering space for families. There are also accessible rooms for those that require a room with adaptations, including wet rooms and handrails to make a stay more comfortable.  

 

 

Book your trip to Portal Golf & Spa Resort with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Portal Golf & Spa Resort website here.  

Go Back To NCG Top 100s Homepage. 

The Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort is not just home to one course, or even two courses. There are 45 holes of golf on offer at Portal, with two 18-hole layouts – the Championship Course and the Premier Course – along with the 9-hole Arderne Course.  

 

Championship Course 

Opened in 1990, the Championship Course is another of Donald Steel’s beauties. The world-renowned golf course architect has the likes of Bovey Castle and The Machrie, two other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list, to his name. 

 

The Championship Course is the star of Portal’s golfing complex. It has hosted the PGA EuroPro Tour, and measures more than 7,000 yards from the tips. The course meanders through parkland with stunning views of the surrounding countryside, with water hazards, trees, and plenty more to watch out for throughout a round. 

 

After a couple of par 4s, the par 5 3rd hole on the Championship Course is the longest on the property, pushing more than 600 yards from the tips. The 4th makes it back-to-back par 5s, but the latter is much more scorable than the 3rd. The 14th is the signature hole on the Championship Course. Measuring just 135 yards from the back tees, the hole plays over a small lake which also winds round the right side of the green. Club selection is crucial on the shortest hole on the course.  

 

Premier Course 

The Premier Course, or Portal Premier Golf Club as it is also known, is around a mile north of the Macdonald Portal Resort. Also an 18-hole layout, the Premier Course is just shy of 6,500 yards and plays as a Par 71.  

 

The 2nd is the longest on the golf course and winds its way around the outer edge of the perimeter, seemingly to continue to turn left repeatedly until you get to the green. The 3rd is then a drivable par 4 at less than 300 yards, but seven bunkers are in the way of anything errant.  

 

Both the 15th and 17th are beautiful par 3s. The former is carded at 200 yards from the back tees, but plays significantly downhill from an elevated tee box. Three bunkers guard the green on what is a tricky par 3. The penultimate hole on the Premier Course is arguably the signature hole on the property. It is not the longest par 3 you will ever play, but with a narrow green, two bunkers and water to carry, making it more difficult.  

 

Arderne Course 

The 9-hole offering at the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort is the Arderne Course. The 9-hole layout has six par 3s and three par 4s for a total par of 30 and is only 1,700 yards long. It is the perfect place for beginners to learn about the nuances of the game, or for golfers to enjoy a little warm-up before taking to either the Championship or Premier Courses on the resort.  

Like a few venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list – including Cardrona and Aviemore – the accommodation is run by Macdonald Hotels. Rooms at the hotel are as elegant and luxurious as you’d expect; stylish design, plush fabrics and rich soft furnishings combine to make a stay something special. 

 

Even the Standard Room at the Macdonald Portal comes with both bathtub and walk-in shower in the en-suite bathroom, along with tea and coffee making facilities, TV, Wi-Fi and much more. There are also Deluxe Rooms and Super Deluxe Rooms, with the latter being perfect for families; able to sleep four. The Deluxe Suites are the best of the best at Portal, offering luxury and comfort, with patio views around the hotel as an extra touch.  

 

There is also a range of accessible rooms for those that require adaptation during their stay at the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort. With easy wheelchair access, wet rooms installed and handrails in the bathroom, there is everything needed to give peace and mind to those who need it the most.  

 

Salt, named after the long-standing rock salt trade of the Cheshire county, is the main eatery at the Macdonald Portal. The Lounge and Bar is a laidback and relaxed environment to enjoy a drink and a snack, while there is also the opportunity for guests to enjoy Afternoon Tea during their stay at Portal.  

There’s the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely dip in the 18-metre heated pool or work out in the state-of-the-art Technogym. Following that, relax in the thermal suite and indulge in either the infrared sauna, rock sauna, aroma steam room or ice room. 

 

There is also the opportunity to indulge in a massage or treatment, with a wide variety of options to choose from. Hot stone massages, body wraps, deep tissue massages, facial treatments and even massages adapted for pregnant women are all available at the Macdonald Portal Spa.  

Where is Portal Golf & Spa Resort?  
The Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort is based just outside the Cheshire village of Tarporley. Both Chester and the English border with Wales are around 15 miles to the west of Portal. Manchester and Liverpool are equidistant from Portal, both 35 miles to the north of the resort.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Portal Golf & Spa Resort?  
Both Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are within an hour’s drive from Portal Golf & Spa Resort. Manchester is the busiest airport in the north of England, with easyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI having bases at the airport. 

 

Delamere is the nearest train station, but it is still more than five miles away from the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort. The station sits on the line that runs between Manchester Piccadilly and Chester, with trains running every hour in both directions.  

What golf facilities does Portal Golf & Spa Resort offer?  
Along with the two 18-hole courses and the 9-hole Arderne Course, the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort is also home to a driving range and short game area. These practice facilities are perfect for honing your skills ahead of a round on either of the three courses.  

 

There is also a pro shop on site which is fully equipped with kit and apparel from all the biggest brands. There is also a selection of Macdonald Portal branded gear available to buy as well.  

What are the green fees at Portal Golf & Spa Resort?  
The price of a green fee at the Portal Golf & Spa Resort 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 and offers at the Portal Golf & Spa Resort, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Portal Golf & Spa Resort?  
All the accommodation comes under one roof at the Macdonald Portal Golf & Spa Resort. There are Standard and Deluxe Rooms, with Super Deluxe Rooms also available for families. The Deluxe Suites are the best of the best at Portal, while Accessible Rooms have been adapted for wheelchair users and those with less mobility.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
There are plenty of resorts in the northwest of England, and there are several that also have a place on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. The Mere, Carden Park, Wychwood Park, Worsley Park and Hill Valley are just some of those in the region.  

  

 

Book your trip to Portal Golf & Spa Resort with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Portal Golf & Spa Resort website here.  

Go Back To NCG Top 100s Homepage.