Carden Park: 36 Glorious Holes in Cheshire

Written by Clive Agran

The 1000-acre Carden Park estate, located just a few miles from Chester, wouldn’t look out of place in the stylish stockbroker belt or in the leafiest Surrey suburb.

Such is the sophistication of Carden Park Hotel that it is, quite evidently, the shape of entertainment to come and, judging by the number of visitors thoroughly enjoying what is has to offer, has already arrived in this quiet corner of the north-west of England.

Since no self-respecting attraction these days is complete without golf, Carden Park is fortunate in boasting not one, but two superb 18-hole courses that are good enough to satisfy even the most demanding of guests. The only serious problem is deciding which one to play.

The obvious solution is to tee off on both but time doesn’t always permit. And the problem is not made easier by the fact that opinion is more or less evenly divided as to which is the better. The conundrum is eased in winter when the lower-lying Nicklaus course is closed leaving the Cheshire course to reign supreme but it’s an undoubted dilemma for the rest of the year.

Golf has been played on what has been dubbed Cheshire’s country estate for quite a while but, sadly, the origins can’t be traced all the way back to the earliest human activity recorded here about 14,000 years ago. The comparatively modern history of Carden Park really starts in the early 17^th century when the land was acquired by the Leche family. An elegant Hall was built and the grounds of the park were landscaped and stocked with deer. Cromwell’s troops attacked the Hall but it survived and continued to be inhabited until it was burnt down in a fire that was apparently inadvertently started by a cigarette belonging to a party-goer in 1912.

The modern era saw successful businessman Steve Morgan acquire the property and inject substantial sums of money into converting into an award-winning hotel complete with first-class spa leisure facilities, three-acre vineyard and two top-notch golf courses. With nearly 200 rooms and a mile-long drive, the hotel is impressive and fully merits being described as Cheshire’s country estate.

Carden Park is one of the most important Mesolithic sites in the county. Examples of human activity go back 14,000 years and have been discovered in sandstone caves on the estate with the majority of tools identified by archaeologists originating from between 6800BC and 4300BC.

The purchase of the property by wealthy businessman Steve Morgan, has led to a restoration of its fortunes. Carden Park first opened its doors as a hotel on 5 June 1997. Now, rather than deer, you are more likely to see pheasants, moorhens, foxes, badgers and swans, which are all regular visitors to the estate.

Although it could be argued that the recent development of the superb £10m spa and adjacent garden has done more than anything else to broaden Carden Park’s appeal, the presence of two impressive golf courses has certainly encouraged visitors. Opened in 1993, the Cheshire course is a splendid parkland challenge that occupies the high ground behind the hotel and weaves its attractive way around the hillside. There is certainly no shortage of elevation and the lofty tees allow the golfer a good view of both the hole he or she is playing as well as the surrounding countryside and the Welsh Hills beyond.

It’s a generous course with predominantly wide fairways and attractive bunkers with classic rough fringes. A significant £100,000 bunker refurbishment programme was completed ten years ago. Apart from the bunkers, the most notable threat comes from the substantial trees that lie on either side of the fairways. Whether deciduous or coniferous matters very little if you’re stuck behind one after an errant drive.

When you eventually reach them, the greens are a treat. Smooth and true, they render putting a pleasure and can’t be blamed for any putts that miss their target. If forced to choose, I would state a slight preference for the back nine over the front simply because the holes are a tad more attractive.

For a very different golfing experience, try the Nicklaus course. Designed by the Great Bear himself, it sits very comfortably on the lower land and snakes around a succession of water features. Some are very attractive; all are threatening. The eponymous designer has made great use of them to create a course that obliges the player to plot his or her way around.

As well as the water, there are bunkers to worry about. These tend to be less of a threat than they are on the Cheshire course because they don’t have the same distinctive fringes and are not too steep. Although the bunkers might be less of problem, the greens are more contoured and several of them are decidedly tricky.

Five years younger than its neighbour, the surrounding trees are significantly shorter and pose less of a threat. Off both the white and yellow tees, it’s also significantly shorter but stretches off the black tees to over 7000 yards.

Both courses are beautifully maintained and consequently are a real pleasure to play. Because it’s lower and blessed with more water features, the Nicklaus Course is more prone to flood in and is consequently closed during the depths of winter. On the other hand, the immensely comfortable hotel is open all the year round and is well worth a visit especially with a round or two of golf.

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