Toughest (and Easiest) Courses in Cheshire

Whilst this topic has always historically been a subjective matter, since the World Handicap System was rolled out globally in 2020, with the previously introduced Slope Rating (‘SR’) a more fundamental aspect, it’s now feasible to compare courses on a more scientific basis.

However, whilst each individual courses’ SR can be found (R&A database source here), no end of Googling can locate a pre-existing collated list and ranking. Perhaps that’s because of the lack of uniformity in tee colours and convention, with many clubs having their own systems, making it challenging to make comparisons. 

Nevertheless, we’ve grasped the nettle and used common sense in trying to align almost 100 clubs in a logical and fair fashion. 

The next challenge, is defining the master list of courses. We plumped for Cheshire Union of Golf Clubs list, which seemed suitably official. We also subscribe to their pre-1974 view of the Cheshire boundaries, which includes the Wirral to the West, and towns like Stockport and Stalybridge to the North and East... rather than the Johnny-come-lately (a mere 50 years) administrative boundaries that dictates who collects your bins! 

We've sorted the list on the SR for the back tees (white unless noted otherwise).

So here's the list in full including links to club websites and course reviews where completed... scroll to the bottom for our conclusion.

Rank / Course / Slope off Back Tees 

1. Royal Liverpool - 152 (Championship) / 146 (black)  
2. Wychwood Park - 151 (‘The 151’)
3. Houldsworth - 149 (women) / 134 (men)
4. Mellor - 146 (women) / 127 (men)
5. Prestbury - 146
6. Hazel Grove - 143 (women) / 127 (men)
7. Bromborough - 142
8. The 6. Tytherington Club 142 (blue)
9. Altrincham - 141
10. Chester - 141
11. Dunham Forest - 141
12. Eaton - 141 (black)
13. Heswall - 141 (blue)
14. The Mere - 141 (black)
15. Ashton on Mersey - 139 (women) / 134 (men)
16. Vale Royal Abbey - 139 
17. Wirral - 139 (women) / 124 (men) 
18. Bramall Park - 138 
19. Hale - 138 (women) / 131 (blue / men)  
20. Sandiway - 138 
21. Chorlton-Cum-Hardy - 137 
22. Macclesfield - 137 
23. Portal (Championship) - 137 
24. Warrington - 137 (black) / 136 (white) 
25. Ellesmere Port - 136 
26. Malkins Bank - 136 
27. Mottram Hall - 136 
28. Northenden - 136 
29. Sandiway Alternative - 136 
30. Vicars Cross - 136 
31. Walton Hall - 136 
32. Carden Park Cheshire Course - 135 
33. Carden Park The Nicklaus Course - 135 (black) 
34. Heaton Moor - 135 
35. Romiley - 135 
36. Shrigley Hall - 135 
37. Delamere Forest - 134 (green) 
38. Alder Root - 134 
39. Arrowe Park - 134 
40. Bramhall - 134 (Championship women) / 128 men 
41. Caldy - 134 
42. Lymm - 134 
43. Prenton - 134 
44. Sale - 134 
45. Wallasey - 133 
46. Bidston - 132 
47. High Legh - 132 
48. Werneth Low - 132 
49. Astbury - 131 
50. Birchwood - 131 (black) 
51. Crewe - 131 
52. Knutsford - 131 
53. Portal (Premier) - 131 
54. Ringway - 131 
55. Stockport - 131 
56. Withington - 131 
57. Brackenwood - 130 (currently closed)
58. Cheadle - 130 
59. Dukinfield - 130 
60. Poulton Park - 130 
61. Reddish Vale - 130 
62. Styal - 130 
63. Warren - 130 
64. Wilmslow - 130 
65. Leasowe - 129 
66. Pryors Hayes - 129 
67. Alsager - 128 
68. Didsbury - 128 
69. Antrobus - 128 
70. Heyrose - 128 
71. Mersey Valley - 128 
72. Stamford - 128 
73. Aldersey Green - 126 
74. Alderley Edge - 126 
75. Gatley - 126 
76. Hartford - 126 
77. Upton by Chester - 126 
78. Helsby - 125 
79. Woodside - 125 
80. Disley - 124 
81. Avro - 123 
82. Congleton - 123 
83. Eastham Lodge - 123 
84. Hoylake Municipal - 122 
85. Runcorn - 122 
86. Marple - 121 
87. Sandbach - 118 
88. Davenport - 117 
89. Queens Park - 114 
90. Portal (Arderne) - 110  
Irby Not listed - play at Arrow Park
Sutton Hall Not listed  - now closed
Wellington Not listed  - part of Irby
West Hoyle Not listed - play at Arrow Park

Conclusion 

The prize for toughest course in Cheshire goes to The Open 2023 hosts Royal Liverpool (main picture), with 152 from it’s Championship tees, and an incredible 154 when playing The Open route via the yellows (1 less than the maximum allowed). Special mention goes to Wychwood Park, who miss out on the top spot in the quest to impart misery by just one place, and who’ve embraced the SRs so fully, they’ve named the respective tees after theirs, and have moved away altogether from being gender-defined (see also: Hartford).

The (mean) average SR across all the courses is 132.6, and the most common SRs are 130, 131 and 134; each the rating for the longest tees at 8 clubs.  

Spotted an error, omission, or rating that’s been charged? Please let us know.

Originally published by our previous golfing venture, Sunday Slicers.