Sandiway
Sandiway is Cheshire's heathland surprise, a Ted Ray layout opened in 1923 that rolls over a ridge of sand and pine between Chester and the Peak District. A par 70 of roughly 6,400 yards, it plays far longer than the card with sharp elevation change, springy turf and a run of holes good enough to have drawn Open qualifying and decades of championship golf to a quiet corner of the northwest.
Photo: Sandiway Golf Club via Google, by Martin Kime.
The verdict
Cheshire is not the first county golfers think of for heathland, which is exactly why Sandiway is such a find. Set on a ridge of free draining sand and gravel near Northwich, it carries the springy turf, the pine and the heather of the great Surrey courses, only transplanted to the northwest where green fees are kinder and the tee sheet is quieter.
It was laid out by Ted Ray, the 1912 Open champion, and opened for play in 1923, with later refinements by Harry Colt and, in the 1950s, Fred Hawtree when a road widening forced several holes to be reworked. The result is a par 70 of around 6,400 yards that uses the rolling ground beautifully. The number on the card is modest, but the climbs, the doglegs and the well guarded greens make Sandiway play every inch and then some, a serious test wrapped in a thoroughly enjoyable walk.
Sandiway at a glance
- Opened
- 1923
- Design
- Ted Ray
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- ~6,400 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026 from Sandiway Golf Club and leading course databases. Sandiway opened in 1923 to a Ted Ray design, later altered by Harry Colt and Fred Hawtree, a par 70 of roughly 6,400 yards. Sandiway welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Sandiway is a course of movement. The land tilts and folds across the ridge, so very few lies are flat and the player who reads the slopes well is rewarded while the one who fights them is punished. Tee shots must find the right side of tumbling fairways, and the approach is rarely from a level stance, which is what gives the round its character.
The greens are the defense. Many sit on subtle plateaus or fall away at the edges, so a shot that pitches a fraction long or wide gathers into trouble, and the short game has to be sharp. Stands of pine and patches of heather line the corridors and gather the wayward drive, keeping a premium on position over power throughout.
Above all the place feels like proper heathland golf, firm and fast in summer, quiet and handsome year round. It is the sort of course that surprises first time visitors and then keeps pulling them back, an ideal centerpiece for a northwest golfing day paired with the wider Cheshire and Liverpool coast courses nearby.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members' club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days outside member competitions; advance booking through the club is essential |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 50 to 90 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve ahead through the Sandiway office; midweek tee times are easiest and society packages are available |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; trolleys and buggies available; the heathland walk is rolling rather than flat |
| Getting there | Near Northwich in Cheshire off the A556, an easy run from Manchester and Liverpool airports and roughly 25 minutes from Chester |
| Best months | Plays firm and fast from late spring through autumn; the sandy base keeps it playable when heavier courses are wet |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visitors base themselves in Chester, a handsome walled city about 25 minutes away with plenty of hotels and good food, or in the Cheshire countryside closer to the club for an early tee time.
Sandiway works best as part of a wider northwest trip, paired with the other fine inland courses of Cheshire and an easy drive to the great links of the Lancashire and Liverpool coast for a varied few days of golf.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Sandiway.
Build a Cheshire golf trip
We arrange tee times at Sandiway and across the best of Cheshire and the northwest, pair them with the great Lancashire links and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Sandiway questions
When did Sandiway Golf Club open and who designed it?
Sandiway opened for play in 1923, laid out by Ted Ray, the 1912 Open champion. Harry Colt made alterations in the 1920s and Fred Hawtree reworked several holes in the 1950s when a road was widened.
What is the par and length of Sandiway?
Sandiway is a par 70 measuring roughly 6,400 yards from the back tees, a heathland course that plays longer than its yardage thanks to elevation change and well defended greens.
Can visitors play Sandiway Golf Club?
Yes. Sandiway welcomes visiting golfers and societies on selected days; book in advance through the club and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Where is Sandiway Golf Club?
Sandiway sits near Northwich in Cheshire, roughly between Chester and the edge of the Peak District, close to the A556 and an easy run from Manchester and Liverpool airports.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, design history and par verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.