Golf in Cheshire: The Complete Guide
Cheshire is the soft, prosperous county between the Manchester suburbs and the Welsh border, and its golf matches the setting: the heathland gems of Delamere Forest and Sandiway, the Harry Colt parkland of Prestbury and Wilmslow, and serious resort golf at Carden Park and The Mere, all within easy reach of one of England's busiest airports and at fees that undercut the south.
Photograph: The Mere Golf Resort & Spa, Cheshire, via Google
Why Cheshire
Because it packs a remarkable variety of good golf into a small, easy to travel county. Cheshire has no links coast, but it has a pair of genuine heathland courses at Delamere Forest and Sandiway, both rated among the best in the northwest, alongside polished Harry Colt parkland in the affluent belt around Wilmslow and Prestbury, and two of the strongest golf resorts in the region at Carden Park near Chester and The Mere near Knutsford. The whole county sits within an hour of Manchester airport, and the green fees, even at the best members clubs, sit well below what the equivalent courses cost in Surrey or Berkshire.
It also pairs beautifully with its neighbors. The Lancashire and Merseyside links coast is an hour north for a links leg, and the courses of North Wales are a similar run west, which makes a Cheshire base a smart hub for a wider northwest golf trip. We cover the links shore on the Lancashire hub; this page is the Cheshire heart of it.
The courses that matter
Delamere Forest
The best course in Cheshire and the one to plan around: a classic Herbert Fowler heathland design from 1910 that makes full use of natural, rolling ground among the forest and heather, with no parallel holes and a wonderful sense of space. Fowler, the architect of Walton Heath, found wild golfing country here and left it largely alone, and the result is a firm, fast, strategic course that golfers travel a long way to play. Visitors are welcome, with indicative 2026 fees of around 65 pounds midweek and 80 pounds at weekends. Always confirm directly before booking.
Sandiway
A few miles from Delamere, Sandiway is the county's other heathland star, a Ted Ray design over wooded, undulating sandy ground that holds your interest from the first tee, with the opening seven holes each playing to a different par. Tight, hilly and beautifully bunkered, it rewards thoughtful driving and a deft short game, and it makes the natural 36 hole companion to Delamere for a heathland day. Indicative 2026 fees from around 60 pounds midweek and 70 pounds at weekends. Always confirm directly before booking.
Prestbury and Wilmslow
The leafy stockbroker belt south of Manchester holds two fine Harry Colt parkland courses. Prestbury, founded in 1920 and routed by Colt across handsome undulating ground, is a real Cheshire jewel, demanding skill and imagination and retaining many of its original features. Wilmslow, near Mobberley, opens with a strategic par 4 that sets the tone for a round full of subtly doglegged holes, and has hosted professional events over the years. Both are welcoming members clubs and easy to reach from the airport.
Carden Park
The historic 17th century Carden Park estate occupies some 750 acres of prime countryside near Chester and has become a golfing destination in the northwest, with two 18 hole courses, the Nicklaus Course the jewel in the crown, plus a large hotel and spa. It is the county's premier stay and play, ideal for a group or a longer trip, with the golf, the lodging and the practice facilities all on one estate. Open to green fee players and hotel guests; confirm seasonal rates directly.
The Mere Golf Resort and Spa
Near Knutsford, The Mere is a handsome parkland resort sometimes called the Wentworth of the north, an underrated layout with origins in the 1930s work of James Braid and George Duncan, now wrapped in a modern hotel, spa and golf academy. It hosts pro am and celebrity golf and gives the county a second polished stay and play option alongside Carden Park. A comfortable base for a corporate day or a couples trip. Confirm current rates and packages directly.
Season and fees at a glance
| Course | Indicative 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Delamere Forest | 65 pounds midweek, 80 weekends | Herbert Fowler heathland, the county's best |
| Sandiway | 60 pounds midweek, 70 weekends | Ted Ray heathland and parkland |
| Prestbury / Wilmslow | Moderate; confirm directly | Harry Colt parkland, Manchester belt |
| Carden Park / The Mere | Resort rates; confirm directly | Stay and play, hotel and spa on site |
Best months: May to September, with the heathland firmest in high summer. Check tee time availability or browse Cheshire golf resort stays.
Getting there and where to stay
Manchester Airport is the gateway and sits almost in the county, twenty minutes from the Wilmslow and Prestbury parkland and forty from the Delamere and Sandiway heath. Liverpool and Chester are a similar short run to the west, with Chester the obvious base for the Carden Park leg. For a members club week, stay in Knutsford or one of the small Cheshire towns and play the heath and parkland on day passes; for a self contained group or corporate trip, base at Carden Park or The Mere and let the resort handle golf, rooms and dinner. The county also makes a fine hub for a wider northwest tour, with the Lancashire links coast an hour north and North Wales a similar run west. Always confirm access and fees directly before booking.
Plan your Cheshire golf trip
Tell us your dates, group size and whether you want the heathland of Delamere and Sandiway, a resort base at Carden Park or The Mere, or Cheshire as the hub of a wider northwest tour. One concierge books the tee times, sorts the stay and costs the trip to the head. No obligation.
Cheshire golf questions
What is the best golf course in Cheshire?
Delamere Forest is widely rated the best golf course in Cheshire, a classic Herbert Fowler heathland design that makes full use of natural, undulating ground among the forest and heather. Its closest rivals are the heathland and parkland of Sandiway and the Harry Colt courses at Prestbury and Wilmslow, with resort golf at Carden Park and The Mere giving the county its stay and play options. Always confirm access and fees directly before booking.
Can visitors play golf in Cheshire?
Yes. Cheshire is one of the most visitor friendly golf counties in England. Delamere Forest, Sandiway, Prestbury and Wilmslow are members clubs that welcome visitors, most readily on weekdays, while Carden Park and The Mere are resorts open to green fee players and hotel guests year round. Indicative 2026 midweek fees run from around 60 to 80 pounds at the members clubs; always confirm current rates and tee times directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Cheshire?
May to September gives the warmest weather and the firmest turf on the heathland courses, along with the busiest tee sheets. April and October are honest value shoulders with quieter courses, and the parkland and resort courses drain well enough for golf through much of the winter. Cheshire's mild lowland climate makes it a genuine year round destination, and Manchester airport sits right in the middle of it.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Course access changes, openings and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Access, history and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.