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Delamere Forest, England |
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Delamere Forest Golf Club
Station Road
Delamere
Cheshire
CW8 2JE
England |  | Herbert Fowler |  | Martin Brown |
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 | +44 (0) 1606 883800 |  | M6 J19, towards Chester |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance |  | Michael Towers |
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Once a gem always a gem? Certainly Delamere Forest Golf Club is still a gem but it's now a ranked course on this website courtesy of our inaugural Top 100 list which we published in the first edition of our book. Congratulations Delamere Forest! It's not the most famous course in England but it's a cracker. Add it to your must-play list now alongside Sandiway. You won't be disappointed. |
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Delamere Forest Golf Club - nominated by David - added 8th February 2005 - words by David
The term "hidden gem" was composed for this course. Set back in a rural part of Cheshire, Delamere Forest is a throw back to the old days of golfing. A very prim and proper atmosphere with a shirt and tie policy in the Men's Bar is the reason that Delamere Forest deserves its Gem status. The course itself has a wonderful array of holes snaking through lines of ancient trees and frustratingly difficult heathland. In a nut shell, a course that few know about and for my money that’s half its aura. |
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Following course article by John Mulder:
Delamere Forest Golf Club is one of the counties hidden gems, despite the word 'Forest' in its title, Delamere is a natural heathland course. Certainly, trees are part of the strategy on several holes, but, in general, Delamere Forest provides a glorious backdrop to the panoramic views from the higher parts of the course.
Fowler had no qualms about asking the golfer to undertake a number of blind drives, carrying some considerable distances and enjoying the healthy exercise of hill climbing. Overall, there is much variety in hole lengths and every kind of shot will be called for, but the opening five holes really stretch the average player.
There are many holes with character, for example the 5th, with a long uphill carry to the green with a pond to the left and below the green and the need to hold the shot up to that side. The 6th is a short hole from an elevated tee to a small green set at an angle to the tee with enticing views over the pond below the green to the left, with woods and fields in all directions. The 8th requires a long straight tee shot to find a narrow fairway to give a long iron shot to a steeply sloping green. This hole was reached from the medal tee in the 1970s by one of our past members, Mr George Johnson. The 15th hole is a dog-leg left with a blind drive over a hill and an out of bounds in the Forest on the left. The raised plateau green is situated in a delightful dell with a bell to be rung to tell those behind that the coast is clear, with the finishing hole having a rough patch of reeds just short of the green.
The course leaves and returns to the clubhouse twice and players cross at the 6th and 16th tees. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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In the section below, headed “Your Reviews”, are golf course reviews posted by visitors to the Top 100 website. There are no specific rules for reviewing a golf course except you MUST have played the golf course first. Merits of each course are left entirely to your discretion. Important factors, such as course location, condition (or presentation), course difficulty and historical importance are all left for you to judge and we have developed a simple rating system where you can allocate one score to each course. | |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | The course turned out to be a huge surprise and a perfect finish to the week. The golf course is designed by Herbert Fowler and is a beautiful heathland course built over very undulating open land on a sandy property set in the low hills south of Manchester. The golf course featured sweeping panoramas, accents of heather, huge undulation in the fairways, elevated tees and greens and the most beautiful clubhouse clearly in view from half the course.
The golf course is friendly with ample room off the tee, some holes were lined with trees while others were framed in by long fescue, but always there were openings out to the surrounding landscape beyond. The rolling land, views into the surrounding hill and copses of wonderful spruce and oak made this a beautiful English Landscape that Capability Brown would have been impressed with.
The opening set of long par fours are brilliant. They were part of the changes made by Fowler when he returned to expand the course in the 1920’s. All the fours on the front are challenging since each makes perfect use of the terrain and asks for a different approach from the other ones. The threes are also tough and excellent and it’s only the breather offered by a simpler five that prevents this from being one of the best nines in golf, it’s that good!
The nines turned out to be contrast. The front is big, strong and rock solid whereas the back nine is much shorter and more quirky. There were some really cool shorter holes like the cross-sloped 13th and the downhill 14th, but the quirkiest and perhaps coolest hole of all was the short 15th played to a very Mackenzie like 15th elevated green. Perhaps the best hole may have been the 16th which involved a long par three played into a bowl where the player can either fly or feed the ball into the green. The back nine has more options and more opportunity which is a nice way to finish.
The golf course was full of excellent lessons in design. I’m quite interested in all the greens that are set “into” the land rather than placed “onto” a promontory. Fowler used this at a number of the courses we saw over the week. It’s not as flashy an approach, but does lend a certain subtle charm that is rare in golf there days. I liked his routing because he so clearly emphasized the land as the strategy. I liked an unusual move with some bunkering where he placed the emphasis on the contour of the landing at a corner rather than making the bunkers the strategy by moving them to the inside. This is not the modern target bunker, but a much more interesting style of creating a parallel line that I thought was a cool concept worth looking at.
Delamere is exactly the course I would like to join. They have a friendly membership that plays fast. The golf course is a pleasure to play, but will still test your game. It’s simply a beautiful place that has everything you could possibly want and great golf too. I feel very fortunate to have played there.
 | | 04 May 2010
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| | Delamere is such a delight to play. From the moment you turn into the drive you lose yourself in the tranquillity of the place, that is if you find the place to start with! Sentiments echo that if you picked the course up and placed it in the Surrey / Berkshire sand belt then Delamere would not be out of place.
Much has changed recently mainly to the clubhouse facility. The new pro shop and visiting changing room are most impressive and blend seamlessly into existing traditional Cheshire clubhouse, a facility to match the wonderful course. I noticed the club are instigating a programme to retain the “Heathland Feel” or “Our Heathland Gem” as the club call it. You’ve only got to look at heathland programmes undertaken at Walton Heath and Worplesdon to understand the merits of protecting this delightful style of course.
I so enjoy playing here and with the removal of silver birch and the re-generation of heather and gorse it is only going to make golfing here even more enjoyable. For years Delamere was known as a hidden gem, well if you haven’t found the place in the clubs first 100 years, (Delamere celebrates their Centenary this year) then make the effort. | | 29 April 2010
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| | Played on a lovely July day as part of a golf tour to the area. Very pretty course, not long but you really have to think about the tee shots...keep the big dog in the bag unless your very straight! Very good greens and not a bad hole on the course. Most enjoyable. One tip for visitirs...pro shop doesn't accept cards so take planty of cash. | | 27 July 2009
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| Response: | | | Martin Brown | 08 August 2009 | | The proshop does take credit cards for shop purchases. The business of greenfee sales belongs to Delamere Forest golf club. The club have recently approved credit card facilities for greenfee sales so this won’t be an issue in the future. |
| | | I had the pleasure to play delamere today and i was not disappointed. the course was in great condition there wasn't a weak hole on the course the greens were ture and fast, starting to brown off a little with the hot weather which added to the day because it had a links feel to the course. well worth a visit and hope to be back soon. Great!! | | 24 June 2009
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| Response: | | | Tony Clarke | 23 October 2009 | | I live fairly local to this course and have played it several times. I have to say I have enjoyed it every time, but I do not understand the lofty position you have given it in your list. For example it sits above Moortown which is definately a far superior course, and it is also ranked way above Sandiway which also makes no sense. Would like to know how these things are worked out. |
| | | Absolutely delightful. Played Delamere many times and it is quite rightly referred to has a hidden gem. Delamere Forest has a Home Counties feel to it, set back in time with a small membership and they still allow dogs on the course, a touch of Sunningdale here. The course plays fast in summer and along with Ganton is probably the best “winter” inland course up North. No artificial watering here! The course is clearly the best in Cheshire; the front 9 is outstanding and challenging with the back 9 a little more undulating and tricky. The clubhouse has recently under gone much renovation and now boasts a very impressive Pro Shop. If you haven’t experienced Delamere, you are simply missing out. Make the effort and go and play, whether in January or July the course is awesome. | | 05 April 2009
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| Response: | | | Richard Wakefield | 08 June 2009 | | Delamere Forest is an old style course, where the holes are defined by nature and not man. It is an area that is very sandy and this allows the course to drain quickly. No matter how hard it rains the greens never waterlog, always playable in winter and lightning fast in summer. It''s a mix of Parkland and heathland and is always a joy to play. |
| | | WOW!!! what a golf course, was recommended to me by a good golfing friend and upon playing i now realise what he meant!
a truly enjoyable round of golf with some of the best greens ive played this year, the rough determined accurate tee shots were needed on nearly every hole and this also gave the course plenty of character and charm.
each hole is different and each one is a test of its own, my favourite hole would have to be the par 4 14th that requires accuracy off the tee and if acheived, sets up a stunning approach shot to a green guarded by grass and sand bunkers and surounded by the forest.
the new golf shop also offers all the latest equipment and the professional staff were very helpful and helped make my day memorable.
this course is highly recommended to anyone who is thinking of playing somewhere new that emmulates golfing heaven and a steal for only £40!!! | | 21 August 2008
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| | | Invariably in good condition, Delamere Forest is a course for all seasons. Like an inland links, the undulating fairways of tight old heathland turf lead to true greens that are as playable in November as in June. Although not a long course, Delamere will rarely reward the golfer who uses brawn rather than brain. Facilities have recently been expanded and improved with excellent service from the pro shop and the house staff alike. Green fees are very reasonable for a course of this quality. Recommended for all thinking golfers. | | 04 August 2008
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| | | Played the course on the 14th of may. I've heard lost of good reports about Delamere so i decided to give it ago, what a place to play golf superb layout and in great condition, greens were out of this world each hole has something different to offer.
The pros nice and friendly and so are the bar staff which made my visit a truely enjoyable one, look forward to playing again. | | 14 May 2008
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| | Played 36 holes in May 08, and with the name FOREST in the title we were expecting a tree lined affair, but not at all, the course itself sits up high on a brow and the holes seem to bob and weave all around quite open plains with views of the rolling fairways. Each hole is different, well presented and a little bit of thought is needed where to place the tee shot. The downside to the holes is that the club is holding onto the ‘par 72’ scenario which we felt was mad as most of the Par 5’s should be made into Par 4’s (reason being the Par 5’s are only 428, 438, 492 and 458 yards and as some are downhill they were more than accessible in 2 shots). Overall I would visit again as the course provided a good day for our party of 12 (even though the greens should be made quicker), the food is good and reasonable priced compared to that of the Pro’s steep hike of £5 for a push trolley, £12 for an electric trolley and £40 for a buggy !!!! | | 10 May 2008
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| Response: | | | Martin Brown | 02 June 2008 | | Buggies at Delamere Forest are limited and are used by elderly and infirm golfers only. Consequently, due to the low number of buggies held at the club, our profit making is restricted. The hire charges quoted above were for a full day and not a single round and the prices are compatible to clubs of
similar standing. |
| | | Playing Delamere on a crisp February morning was a delight. A really natural course in excellent condition was a great start. The fact that I played my irons poorly and lost 5+4 to Neil Shepperton, despite 2 birdies was a shame. However my takeaway memory was a pure pleasure of a lovely set-up | | 15 February 2008
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| | | What a great golf course, theres a bit of links and heathland golf put together, greens where superb and the whole course was very well presented. Playing it again in the summer. fantastic!!!! | | 09 April 2007
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| | | Played in January 2007 i've played some great courses in the UK but this has to be one of the best, greens are fantastic like playing in the summer. Superb condition and a joy to play not one hole is the same, will play again this year in the summer over and over. deserves to be higher than 55th. | | 15 February 2007
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| | | What a stunning golf course. Immaculately presented, set in splendid Cheshire countryside, with plenty of breathtaking views to admire, whilst overcoming the tough challenges each hole has to throw at you. Can't wait to play again. | | 09 April 2006
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| | | Brilliant course, never thought a course could be this good in the winter. This hidden gem reminds me of memories of Hillside's parkland parts. Very hilly and beautiful features. Hard Par 3's that take your breath away. Will play again and again, a must for all golfers | | 24 March 2005
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| | | A wonderful golf course.
A delight to play whatever the time of year. Beautiful in the summer and always in great winter condition.
Hidden Gem is the correct term for this wonderfully sculptured golf course. | | 21 March 2005
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