Bear Town, is the destination for our latest trip, and the weather is anything but ‘grizzly’, as we squint into the rising sun of the east… of Cheshire. Congleton’s a 9 holer, and with change from £14 for 2 loops with the trusty Cheshire Card, expectations were modest. We were therefore mightily impressed to find an array of practice facilities, including nets, bunkers, a 100 yard range and substantial putting green.
Positive impressions continue, as we find the lush course in great condition, and sparsely populated, despite the glorious summer weather. We face a succession of interesting and varied holes, every one with a dogleg, valley, blind tee shot, ravine… or combination thereof, together with plenty of cunningly placed bunkers and trees to boot.
Congleton GC can trace it’s roots back to the end of the 19th century, where 20 men met in the Lion & Swan pub, and declared that “it will only take three or four days to give Congleton Golf Fever!” A little over 6 months later, and remarkably the course was built and it’s first competition was held, and won with 92 shots… a score we’d be happy with today, despite 124 years of club and ball innovations! The original site was then deemed unsuitable, and they moved to the current site in 1904.
The course design, it must be said, is magnificent. Originally the work of Frank Wingate, though changed significantly since, we can’t think of a another course with a smarter use of space than Congleton. Not only are the holes arranged to maximise the available land, CGC have alternative greens, flags and tee options.
This offers almost endless potential variations, with the suggested rounds of 18 meaning none of the front 9 are repeated, and 3 of the target yellow flags are on entirely different greens, such as the penultimate hole, with a pond guarding the 8th, and bunkers and a stream protecting the the 17th. Or the 5th, that sits below the 14th, which is cut into the hillside as pictured.
But there’s even more to their clever design, with the proximity of the clubhouse meaning options to play 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 15 or 18 holes! We’d struggle to call it quits early here, but whenever you do call it a day, that clubhouse balcony is reputed to be ‘the best in Cheshire’, and with views of the 3rd, 5th and 18th greens, and the Pennines beyond, it certainly takes some beating.
Key Info
Holes: 9 (alternate tee options for back 9 / 2 flag options)
Par: White: 70. Yellow: 68. Red: 68
Yards: Yellow: 4,749. Red: 4,397
Slope: White: 123. Yellow: 119. Red: 121
Visitor Green Fees: £13.75 for 18 with Cheshire County Card. Double without. Various other pricepoints.
Website: https://www.congletongolfclub.co.uk/
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (July 2023).
Find out where this course ranks in the list of toughest courses in Cheshire here, and see our overview of Golfing in Cheshire here.
Where shall we review next? Let us know here.
