Reached via the A34, that snakes from Salford to the south coast, just north of Congleton sits the quaint village of Marton. Despite having a population of under 250 people across 4 hamlets, the parish boasts a French restaurant, café, a pub… all highly regarded, and the oldest functioning timber-framed church in Europe (1343). It also homes the biggest oak in the county (once measured as 58 feet in circumference), and – as you may have guessed – a golf course.
Once, one suspects, it was an enterprising farmer’s fields prior to it’s opening as a course in 1998, and we recall paying our green fees through the farmhouse’s stable door in those early days. 25 years on, and the site now includes a detached clubhouse, with café, terrace and bar. There’s also a driving range, and ‘The Bunker’, housing state of the art golf simulators, and a huge seemingly new clubhouse mid-construction at time of writing alongside the 1st tee, with no doubt huge ambitions and possibilities.
Now, Royal Lytham this is not, and some of the golfing old guard may well turn their nose up at this ‘par 3 pay and play’. But keep an open mind, accept that your longest club might not see much action, and there are huge upsides to this lovely little course. Firstly, it’s ideal for beginners… there’s no pomp and ceremony, and a very down-to-earth tone to the atmosphere and typical clientele. It’s quieter than most courses, providing plenty of breathing space when avoiding peak periods, to get to grips with the game or bed in new clubs and / or swing.
Marton is also fantastic for practicing your short game. The mixture of short holes, ranging from 92 to 145 yards, with the former off an elevated tee that rewards a good wedge shot with lingering airtime… or the fun option of hitting a long putt onto the green! The 3rd may only be 113 yards, but has the risk of peril via a ditch, large central tree and greenside bunkers to navigate for a chance at par. One fantastic addition, sadly seemingly now all defunct, were the gadgets that allowed balls to be retrieved from cups without bending down – something that would be a welcome addition for many at other courses.
All those short holes, mean more golf, and less walking. It’s fairly easy to get around in an hour, and potentially twice in 90 minutes, having hit 60/80 (or 100) shots, so for £15/16, the shots-per-pound ratio [Is this a thing? – Ed.] is superb. It’s not even a ‘par 3 course’ per se – the 9th is a 270 yard par 4, which offers a nice opportunity to finish the round by smashing a drive onto the banked fairway, between stream and pond. Oh, and did I mention I got my only hole-in-one here! OK yes, it was the shortest hole, but it still counts… right?
Key Info
Holes: 9
Par: 28
Yards: 1277
Slope: 88 (men), 90 (women)
Visitor Green Fees: £10 for 9 holes, £15 for 18 on weekdays, extra £1 on each at weekends
Website: http://www.martonmeadows.co.uk
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (April 2023).
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