Mottram Hall Golf Course

Played here yesterday ( 25/4/13 ) and have to agree with previous recent posts as a disappointment. ( £55 full green fee).A poor welcome with no information from staff in the pro shop as to course markers, practice facilities or directions. Front 9 very bland and hard to distinguish holes. I assume that once the rough has grown back it will make a difference. Back 9 was far better and had 2 or 3 excellent holes, especially the dog leg 17th which was a brute and required 2 great shots to an elevated green. The condition of the greens was good as they ran well but I wouldn't go back.

First off - i need to say that i played the course at the end of April 2012, in poor weather.. very open front nine - where wind and rain whips into your face frequently, deeply unpleasant with no cover, average and unnatractive golf - nothing much to recommend at all - greens scrubby - but a miracle the course was open after tons of rain.. Back nine massively better, attractive and much more interesting - overall, you can put up with bad weather here as it is much more sheltered, in fact there are some lovely holes.. overall a game of two halves - would i go back? no hotel overall really good

Played the course 31/10/11 after unseasonally good weather. Lots of bald patches around greens - and just an overall lack of attention to detail you would expect at a De-Vere. Another review I read prior to the visit mentioned that the course looks like a Municiple on the drive in from the main road - and I have to say i agree. The front nine of obvisouly a lot newer, but look like they are just in a big field. There had very little done to separate each hole, very few trees planted - overall a let down. The back nine however was a joy in terms of layout - first class - although still lacked attention to detail.

Played Mottram July 2011. Absolutely loved it. 2 contrasting 9 hole courses, both interesting, well manicured and difficult. First 9 holes are new but testing and enjoyable. Second 9 holes are more established, very long, very beautiful with a grandiose layout. The rough is highly punitive-take plenty of golf balls. Mottram's greatest asset, in my opinion, is its interest and there is a wonderful anticipation of 'What's next?' as you walk up to each tee. There is a discount for 'after 3pm' tee-off and its the perfect Friday-night-after-work round of golf. Could not fault it on any front and would recommend it to anyone. (Ringway member - 7 h'cap)

I Played Mottram between christmas and new year as part of a society, the course was in good condition consindering all the snow. A lot of the courses in the area were still closed, however we were pleased to find Mottram open and completely dry. This is definitly one of the top winter courses I've played in the North West. Without doubt we will be returing next year. I would recommend Mottram to any societies looking for a venue in the North West.

played Mottram on Sunday 25th July.. fairways poor, numerous bad patches, either bare or poor quality, numerous bunkers that appeared to have had all sand removed or almost a bunker within a bunker.. yardage markers very poor or wrong distance.. played as a "twilight teetime", we were the 1st group to tee off and of course finish, the bar closed at 8.30pm despite several groups on the course, we were advised they had rung "last orders", unfortunately as we were actually playing the course at the time we had no way of knowing..

We booked this course on the back of good experiences from Carden Park and other De Vere courses. It was with an element of excitement that we turned in through the big entrance gates leading down to the hotel. That was diminished instantly by the comment, "I hope that's not it, it looks like a muni". I have to admit, the first impression is one of concern. However, on to the clubhouse and away to the course. Facilities were fair to average, the course was a major dissappointment. The fairways (where you could describe them as fairways) were almost indistinguishable from the rough. The greens were wooly and full of moss. I don't think one green ran at the same speed as another throughout the round. The comment that keeps coming back to haunt me is "This looks like a field with flags stuck in it". That from one of our group that has never played any 'top' courses. Needless to say we will not be returning to Mottram Hall. Ever.

Just been on a club trip, this must be the twentieth time plus that I've played Mottram. In terms of value for money on the Sunday driver deal, I don't think anyone can have many complaints. What was very worrying on this visit though was the appalling state of the greens - mid May and these are several weeks away from being anywhere near acceptable. In fact, they're so poor that I'd question whether these greens will be right this season. Clearly overplayed in the winter, it has finally started to catch up on them and I seriously think they could lose these greens if they aren't careful. The comment regarding bunkers being poorly prepared is fair as well, but relatively minor compared to the greens issue.

Returned to play Mottram for an annual comp organised by a local pro. Imposing entrance and locker rooms are first class. Bacon sandwich and a cuppa prepare you up for what you know, if you've played here before, will be a tough test. My foursome was 4th out so we didn't have a long wait which was especially good as the weather forecast was wet and thundery. We completed our round in fine weather in just over 5 hrs - this is a long course and I'm told pros playing in 3somes here take just as long. That didn't stop a ranger hurrying us along on the 7th tee though even though the group behind us were not being held up. I played abysmally on the day - didn't get a point on the scorecard until the 6th and it was only the fact that my driver off the tee was in good nick that prevented me from abandoning at the 9th. The front nine are all well presented and make you think about every shot. The 3rd has a nice water feature (which I found - twice!!) and most fairways are generous enough to tempt the driver out of the bag. The back nine are much tougher and if you haven't brought your A game with you you'll struggle. The rough was thick and lush with lots of molehills from which you got relief. In fact, preferred lies were in play although they weren't really needed. For me the signature hole is the 17th - a real brute that I'm starting a campaign to have changed from a par 4 to a 5. The 3 long par 3s also require golf with your thinking cap on. The greens were dreadful for the second year running. The starter made the usual excuses (recent weather, give them another couple of weeks) but for a club of this stature they need sorting out. Similarly, it wasn't that the bunkers lacked sand - they just hadn't been well prepared. But, this was a fun round asking you plenty of questions and imposing severe penalties if you haven't got the right answers. The facilities here are excellent and for a £55 package we got a bacon butty, 18 holes, beef casserole and a pint of Guinness which I consider great value at a place like this. On the debit side a round of 2 pints of Guinness and a half of coke was nearly £9.

During the winter months we play Mottram most weekends. With the shocking weather we had in December, you would expect it to be very boggy but the course drains as well as any i've played, the fairways are all in fantastic condition, the drainage is evident as you walk the course. The greens, i will admit, are not 100% but compared to many private courses around the Cheshire area are considerably better. The course offers a very challenging parkland front 9 with some very well presented bunkers surrounding many of the greens. The back is 9 a tougher more rural predicament entirely, finished off with a long par 5 back to the clubhouse. They offer 2-fore-1 on weekdays and weekends making it excelent value for money. The only criticsm i have is they don't always inform you if they are on temporary greens, and offer no discount if this is the case a some clubs will.

Played Mottram for the first time with my son in a comp organised by our pro'. Hot bacon buttie and cuppa on arrival and the best locker room I've been in. We were the last but one group to tee off and I was shaking on the tee box and that showed with my drive which went high and wide. Soon settled down however and began to enjoy the course. The front nine are fairly flat parkland holes. The 3rd has a nice water feature. The back nine are much more of a challenge. Some of the longer par 4s (the 17th) would be par 5s on my local course and I had little chance of hitting the green in regulation. There are a couple of long par 3s which are difficult to reach. The closing hole is straight, but long. Back to the clubhouse for a well earned pint and a roast dinner. Bar prices were reasonable so don't know if they've adjusted them since the last contributor complained. Didn't win any prizes in the comp but me and my son got 45 points so not too bad. You can see that this course caters for the corporate type, but unlike Ramside Hall which does similar, this gets it right. The facilities are top drawer, the fairways were in excellent nick, although like others have said, some of the greens were poor. A weekend driver here, staying at the hotel would be good value I reckon. Hire a buggy if you can afford it - it's a long walk.

Just an update on my previous post. Been to Mottram on the usual Sunday driver over the Easter weekend, £99 for 2 rounds of golf, dinner, bed and breakfast - no complaints at all about that value. Staff as friendly and helpful as ever. At the moment, the greens are not in the best of nick. As I've said previously overplayed in my opinion during the winter. They can best be described as uneven, in parts patchy, and in parts, such as the 15th, knackered. Give them another 5-6 weeks though and I'm sure they will be fine. What shocked us, however, was the hike in prices since our last visit at the end of last season in the bars for drinks and "snacks". £3.25 for a pint of bitter, £5 a pint for Grolsch - yes, FIVE POUNDS A PINT. They are kidding themselves if they think people are going to pay that sort of money. Bacon lettuce and tomato sandwich just shy of £7.00!!!! One thing is for certain, as we saw first hand ourselves, the 19th hole and the bars in the hotel are going to be a hell of a lot quieter than they have been in he past. You have been warned!

We visited Mottram Hall on the 18/19th March hoping for some decent golf in early Spring sunshine. Unfortunately, what we got was an average course and some of the worst weather conditions I've ever played in! Snow, hail, gales, rain...you name it, we got it. The most irritating aspect of the weekend was the insistence, of the golf management team, on playing temporary greens on the Monday, despite the fact that the snow/hail stones had melted, the ground wasn't frozen and the course had drained well. Not that the proper greens were anything to write home about but the temporaries were terrible and were not even properly marked! All the above aside though, the hotel faciltiies and staff were very good and the weekend overall was great value for money. However, given the wide choice available for this type weekend, I probably won't be going back.

My Girlfriend and I visit Mottram 3 or 4 times a year. When you go there, you have to go in the knowledge that the course will be pretty busy as it caters very much for corporate golf. That said, I have played some private clubs where the course has been three quarters empty and taken longer to get round once stuck behind meandering unaware locals, but there is little doubt that quite often your round will take longer than it may normally take at your own course. The course itself is a tale of 2 halves. The front 9 is very much set up for the corporate golfer. Wide open fairways, generous greens. If you hit the fairways, you shouldn't have any trouble. If you're finding the rough on the front 9, you're going to struggle just like you would on any course as the fairways are generous to say the least. The back 9 is totally different. With the exception of the par 3 eleventh, which always strikes me as a hole that has been thrown in, each hole provides a different challenge. The stroke index 1, par 4 thirteenth needs two good blows to be up in 2. The 17th is as good a hole as you will find for many a mile, with a real risk reward choice to take off the tee and a tough approach shot to an elevated green. Mottram has had problems with its greens at times in the past, as a direct reuslt in my opinion of being overplayed in the winter months. During the summer, however, you will usually find them in pretty good nick. Off course is where Mottram wins hands down. Terrific hotel accomodation, good spa and health centre facilities, an excellent restaurant and extremely friendly service all combine to make for a very relaxed atmosphere. The pro-shop, "19th hole" and changing facilities have seen a major overhaul and are now of the very highest quality. Well worth a visit, particularly if you go on the Sunday driver offer which offers fantastic value for money and a great opportunity to chill out for a while.

I visited Mottram Hall in June as part of a society. Overall the experience was a good one. £199 2 nights accomodation and DB&B with 36 holes. The hotel and service was of good quality and course was well maintained. The course was made more challenging with the heavy rough and there was a lot of balls left out there. The back nine the more interesting half and my only negative was that after 36 holes I was fed up hunting for balls in that long rough. I do recommend it for a golf weekend. If you go, enjoy the 17th and 18th. 2 good finishing holes.

Our small society played Mottram Hall on Sunday 18th June. It was in better general condition than the previous reviewer found and the greens have benefitted from the hollow tining. (We have also experienced that at Carden Park and Heron's Reach De Vere's earlier in the year). The front nine is blander than the very good back nine, but there are some interesting holes there and the course overall is well worth playing. It's good value too if you use one of the many discount vouchers or offers available - I don't think I've ever paid full price on a De Vere. We didn't find it too long playing from the yellows (handicaps ranged from 14 to 21) and it took around 4 hrs 10mins, which is about average for this type of course I'd suggest. The pro shop was welcoming and had a couple of good offers available. The food and beer are overpriced, as you might expect at a hotel which has lots of corporate customers I suppose. Our meals took so long to arrive that it took the edge off an otherwise enjoyable day out. The manager's offer of a complimentary drink might have been OK if we were staying the night, but with 60 miles to drive home we didn't take him up on it.

I played on the weekend of the May bank holiday and have to say that I was somewhat disappointed. The club seems to be very corporate biased and the course was very very busy. It took us over 5 and a half hours to play on the Saturday and 4 and a half hours plus on the Sunday and Monday. The course itself is very long and high handicapper will find it a bit of a struggle. The front nine is really flat with all holes being best described as bland. The back nine is much nicer and a totally different challenge. The course was however showing signs of its corporate bias especially on the fairways where I don't think anybody bothered with replacing divot marks. Unfortunately we played just after the grees had been hollow tined and putting was a complete waste of time. In summary its not a course that I would be rushing to play again.

I PLAYED IT ON A BITTERLY COLD FEBRUARY DAY. WITH IT BEING THROUGH THE WEEK AND BEING A JUNIOR I GOT ON FOR £10. I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT WAS THE BEST £10 I HAVE EVERY SPENT WITH ALL TEES AND GREENS BEING IN SUPERB CONDITION. IF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY NEARBY STYAL GOLF CLUB WHICH IS NOT AS CHALLENGING BUT STILL NICE IN ITS OWN WAY