Styal Golf Club

Very enjoyable course for the following reasons:-
1) I have never come across any of the stuffiness that can be associated with other clubs, ie "excuse me but your shirt appears to untucked at the rear" or "I'm sorry but although your shorts are tailored, we don't allow any patch pockets or trainer socks". By the same token I have never come across anybody dressed other than smart and obeying both the rules and etiquette of the game.
2) The course is set in the middle of the Cheshire plain, so don't expect hills and quarries! What you will get are mature oak trees and natural ponds (actually meres created about 10,000 years ago by a melting ice sheet) that the course has been planned around. Play a shot down the wrong side of the fairway and the chances are that you will be blocked by a forty footer.
3) The course is anything but boring, especially: -
Hole 1. Par 5 90 deg. dog-leg left, out of bounds on left
Hole 6. Par 4 Good length tee shot required, too short and the
hole is blocked by mature trees, too long and you're in a pond.
Hole 13. Par 3 Nearly all carry, with a ball magnet on the bottom
of yet another pond that tuckes right up to the green.

Any course, however simple it may seem, invites you to go round in scratch. My experience is that Styal won't beat you up while your trying.
4) The clubhouse is very informal and isn't stalked by the house rules
committee, "No Logo's Longer than 4" Long", proclaims a sign at the entrance to one clubhouse. "Socks to be worn with sandals" good god! is this 2008 or 1908.
In short, if you want to play uncomplicted unpretentious golf in pleasant, convivial surroundings on a course that is well managed and cared for I would recommend Styal.
Pete Wilson

Very pleasant golf course with good quality putting surfaces. We played in a competition pretty much off the back tees in which we found it a good test and very enjoyable. As to previous comments the 3rd hole (stroke 1) is a 460 yard par 4 and only 3 or 4 par 4's are straight and all have either water hazards, bunkers or trees! The driving range is probably the best i have ever seen with self loading ball dispensers, friendly staff and great food.

I don't like to be negative about a course especially when I paid only £14 for a round of twilight golf but have to agree with Lee's comments below.
Every hole seems to be a straight hole (one excetion the 7th I think) with no hazards and very little to entertain. Can't understand the SI as no.1 was a straight par 4 of 350 yards with no hazard whatsoever. It was in good condition and the greens were in good shape but it isn't very inventive, if at all inventive.
Friendly pro in the shop was helpful and the range is great but the course as mentioned is a little bit dull and suffers as a result.

Excellent course for the both those new to Golf and the more experienced.Not too many hazards but enough to keep you interested
S Hall