Situated a couple of miles below Sandbach to the south of Cheshire, sits Malkins Bank, now part of a stable of three ex-municipals in the North West owned by the company behind the Ian Woosnam Academy golf school, with one of their branches on-site. Tucked away off a country lane, and approached by crossing the pretty Trent & Mersey Canal, Malkins Bank also sites a floodlit driving range, chipping / putting green, and a friendly seeming clubhouse. Indeed, whilst tricky to judge the all-so-important friendliness of any club overall without being a member, having enjoyed a dozen or so rounds at MB, the relaxed tone encountered is perhaps best epitomised by the fella who let us play through, clutching a can of Thatchers, at 10am on a Monday morning!!
The course itself is a decent test of skill, with the 4th requiring a precise drive across a gully to avoid the newt-infested out of bounds on the right. The 11th is another that sticks in the memory, a par 5 off an elevated tee with far-reaching views. The 13th could also be a real card-wrecker, requiring a solid tee shot to carry the river that splits the fairway, then an accurate approach to avoid the greenside pond.
This club offers terrific value for money, being a good quality, interesting and well-maintained course, with plenty of available tee times for £10… for 18 holes. Indeed, the super-frugal can hunt out the odd slot on GolfNow for as little as £7.50!! Now, it would seem remiss to not mention that the course can get very soggy in places (the 15th fairway the worst affected), as locals will often remark… but for around a third of the cost of the typical round in the county, one can have little complaint.
Following your round, the homely clubhouse offers fares ranging from afternoon teas, to Sunday Roast, depending on your timing. Fancy celebrating a vintage round with a few pale ales? You can even ‘play and stay’, in one of six luxury pods, sporting twin beds, power showers, TVs, and decked terrace looking onto the final green.
Key Info
Holes: 18
Par: 70
Yards: Competition: 6,009. Men: 5,760. Women: 5,448
Slope: Men: 129. Women: 131
Visitor Green Fees: £10 for 18
Website: www.malkinsbankgolfclub.co.uk
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (April 2023).
Find out where this course ranks on the list of toughest courses in Cheshire here, see all of the county’s courses plotted onto a Google Map here, and try our fun quiz to find your perfect course here!
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