Just inside the Cheshire border, and only a solid 4 iron away from Derbyshire, we find Mellor & Towscliffe Golf Club. Now, those approaching from the west would be wise to ignore the sat nav if guided down the unfinished tracks of Lakes Road and Nields Way, which are pretty hairy even in a 4×4… though of course that’s not the club’s fault. Having selected the course based on it’s policy of allowing dogs (see separate article on that here), the longer and slightly fraught drive was soon forgotten, with a friendly welcome from club pro Gary.
Mellor GC was founded in 1894, and the course occupies a superb spot, with views across ‘at least’ 5 counties, with Snowdon (114 miles away) visible on a clear day. 26 years from it’s creation, nearby Townscliffe Golf Club agreed to join forces, with the promise to members of an extension to 18 holes fulfilled. To tackle all 18, stamina – or a buggy – is certainly required, with hills so steep that my watch asked if I was doing an elliptical workout! Perhaps this is why, on a beautiful sunny Spring day, it was oh so quiet? Available tee times were plentiful, and two hours passed before another player was spotted, and that was the only group all round. Fantastic news for the eager golfer, but much less so, the owners.
It surely can’t be a lack of friendliness that’s keeping punters away, if our visits are anything to go by, with every one of the staff we encountered being very warm and welcoming. This was epitomised by a greenkeeper we’ll call ‘Phil’ (‘cause that’s what was written on his ear defenders), who broke off from leaf blowing the tee box to share interesting stories, history, observations and tips from his 26 years involvement with the club… and his optimism for the future with a new committee and strategy bedding in.
The course, in its beauty, condition or interesting features, cannot be faulted either. Fairways are lush, greens well kept, with interesting features peppered throughout. None of the holes are boring, but favourite stretch has to be the 9th to 12th, a trio of fun but fairly forgiving holes at the highest point, followed by a spectacular drive off an (extremely) elevated tee that rewards a good shot with a spell of airtime that seems never ending.
In an effort to bring in new blood, tee times can (at time of writing) be found for as low as £5! This must make it a strong contender for the lowest priced round in Cheshire (see Golf on a Budget article here, and let us know if you know other contenders). As we sat on the clubhouse bar’s balcony, enjoying a delicious and reasonably priced lunch prepared by on-site restaurant ‘Peruga’ and overlooking the 18th green, we can’t help but concur with the suggestion that Mellor & Townscliffe really is one of golf’s hidden gems.
Key Info
Holes: 18
Par: White / Yellow: 70. Red: 73
Yards: White: 5,812. Yellow: 5,587. Red: 5,144
Slope: White: 127. Yellow: 124. Red: 131
Visitor Green Fees: £25 / £15 with Cheshire County Card. Certain tee times from £5 upward.
Website: http://www.mellorgolf.co.uk
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (May 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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