It’s a freezing cold day in November, so we’re layered up for our trip to Werneth Low, 10 miles east of Manchester, and interestingly situated between the well healed Cheshire suburbs of Marple and Romiley, and Tameside’s Hyde and Hattersley. Expectations of the course are modest; at £14 it doesn’t get much less pricey for 18, and yet there’s seemingly no-one else booked on. Plus after the seemingly endless rain of late, we can’t expect much from the course’s condition.
But the website offers some optimism, with a nice informal tone, and helpful information including ‘Pro’s Tip’ for each of the holes. They also claim to be known locally as “the friendly club with stunning views”, which sounds like a pretty good combination! The journey there certainly bodes well for the latter, with a seemingly endless uphill climb to almost a thousand feet above sea level. The former however, will surely be impossible to judge, based on an empty car park.
Well not if new head pro Ben has got anything to say about it! Ben was previously a junior member, so knows the course inside out, and offers the warmest of greetings, talking enthusiastically about the quality of the greens and amazing views. We’re early, so we take the chance to probe him further, and get some fascinating insights into the club, area, and the role of a club pro… in particular the importance – and merits – of supporting your pro shop.
Onto the round, and what a stunningly beautiful course it is! From the moment you stand on the first tee of the appropriately named ‘Summit’, it’s immediately clear that this is to be a special experience. The wintery weather, initially feared to risk spoiling proceedings, only serves to add to the spectacle, with bright blue skies overhead, and wisps of frost dusting the ground’s many contours.
The fairways are rarely flat, with cambers and undulations that showcase the natural beauty of the landscape. Each hole is crafted sympathetically, with small flat areas fashioned to accommodate tee boxes and greens, at either end of rugged (yet clearly well kept) fairways that gives it an almost links feel. Now yes, tee shots need more careful positioning, and second shots are frequently above or below the feet, but for us this just adds yet another interesting dimension.
Three holes in, and having flirted with danger in the form of the cottages that hug the fairway’s right flank, a lone figure emerges from the trees, and offers some welcome, and it transpires excellent, company for a couple of hours. ‘Howard’, as we soon learn, is a great ambassador for the club, further galvanising their claims of friendliness, and offering invaluable advice – and a talented demonstration – on how to play each hole.
The course setup is a little quirky, being 11 holes, played as 18 by taking in the first 7 twice, from different tee positions. That offers two chances to take in the stunning views across the Peak District. But it’s only when you cross the road to take in the middle 4 holes that you discover this club’s pièce de résistance. This serves up the western aspect, with what must surely be a contender for the best views in golf, with around a 250 degree panorama, taking in the Manchester skyline, and the Welsh mountains in the distance.
Choosing a favourite hole is a tricky challenge, with every one having it’s own points of interest, but the 9th will perhaps live longest in the memory; a relatively innocuous downhill par 3, but with the unique backdrop of a war memorial atop the next hill, a magnificent obelisk standing 27 feet tall, and built with 34 tonnes of Cornish granite, with a steady flow of walkers snaking along the paths to it’s vantage point. It’s utterly spectacular, and the icing on the cake of a fantastic day, which we cannot wait to repeat!
Key Info
Holes: 11 (18 tees)
Par: White / Yellow: 70. Red: 73
Yards: White: 6,190. Yellow: 5,916. Red: 5,599
Slope: White: 132. Yellow: 130. Red: 126
Visitor Green Fees: £11-30
Website: https://www.wernethlowgolf.co.uk/
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (November 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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