Sandiway

Sandiway Golf Club is one of Cheshire’s finest courses, offering up a mixture of woodland and heathland holes throughout a round.

The second incarnation of the club was founded in 1920, and has remained much the same since the 1950s, when holes were added following road construction.

Today, it is a tricky layout, despite not being the longest. The mixture of woodland and heathland is glorious, while there is a quintet of stunning par 3s.

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The history of Sandiway goes back to the early 20th Century. The Mid-Cheshire Golf Club was founded in 1902 with a course laid out in Winnington. A new 9-hole course was constructed in Northwich six years later, but the club was forced to liquidate due to the First World War.

1920 saw the founding of the Sandiway Golf Club, with golfers playing on the course for three years before it was officially opened in 1923.

The construction of the Northwich Bypass in the late 1950s meant the loss of the then 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes. New land was purchased at the south of the venue, which now occupies 13, 14 and 15 on this layout.

Sandiway is a beautiful, well-manicured course with many tree-lined fairways and a fair mixture of wooded and heathland holes. The greens are well regarded as some of the best in the north west, and it is hard to disagree as some tight greens can really catch you out, especially on the par 3s. With tight fairways, a layout measuring 6,400 yards from the back tees and a par of 70, Sandiway provides an uncompromising test to all level of golfers.

The first swing of a club at Sandiway is a truly intimidating tee shot and the holes that follow are some of the toughest on the course. At 400 yards, and with three bunkers in play, accuracy is key on the 1st. The approach is played to a narrow green, with two more traps lurking. The 2nd is the longest hole on the course at 540 yards from the tips. Playing as a slight dog-leg right, the tee shot is played to a narrow part of the fairway. Most will need three shots to get home, but there is plenty of space if you are laying up. The par 3 3rd is one of the most picturesque holes on the golf course, but nonetheless provides a stern challenge to find the green. Measuring 187 yards from the back tees, trying to find the guarded green with four well placed bunkers is one of the most challenging tee shots on the course.

The 4th is the second par 5 in three holes, and this one is more of a scoring opportunity at just 505 yards. Take your drive down the left side to give yourself the best chance of going for the green in two. The Stroke Index 1 comes at the 5th, with a blind tee shot over gorse and heather. The line is just to the right of the marker post, which will keep your ball inside the line of the fairway bunker. Three bunkers guard the putting surface. A par on 5 will feel like a birdie. The shortest hole on the front side is the 6th – a gorgeous 150-yard par3 with six bunkers protecting the green. Taking you to the turn are a trio of par 4s. 7 is a dog-leg right of more than 400 yards. Avoid the fairway bunker and you have a chance at finding the green. The 8th moves slightly to the left, and is the shortest of the three at 360 yards, while the 9th is arrow straight and 395 yards. There is the space off the tee, but the approach has to be extremely accurate, with four bunkers and trees all around.

The back nine begins with the longest of the par 4s. The 10th is more than 465 yards from the tips, and plays as a dog-leg left. There is a split fairway, but most will not be able to reach the end of the first section. Aim down the right side to give yourself the best angle to the green. Fantastic views of Petty Pool are offered up on 11 and 12 but don’t let it distract you on the toughest section of the course. The 11th is the longest of the par 3s at 315 yards. There is just the one bunker, but it should not be in play, hence the Stroke Index being 10 and not higher. The 12th is another lengthy par 4 – 443 yard from the tips. The fairway is generous, though, but the length is the issue here. A good drive will still mean a lengthy approach to a small green.

13 is the shortest hole, at just 133 yards. Five bunkers protect the triangular-shaped green. It might only be a low iron, but it is still tricky. The 14th is a tough dog-leg right, with the tee shot being played across the corner boundary of the property, meaning anything to the right is OOB and sees you reaching into your bag for another ball. The further left you hit your tee shot, the longer your approach will be – so choose wisely. 15 and 16 are birdie opportunities. The former is a 365-yard par 4, with the ideal tee shot finishing just short and right of the two fairway bunkers. The 16th is a par 5 and one where the further you hit your tee shot, the narrower it gets. Even if you play it as a three-shotter, this is still a great chance to score, with just a single bunker by the green.

The short par four 17th is renowned as the course's signature hole, measuring just 308 yards there is plenty here to catch you out. A small green protected by the ‘Sandiway Oak’ and four deep bunkers, do you take it on, or do you stay short and left of the tree before knocking a wedge on to the green? The closing hole at Sandiway is a par 3. At 180 yards in length, it isn’t the easiest finishing test. Five bunkers surround the putting surface, and if you have a good card in your hand, that final tee shot becomes all the more daunting...

Where is Sandiway Golf Club located?

Sandiway Golf Club is situated in the northern county of Cheshire, located to the southwest of the town of Northwich. The cities of Liverpool and Manchester are both just under 30 miles from Sandiway. The club sits just off the A556, while the A49 and the M6 – the latter running north-south up the western side of England – both in close order.

Hartford Station is within a mile from the entrance of Sandiway Golf Club, with services running via Hartford between Liverpool Lime Street and Birmingham New Street via Crewe. For international visitors to the region, Manchester Airport – the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside of London – is 20 miles away to the northeast.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Sandiway is only five miles from Delamere Forest – one of several NCG Top 100s: England venues in the region. Prestbury and Cavendish are within 35 miles to the east, with Wallasey and Royal Liverpool within the same distance to the northwest – situated on the Wirral Peninsula.

What golf facilities does Sandiway Golf Club offer?

There is plenty of space at Sandiway for those that want to warm up before taking to the golf course. To the right of the opening hole lies the driving range, of which there are both covered and open-air tees. There is also a short game area on that bit of land, with a green and practice bunker. The club also has a putting green, which sits between the clubhouse, 18th green and the 1st tee.

What are the green fees at Sandiway Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Sandiway Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Sandiway, visit their website here.