Hazel Grove Golf Club, Cheshire

With 2013 Centenary planning well on its way, the beautiful and well-appointed Alister MacKenzie parkland course at Hazel Grove Golf Club in Cheshire, is characterised by several natural water hazards. Add to these the planting of a further 6500 trees to supplement the existing ones and you can understand why thoughtful course management is required by golfers of all levels.

The course has a number of feature holes each presenting its own individual MacKenzie challenge. The par 5 third is as testing as any and ranks amongst the best in Cheshire, while the best of the par 3's is arguably the eleventh, both for its degree of difficulty and picturesque layout. Equally, the eighteenth finishing hole with its MacKenzie tiered green and backdrop of the chalet-style clubhouse ranks with the best on the course. With so many outstanding holes, it's hard to highlight any one as a 'signature' hole.

However, the fifteenth, dominated by a large sweeping lake, which runs along the left hand edge of the fairway, and across the front and down the left of the green, must take the honour. At 285 yards, this par 4 represents the ultimate risk or reward hole. From the elevated tee the green always seems within reach with a well struck drive, but your mind is then further concentrated by the out of bounds which runs along the right edge of the fairway. The decision is yours - lay up, or take on the green?

Golfers who enjoy and appreciate the challenge of MacKenzie Courses will love the welcome they get at Hazel Grove and we trust they will leave saying "Golf in Cheshire just doesn't get any better than this!"