Carden Park Golf Resort Review

There are times in my life when I have to pinch myself because I cannot quite believe how lucky I am. As a golf writer I have been privileged to have played some of the best golf courses and stayed at some of the most magnificent resorts our sport has to offer.

I have played all over the world - America, Portugal, Spain, Australia, Cyrpus, Malta, Turkey and even Newfoundland. And there have been countless heart-stopping moments in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England.

And my wife and I have just experienced something extra special at Carden Park, near Chester. What a hotel and what a golf venue, boasting two fabulous golf courses, The Nicklaus and The Cheshire. We will get back to the golf later.

The sweeping driveway gives a hint of what is to come.

It is set within a 1,000-acre estate and it is absolutely glorious. We have stayed at some wonderful golf resorts around Great Britain but I can say, without fear of contradiction, that this is the best I have ever experienced. Bar none!

Accommodation

Where to start? 

Carden Park offers a collection of 197 luxury bedrooms, including six accessible rooms and 18 suites. All overnight guests have access to the Hotel Leisure Club and if you book a room for multiple nights you will get a reduction on your room rate. 

We stayed in a courtyard room with its own balcony, amazing views, TWO TVs, a wonderful king-sized bed, en-suite bathroom with a wondrous shower and massive bath, Noble Isle toiletries, iron and ironing board, tea and coffee making facilities, a hairdryer, safe and, of course, free wi-fi.

The decor was of the highest order. There was a sofa that would comfortably sit three adults, central heating and a work area.

An especially classy touch is the Carden Media Hub. Simply scan the QR code and get access to things to do, opening times, menus, vouchers and free digital newspapers and magazines.

Spa

The Spa at Carden Park is luxury personified and is dedicated to the pursuit of wellbeing. From elaborate and ornate interiors to spectacular luxury spa garden facilities woven into the scenic Cheshire countryside, this facility is something else.

All spa treatments include access to three individually themed relaxation rooms, while access to the garden and indoor thermal suite must be booked separately.

There is a huge range of treatments on offer, including massage, sauna, facial treatments, foot and hand treatments. 

The Signature Experience, costing £185, uses products infused with therapeutic herbs found in the Spa Garden. Beginning with a full body massage, the therapist combines expert touch techniques with Thai herbal poultices to induce deep relaxation. A serene facial will then provide optimum nutrition and a multi-vitamin sustenance to boost your natural beauty. Finish the experience with a glass of Carden Park Estate Reserve.

Food

The food at Carden Park is different class.

The hotel boasts several fantastic dining experiences, from its award-winning à la carte dining option, The Vines, through to several bars and Redmond’s Brasserie.

The Vines is a 2 AA Rosette Awarded restaurant featuring a seasonal à la carte menu with the finest locally sourced ingredients. We ate there on the first of our two-night stay and the meal we were served was a work of art. We first visited the cocktail bar, where we were offered mouth-watering canapés. It offers a wide selection of drinks, a romantic atmosphere to the backdrop of a piano player.

We both started with scallops that melted in our mouths. My main course was lamb with creamy mashed potatoes and a selection of fresh vegetables, while my wife opted for cod. The flavours exploded and the presentation was wondrous. I had chocolate mousse for dessert - I have no words! And my wife enjoyed a fabulous cheese board.

You won’t be surprised to learn that there is a wide choice of wines, many at incredibly reasonable prices, as well as cocktails, spirits and beers, again at affordable cost.

I also have to give a shout-out to each and every member of staff we came into contact with. They were friendly, knowledgeable and did everything with smiles on their faces. They are a credit to Carden Park.

On night two we ate in the brasserie. It is a touch more informal but once again the food did not disappoint. My beef wellington and choux bun were a triumph.

There is also a main bar, where the atmosphere is somewhat livelier. In other words, there is something for everybody.

The buffet breakfast was spectacular. We have all had bad experiences with buffet-style food, but not here. Everything was cooked to perfection and of the finest quality - from the bacon, fried and poached eggs, to the sausages, mushrooms and beans. There was also a huge selection of continental-style breakfast options. It is often said that this is the most important meal of the day - this is something that Carden Park clearly believes. 

Golf

There is a state-of-the-art driving range, with 11 fully-covered floodlit bays and TopTracer Technology. This is the place to go to iron out the kinks in your game before tackling either or both of the incredible golf courses on this amazing site.

It goes without saying that the clubhouse features sparkling changing rooms and a pleasant bar where you can relax with a pint after your round and enjoy a bite to eat. There is also a fully-stocked shop and custom-fitting centre.

The Nicklaus Course

• Blue tees, 6,628 yards, par 72
• Yellow tees, 5,902 yards, par 72, parkland

Designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, it will come as no surprise to learn that this is a masterpiece.

It opens with a 383-yard par four that calls for a gentle draw from the tee to avoid four bunkers on the right. Keep as close to the trees on the left to give yourself the perfect line in to a green protected by two further traps on the right. The second is a risk-and-reward hole. It measures just 285 yards from the yellow tees and is an obvious birdie chance but there are two bunkers short of the green and two more green side. The fourth is a terrific par five with trees on the left and two well-placed fairway bunkers that must be avoided. You then play your second between a group of bunkers situated left and right. The fifth is a tricky par four of 373 yards from the yellows, with a lake on the left and a group of three bunkers on the right. A straight drive is a must before an approach to a long and narrow putting surface. There is a huge lake in play at the 303-yard sixth - go left and you are going to get wet. Your approach will be played over the water. Par here is a good score. And there is little respite when you get to the seventh. Measuring 358 yards, there is a water-filled ditch in play from the tee, and you then have to carry a ditch in front of the green, which is protected by three traps.

The 10th is a 369-yard par four with trees on the right and two bunkers on the left before an approach to a green that is surrounded by sand. And sand is also a feature on the 11th, another par four. There are two on the left of the fairway and a further three on the right but if you can carry them all you will be left with a straightforward approach. The 12th is a beautiful par three of 177 yards with water to the right and four bunkers to be avoided. The 14th is a short par four of 287 yards from the yellows but you must avoid the fairway bunker. Oh, and there is more water to the left of the green, as well as two further bunkers. A long straight drive is a requirement at the par-four 15th - if you don’t go far enough you will be blocked out by trees on the left. The 16th may only measure 115 yards but guess what? Water awaits any shot tugged left. When you stand on the tee at the par-four 17th the temptation will be to reach for your driver but it calls for a carry over water and if you fail to make it you could run up a cricket score. Better to find the fairway with an iron and take your chances with a good approach. The 18th is a wonderful finishing hole, a par five that gently doglegs from left to right with trees all the way down the left. You play to an elevated green but don’t come up short - it is guarded by four bunkers.

The Cheshire Course

• Blue tees, 6,824 yards, par 72
• Yellow tees, 6,348 yards, parkland

The Cheshire is no less a test. It opens with an innocuous looking par three of 155 yards but find either of the greenside bunkers and you will do well to walk off with a par. The second is a different kettle of fish, a 542-yard par five with trees on either side of the fairway and several well-placed bunkers, including a couple 40 yards short of the putting surface. The third measures 365 yards and calls for a straight drive as there is a pond on the left, well within striking distance, as well as a bunker to the right of the fairway. The key to playing the 389-yard fifth is to carry the bunkers on the left with your tee shot. This opens up the fairway and leaves a relatively simple approach to yet another well-guarded green. The sixth is a memorable par five. It features trees on both sides of the fairway and a giant oak tree located some 70 yards from the green. The front nine closes with another of those risk-and-reward holes, this one measuring 432 yards. If you can clear the bunkers on the left you will have a decent second but find the sand and you are dropping a shot.

The 11th is a par five that calls for a draw from the tee. Hit it well and you can clear the ditch in two and set up a realistic birdie chance. All sorts of potential disasters lurk on the 359-yard 12th. Apart from trees left and right, there is a bunker on the left and ponds short right and to the left of the green. Despite only measuring 425 yards, the 14th is a par five but you must avoid the trees on the right and a group of three bunkers from the tee. If you do that you then face a second shot to an elevated green protected at the front by four traps. Enjoy some respite at the par-three, 126-yard 15th, where you simply have to avoid the bunker at the front of the putting surface. Your drive at the par-four 16th needs to be threaded through the eye of a needle, with trees lining both sides and a blind second to a green with trouble lurking right and back. The closing hole is just 314 yards, is played from an elevated tee and boasts some fabulous views over the Carden Park Estate. You need to decide whether to play short of the fairway bunkers or try to carry them - if successful, you have a simple approach and a golden opportunity to close your round with a birdie.

Facilities

If golf is not your thing (are you mad?), there are plenty of other activities to enjoy at Carden Park. Take a wander round the Sculpture Garden, the perfect place for a touch of relaxation, where you can simply take in the wonderful views. Or head to the archery, Segway and shooting range. If you want to get the adrenaline flowing, you might want to try your luck on the ropes course or zip wire. In short, there is plenty to keep you busy.

Verdict

The hotel and the views are stunning, the golf courses are the best resort layouts I have ever played, the facilities are seemingly never-ending, the food is out of this world and the staff are amazing. This venue gets 10/10 from me!

For full details, please visit cardenpark.co.uk.