Resort Review - The Mere

Nestled on the edge of Knutsford is The Mere Resort, you may have heard of it, playground to the rich and famous of Cheshire, it is a famous destination, but what is like? Can you even get in the gates to play it? Well, it is great and yes you can, in fact it is a lot easier than you might think. 

Not only is the course easily accessed, it is also complimented by a 81 bedroom hotel and spa meaning that it makes a superb option for a short break either for golf groups or couples. 

With all that in mind we decided to head up the M6 and experience The Mere first hand. 

The Course

Measuring a 6881 yards Par 71 from the back tees The Mere offers up a real test of golf and despite the modern interiors of the hotel and spa the golf course has a great pedigree. It is a James Braid design that boasts fast and true greens and as you would expect from a Cheshire course, a good amount of elevation changes. The rolling nature of the course is also evident in the greens making them a superb challenge. 

The course was created out of 150 acres of Cheshire parkland in 1934 and features a host of mature trees and vegetation, but possibly the most distinct feature of the course is the Lake Mere itself. Signature holes wrap themselves around the water including the hugely testing 18th, a real risk and reward hole, it doglegs around the lake to the right leaving you to choose exactly how close to the water you dare to play. As you would imagine, the closer you get the shorter the hole plays and the better chance you have of making a good score.

The Par 5 18th at The Mere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIK-jbGlBmU

The Mere has become famous over the years for many reasons, you may have heard of it for it's famous footballing membership, but it is the hosting of top class events that The Mere is most proud, most recently it has been a qualifying venue for The Open Championship (2009-2015). 

I can't talk about The Mere without mentioning the 11th Green Bar. Famous in the region as a brilliant halfway hut, it's pies are legendary. You simply can't walk by without indulging yourself. 

Another unique feature at The Mere is the driving range. It is a lake. Yes you heard me right, a lake! The driving range bays sit on the edge of the water and you simply fire away and await the splash. Certainly novel and really quite good fun. I am not one for hitting balls before a round, but this could not be missed. And what about all those balls? The Mere employs a diver to collect them all! Quite a career choice!  

The Hotel

The hotel itself is an excellent standard and I was impressed by the levels of customer service from the staff. A recent refurbishment has seen the hotel now enjoy a modern, yet comfortable feel.The rooms area are large with hugely comfortable beds. The hotel is basically surrounded by the course, so a quiet night is assured. 

The course, spa, gym and restaurants are all easily accessed from the hotel and if you are looking further afield, you can reach Chester and Manchester within 1/2 an hour. 

The Spa

The spa is in an adjacent building to the hotel and offers a large swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool and thermal zone which includes a relaxation terrace, hammam room, sauna, salt room, steam room and a caldarium. There is also an upstairs gym and spa treatment area. Whilst visiting we were treated to a back, neck and shoulder massage which was a lovely relaxing experience and concluded with a shot of sorbet in the relaxation area and if you fancy something a for golf game the spa team offer a golfers massage! 

Should you want to combine golf with a spa day (maybe you are even thinking of taking the other half) The Mere signature spa day is £89pp and includes a 2 course lunch and treatment, which for a spa of this standard offers superb value.

As I mentioned the Spa has a gym attached, this was maybe a little on the small side, but we have since learned that a major expansion is underway to create a huge new Gym, this addition will, for The Mere, complete a super facility. 

Food and Drink

Whilst staying at The Mere I enjoyed a meal at the Two AA Rosette Star 'Browns' restaurant. The food was simply fantastic, resisting the option of Steak, I went for Venison which was cooked to perfection and for my partner, a vegetarian the options on the menu were interesting and imaginative (not something she reports very often). The evening meal was accompanied by a pianist which gave the restaurant an extra special atmosphere. 

If you fancy something a little more relaxed you can dine in the comfortable surroundings of the Club Lounge & Bar which serves a range of British classics. 

The Bottom Line 

Fresh of it's recent refurbishment the hotel is a great place to stay. The course is real test of golf with sweeping holes, quick greens and plenty of hazards. The Spa offers a great option to relax and drift off in to our own world. And all this won't break the bank. What's not to like! 

For more information please visit The Mere Resort Website - Click here

To read the latest Golfshake reviews of The Mere Resort - Click here