Though it does not host the links superstars of the area around Liverpool, just 30 miles to the west, Manchester can still offer a fantastic golf break on old and new courses. Indeed, Manchester is home to some of England’s finest inland golf courses.

In this blog, we’ll tour some of the best golf courses in Manchester. However, what actually constitutes ‘Manchester’ is a topic in itself, with various changes in boundaries over the years making things confusing.

The M60 is a handy tool in this regard, though, so our yardstick for this assessment of the best golf courses in Manchester is: if it falls within about 20 minutes of the ring road, we’re claiming that as Manchester.

Where are the best golf courses in Manchester?

1. Prestbury

Course address: Macclesfield Road, Prestbury, Macclesfield, SK10 4BJ

First up is Prestbury, which has finally become a fixture in most of England’s Top 100 rankings after a recent overhaul. This Cheshire course, 20 minutes south of the M60, rolls elegantly over parkland terrain and is noted for its character and adventure.

2. Manchester Golf Club

Course address: Hopwood Cottage, Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester, M24 QQP

Manchester GC is a fabulous moorland located to the north of the city centre. This Harry Colt design—Hopwood, as it is known locally—is a strategic test with a great variety among its holes.

3. Stockport

Course address: Offerton Road, Offerton, Stockport, SK2 5HL

Stockport Golf Club is part of a fine selection of Cheshire golf courses on the edge of the Manchester city limits. This pine-lined parkland with clever greens and subtle burrows has—like Prestbury—been notably improved of late.

4. Reddish Vale

Course address: Southcliffe Road, Reddish, Stockport, Cheshire SK5 7EE

Just up the road from Stockport, you’ll find Reddish Vale—an absolute gem of a golf course. Designed by Dr Alister Mackenzie of Augusta National fame, although it’s squeezed into a much more compact site and lined by residential development when compared to the revered host of the Masters, it still possesses the hallmark of the great architect’s nous and cleverness.

5. Wilmslow

Course address: Warford Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, WA16 7AY

Wilmslow is another of Cheshire’s star courses; this time, an exceptionally well-groomed, tranquil woodland course with a quirky start and finish and some memorable dog-leg holes in between.

6. Bury

Course address:  Unsworth Hall, Blackford Bridge, Unsworth, Bury, BL9 9TJ

Another Mackenzie design, Bury, is a well-preserved example of the Doctor’s work. It sits on undulating moorland, where tree clearance has helped show off the quality of the design. The short holes and sporty par 4s here are particularly good.

7. The Mere

Course address: Chester Road, Mere, Knutsford, WA16 6LJ

The Mere is another traditional golf course near Manchester that is admirably trying to emphasise its heathland roots. Part of a lovely resort offering a high-end play-and-stay option, the tempo moves up a gear in the second half with the side of the main lake in play.

8. Heaton Park

Course address: Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SW

Few golf courses in Manchester beat Heaton Park for fun, playability and value. This picturesque, Championship-standard golf is situated on the grounds of the city’s biggest park. It first opened in 1911 and has hosted many events at both amateur and professional levels. Former Open champion Henry Cotton once described the 11th hole here as the “toughest par 3 in England.” Why not try it for yourself?

9. Bolton Old Links

Course address: 1175 Chorley Old Road, Bolton, BL1 5SG

Bolton Old Links is somewhat misleadingly named as it’s not seaside-based but, in fact, another magic Mackenzie moorland. It does, however, boast views across the four nearby counties from its highest point—Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Expect regular changes in elevation and a breeze here that makes it play more than its 6,500 yards. The town’s second course is Bolton—a 6,200-yard blend of moorland and parkland set down across a hillside and crossed by several ravines.

10. Burnley

Course address: Glen View Road, Burnley, BB11 3RW

Burnley is a moorland course that sits close to the town. It’s a fun course but also a good test—again, especially when the wind blows. Turf Moor, home of Burnley FC, is also your ideal line off one of the tees!

11. Chorlton-cum-Hardy

Course address: Barlow Hall Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 7JJ

Founded in 1902, the tranquil setting at Chorlton belies the fact that it sits just four miles south of Manchester city centre. This challenging parkland winds down narrow fairways and around the banks of the River Mersey, while the elevated land of Spion Kop, Barlow Wood, and the ancient dyke that bisects the course are all potential obstacles to a good score.

12. Saddleworth

Course address: Farm Ladcastle Road, Dobcross, Oldham, OL3 6LT

This course is set high up in the Pennines, so you won’t be surprised to hear that there’s a lot of elevation change with breathtaking views. Despite the elevation, though, astute routing means steep climbs are minimised.

13. Whitefield

Course address: 83 Higher Lane, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7EZ

The stars of the show at Whitefield are the five par 3s. This north Manchester parkland course takes full advantage of the steep-sided ravines that cut across it.

14. Worsley

Course address: Stableford Avenue, Eccles, Manchester, M30 8AP

James Braid laid out the beautiful parkland of tranquil Worsley, six miles northwest of Manchester city centre. Be warned, though—the mature trees here mean that shot shaping is required on several holes.

Golf courses just outside of Manchester

A couple of courses fall just outside our 20-minute radius of the M60, but for an extra few minutes of driving, you’d be well advised to head to Pleasington or Clitheroe.

Pleasington’s renovation programme has turned it from one of the best inland courses in Lancashire into one of England’s Top 200 courses. Architect Ken Moodie has enhanced the bunkering and its original heathland character.

Meanwhile, Clitheroe is another James Braid-designed parkland that offers aesthetic and strategic pleasure, but with the threat of ditches on several holes, including the fantastic par-3 17th. It has even hosted Open Regional qualifying rounds.

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Before you decide to test your golf skills on one of the courses in our list, you may want to consider getting specialist golf insurance.

With specialist golf insurance through Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover of up to £7,500 and Public Liability of up to £10m, so you can play with peace of mind. Get a quote today. 

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Golf News has been speaking to Ian Barnett, Group Land and Development Director at LRG, about how London’s latest planning proposals could have far reaching consequences for golf clubs across the country.

London’s emerging planning policy has put golf courses firmly in the spotlight. As part of the consultation on the new London Plan, the Mayor has suggested that some areas of Metropolitan Open Land, including certain golf courses with limited public access and low recorded biodiversity value, could be assessed for release for housing.

According to Barnett, this is not just a London issue. He believes it is a strong signal of how national policy could evolve and of the difficult choices that golf clubs across England may face in the years ahead.

The question for many owners is whether this represents a slow squeeze on courses at the edge of towns and cities, or a genuine opportunity to secure the long term future of their clubs.

A shift in thinking around open land

Golf courses have long occupied an uncertain position in planning policy. Many sit within the Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land.

While they are clearly developed in practical terms, they often function and appear like open countryside. For decades this has resulted in strong policy protection and limited scope for change.

The London Plan consultation marks a subtle but important shift. While overall protection for Metropolitan Open Land remains, the Mayor is asking whether all such land is performing the function for which it was designated.

Some golf courses are not accessible to the wider public and some have relatively low recorded ecological value compared with other forms of open space.

These are the sites the Mayor has identified as potential candidates for redevelopment, subject to strict requirements around public access, biodiversity enhancement, high quality design and a significant proportion of affordable housing.

At a national level, changes to the National Planning Policy Framework introduce the concept of the grey belt within the Green Belt.

This refers to lower performing Green Belt land, often previously developed or compromised in character, where housing may be acceptable if clear rules are met on affordable housing delivery, infrastructure provision and public green space.

Taken together, Barnett sees a clear pattern emerging. Well located open land on the edge of settlements that performs poorly against policy objectives is now being actively reconsidered, provided development can deliver tangible public benefits. Many golf courses fall into this category.

What this means for golf club owners

Barnett says that clubs tend to react to this issue in one of two ways. Some see development as an existential threat to their club.

Others see headline land values and assume that securing planning permission will be straightforward and highly lucrative. In his view, both positions are overly simplistic.

The most realistic opportunities often sit between these extremes. For some clubs, full relocation from an increasingly urbanised site to a more suitable location on the edge of town or in a rural setting can be transformational.

Residential development on the original site can fund a new course with better facilities and a more sustainable long term future.

The debate is already playing out on the ground. Golf News recently reported on proposals affecting Ifield Golf Club in West Sussex, where land has been identified for potential housing of 3000 homes as part of wider local plan discussions.

Another example Barnett points to is Basingstoke Golf Club, where he advised on the planning, disposal and relocation of the club.

After exploring several options, the club successfully relocated to an existing course at Dummer on the opposite side of the M3. Housing development on the former site is now well underway.

Another example is Blue Mountain Golf Club in Bracknell Forest. Surrounded by housing and identified as having development potential, the site was redeveloped to include a Golfplex entertainment centre, driving range, clubhouse and parking, alongside 400 new homes, community sports facilities and a new school.

The club now has a viable long term base, the local authority has secured housing and infrastructure, and land value has been realised in a planned and structured way.

In other cases, partial redevelopment has been the preferred solution. At Maidenhead Golf Course, land has been allocated for around 2,000 homes while retaining a golf offer, and at the former Reading Golf Course, development and green space have been planned together.

In these situations, releasing part of the land has allowed clubs to reinvest in the remaining course and often improve the quality of the golfing experience.

The importance of site specific analysis

Barnett is clear that not every golf course is suitable for development. The starting point, he says, should never be land value assumptions, but a detailed understanding of planning policy as it applies to that specific site.

Key considerations include whether the course lies in the Green Belt, Metropolitan Open Land or open countryside, how the local plan treats that designation, the recorded biodiversity value of the land, levels of public access, proximity to services and transport, and the scale of local housing need.

In London in particular, the Mayor’s reference to limited biodiversity value has already prompted objections from environmental groups, many of whom point to the wildlife interest of golf courses.

As a result, Barnett stresses that robust ecological assessment is essential before any strategy is developed.

Early specialist advice can make a critical difference. A strong planning and land team will assess local plans, housing targets, infrastructure commitments and emerging policy changes.

They will identify constraints such as landscape, heritage or environmental designations and benchmark land values and delivery prospects to manage expectations among members or shareholders.

What we do know is at the planning map around golf courses is changing. London’s proposed approach to MOL and the national grey belt policy are part of a wider shift.

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