Carden Park Golf Resort – Nicklaus Course

A sparkling Golden Bear layout in wonderful gently rolling Cheshire countryside. The Nicklaus offers a scenic yet strategic test  where position more than length is crucial – ‘double option’ holes such as the 7th and 15th offer a choice of fairways from which to approach the green. The superb 17th skirts a lake and finishes in front of the luxury hotel.

Carden Park is not Jack Nicklaus’ greatest, but it’s by no means his weakest creation either. It is a fine – if not too exacting – example of a parkland layout in a magical countryside setting with several memorable holes, including a couple of do-or-die, risk-reward par 4s and a stunning penultimate hole which finishes slap bang in front of the 192-bed hotel. Afterwards it’s well worth chilling out in the magnificent Georgian-style clubhouse brimming with Nicklaus memorabilia of course.

Please Note

2-FORE!-1 is available Saturday and Sunday subject to prior approval with the Club. PLEASE ring to check before turning up to play.

Click here to find out where Carden Park ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Courses England

The Nicklaus course, designed by the great Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve, unfolds beautifully in the stunning setting of Carden Park. The layout can stretch to 7,045 yards but even from forward tees, there's more than enough challenge even for the best players in the world. With several ‘double option’ holes such as 7th and 15th which offer a choice of fairways from which to approach the green. The Nicklaus course offers a scenic yet strategic test of golf where position more than length is crucial. A Longest Drive competition is recommended on the 4th, with the 16th ideal for Nearest the Pin. An average fourball can expect to complete the Nicklaus Course in around 4 ¾ hours. The Carden Park driving range boasts 13 covered bays and 8 uncovered bays plus enjoy a short game with 3 practice greens and 3 greenside bunkers.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course has: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course has: Handicap

• 2 out of 5 Nicklaus Course 29 May 2010

  By AGreen

  The course itself was in reasonable shape, greens, tees and fairways all in OK condition. Unfortunately, whilst it was well maintained and had a manicured feel, the whole course seemed soul-less and uninspiring. None of the holes were especially interesting, even ones that had plenty of hazards. Some long treks between holes makes a buggy almost mandatory. We played on a Friday and the course was practically empty. Being part of a hotel, it completely lacked the feel of a 'club' and whilst staff were very courteous and professional, we felt like hotel customers, not golfers.  The club's facilities were excellent and it's easy to see where their high price tag comes from. For a purely golfing experience though, your money would be better spent elsewhere.  

• 4 out of 5 good course 04 October 2009

  By JUJITSU

  Played today and had a good game, greens were fast but true will play again 

• 3 out of 5 I have Played better courses 22 August 2009

  By tigertaylor09

  The course design is quite good. The greens were quite poor, with lots of moss on them. Gives you no confidence when putting. The fairways had a lot of drainage work on them. If you haven't got a buggy then the walk between tees can be quite a hike. Won't visit this course in hurry again.

• 3 out of 5 I'm not quite sure… 28 May 2009

  By hindmarshsl

  The Nicklaus course at Carden Park reaching over 7,000 yards from the back is certainly a challenge however off the yellows it is fairly short. There are some major signature holes however they all lacked a certain spark. The 6th and 17th probabably had more water than grass but it just didn't seem finished. I think in ten years this course will be an excellent prospect! However it is worth a visit especially on 2-Fore-1. My only really bad critisism is the organisation over green fees was a mess and the shop assistants were quite frankly useless. However that should take away from what is in all a good course.

• 3.5 out of 5 Wet, Wet. Wet and not the Pop Group 20 February 2009

  By 999Steve

  I played the Nicklaus Course on Tuesday 17th February 2009. The course was played off regulation tees and greens and both were in good condition. The clubhouse facilities are first class and reception staff both knowledgable and very helpful. The course itself was extremely wet and fairways were soft and in places boggy , i don't think there were any holes other than the Par 3's where we did not suffer from plugged or submerged balls. (My daughter dug up £20 worth of Pro V1s) and they weren't ours! I am sure that we did not see this course at its best and with wide open fairways it does offer a fair test to all level of golfer. Greens tend to be well guarded and as they say fortune favours the brave. 

• 3 out of 5 not bad but room for a little improvement 22 December 2008

  By Anonymous

  Played Carden Park Cheshire course thismorning. Was pleasantly suprised with the good presentation of the Hotel and clubhouse all tho i must say the drive way up to the hotel is far too long and too many sped bumps, i digress, Sadl becuase of the wet weather over the weekend i was unable to play holes 4 and 5 on the Cheshire course but they had opened up the 1st n 18th on the Nicklaus course! Sadly this was another course that uses plastic winter tees and does have winter greens which im glad to say only the winter tees were in operation today. the opening par three is a nice opening hole to ease u in the following holes are fairly average in design on the other hand the back 9 are wonderful, winding thru the pine forest and the hill at the back of the grounds its provides a real test of course management and skill and the 18th holes is a real beauty playing off the top of the hill back to the balcony of the large clubhouse. normally this would be the end of the round but thankfully i got to have a taste of the REAL golf experience. The first hole is a really good introduction to the type of golf the pros play, with a difficult club choice to take off the tee, The trees over hang the inner corner of the dog leg left, its so tempting to pull out the driver but make sure u stick to ur guns a pull out the long 5-4 iron to keep iton the fairway. All tho at this time the fairways were all being repaired and Drained the greens more then made up for this. The turf, although patchy with slight moss, played like a snooker table! the ball ran true and smooth. this is why the pros find it so easy to keep a steady line in their putts. The 18th is a long and wide par 5, unfortunately no where near as spectacular as the Cheshire course 18th or as challenging. Im sure the nicklaus course is fantastic during the spring n summer months with freshly mown crisscross fairways but im glad i got the chance to play two of the holes and a level par finish on those two holes was more than pleasing! overall is a very good club and one u should visit, but id be more inclined to play them during the spring when the course isnt so wet. I wud definately play the nicklaus course if u get the chance u wont be dispointed with the quality of the course n the felt greens. The clubhouse is fantastic the shop is very roomy but very bare of equipment apart from clothing which the have alot of! Tee times are very well organised with a member of staff there to sort out tee off times and direct people coming off the ninth onto the tenth. £17.50 not bad price either!

• 3.5 out of 5 String 19 August 2008

  By Mark Laidler

  Had a great day out at carden park. The club certainly had the wow factor in the changing rooms alone, 40inch widescreen tv and leather sofa's, sauna and power showers oh how the other half live. Now to the couse 2-4-1 £27.50 bargain. Tee's are cut nice and short and the greens were true. Not much of a test IF your straight(off the yellows). If your brave you will drive the Par 4 6th over water all carry cutting the corner. But don't try on the 17th unless your a big hitter.The 18th is a great finishing hole Par 5 and a chance for another birdie to add to your tally. I will be going back to play the Cheshire, which the 18th hole looks over the club house of which i have been told is more of a test.

• 4 out of 5 Typical Nicklaus course 10 June 2007

  By Dave_O

  Great layout, typical Nicklaus course. The greens were not great but still had a enjoyable day. Not sure if the £50 cost is value for money though.

• 4 out of 5 Cheshire Course 01 June 2007

  By stevemav

  'Cheshire - Excellent course with truly great finish' Design and condition: Good course design with only one or two weak holes eg don't like opening with a par3 but perhaps that's just me. Course condition was generally excellent with good true greens, well positioned and playable bunkers, and good quality well maintained tees (although two of the par 3 tees had not been moved often enough so were a bit "scabby"). Brilliant finish to the round 16th - tight tree lined uphill par 4, followed by picturesque par 3 in the trees and finishing with a driveable par 4 from an elevated tee with a pond from 240yds to 275yds from the tee. Playability: Many of the holes narrow down at 250 to 300yds from the tee so if your going to hit long then you need to be accurate. Second shot to short par 5 14th is more club than you think. Overall better to be straight than long. Facilities and welcome: Fantastic facilities - driving range, practice short game area, academy course several practice putting greens.Good locker room with lockers and free to use towels. Superbly stocked pro shop - not cheap but not over the top prices either. Good clubhouse bar with balcony above pro shop with hotel priced drinks (£3 a pint) but very reasonably priced good quality food.(full breakfast only £5.95) Brilliant value for money at £20 (2for1 deal) but would happily pay the regular £40 to play it again - actually going back next week!!!

• 3.5 out of 5 Nicklaus? 30 May 2007

  By sadgat

  Played the Nicklaus course on a very wet sunday afternoon, it is a very nice well looked after course which will get better with maturity and is a fair test for all standards but my advice would be to play the Chesire course which we did on Monday, this is a much more mature,pretty course which we all found a little more testing,the only disapointment was that it did not appear to be as thoroughly looked after as the more lucrative Nicklaus 18,on site hotel and facilities were excellent