Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa – Championship

Designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1990, this Cheshire cracker has a bit of everything including a 600-yards plus par-5 and a smashing par-3 to a near-island green. Portal Golf & Country Club makes you feel like scoring well from the moment you drive through the impressive gated entrance to coming off the last green and supping a pint in the snug, circular clubhouse. Every hole on this challenging and picturesque golf course will have you begging for more.

Undoubtedly one of the north west’s finest stay-and-play venues, Portal is nothing short of a golfing paradise. You’ll find two quality 18-hole courses, a nine-hole, par-30 layout and one of Europe’s largest indoor golf centres. There’s also a classy, on-site, four-star Macdonald hotel. But the top attraction is the 20-year-old Donald Steel-designed Championship course which claimed the region’s Golf Course of the Year award in 1995. There’s a terrific combination of holes including a stunning early par 5 although the signature hole is the par-3 14th, surrounded by water and trees.

More Top 2-FORE!-1 parkland courses

Click here to find out where Portal ranks in Golf World's Top 100 Resorts UK & Ireland

Portal Golf & Country Club opened in 1990 and its championship golf course is now established as one of the finest inland layouts in the north west. The Donald Steel-designed golf course and its two sister golf courses- the Premier (18 hole) and the nine-hole Arderne - plus the unique clubhouse and the largest indoor golfing academy in the UK, combine to make Portal a real golfers’ paradise.

Loyal-Tee

Macdonald's new loyalty card scheme enables players to access the best available rates at its world-renowned courses, discounted and free rounds of golf, plus additional discounts on golf buggy hire and the hotels' food and beverage offerings.

Keith Pickard, Group Director of Golf at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts said: "This reward programme has been created following in-depth market research and our understanding of the needs of today's golfer.
"The scheme is a sign of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts' dedication to grow the game and increase participation, while rewarding our loyal customers. We know that the golf landscape is evolving and recognise that the way in which people play golf is changing.
"Our new Loyal-Tee card will allow players of all levels to enjoy the sport and gain exclusive benefits that have never been available before."
Players will receive increased benefits the more they play which includes special promotions, exclusive offers and free rounds of golf that can be redeemed across all Macdonald Hotels & Resort golf locations, including the world famous Macdonald Spey Valley Golf and Country Club in Aviemore, Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa in Cheshire and Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa in Peebles.

For further information on Macdonald Hotels and Resorts Loyal-Tee scheme, please visitwww.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/golf/loyal-tee

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

• 4 out of 5 A splendid day's golfing 27 July 2015

  By Flying Dutchman

  Played this course today after a couple of days rain and was very pleasantly surprised at how well it played. The greens had subtle breaks but were very slick as well making putting something you really had to concentrate on. The fairways were in excellent conditions and the rough and trees were not penal. As has been said elsewhere, the staff in the Pro-shop are great and very welcoming and can't do enough for you. The course is quite long and with some quite long treks between holes may make the investment in a buggy worth considering. There are a wide variety of holes and some pretty little par 3s but watch out for the wind. Pace of play was pretty good today and despite being in a society we were round in about 4 and a quarter hours despite having quite a few groups (members) in front of us with whom we kept up all the way. I would also recommend playing the Premier course which whilst a little shorter was in equally good condition and even though it tipped with rain remained very playable, and the greens if anything were even slicker.

• 5 out of 5 All round fantastic! 14 July 2015

  By Fozzie

  Played course for first time and had a fantastic welcome from the assistant in the shop, who provided really useful information and was alround helpful and full of conversation The course was excellent (as was the Premier which we played in the afternoon). Even the rain couldnt put a dampener on the day! Would describe the course as very fair with wide fairways that allow a real go with drivers. Low handicap golfers may find it less of a challenge, but the real leveller are the greens - fast and undulating with plenty of breaks to read Bumped into head greenkeeper during the round and he showed a real interest on our views on his course. Once again, the hospitality of the staff shining through Tip we had from the pro-shop was to lunch at the Premier Course clubhouse, and food was very good and well priced. Already we are talking about going back here, next time with more of us too! If you havent played here before, get this one on your calender. Superb day of golf!

• 5 out of 5 Great course 17 March 2014

  By Gary Whiting

  You really feel like you are playing somewhere special here. Immaculately maintained and difficult holes all around. I love the fourteenth, a real folders challenge. Expensive, but worth it. Big drivers will do well here, as will tight players who hit generous pin positions.

• 2.5 out of 5 disappointing 22 March 2013

  By Anonymous

  Myself and 7 others played this course last weekend as part of a 1 night break, this was our course for Sat and if i am honest most of the group were dissapointed with the quality of the greens, yes the time of year isnt the best however in comparrison to the Premier's greens the championships were like our local pitch and putt, people not repairing pitch marks and very soft (which caused problems when stading close to the cup). The main disapointment would have to be the length of the round, we tee'd off at 12.20 with the hope we could catch part of the rugby (5 minutes was not the intended viewing time) we actually sat down in the bar at 17.50, just under 5  1/2 hours, on more than one occasion our 4 ball in front was pushing a 2 ball (handicaps 1@18 and 3@28), so no excuse in my opinion. This said the overall weekend was impressive but this mainly due to the Premier course raising the bar on Sunday, you can tell this course was a members only at one point as every green was near perfection and far infront of Championship which is possibly used more by hotel guests due to it being in hotel grounds.   Worth a visit but not at full green fee 

• 2.5 out of 5 Not a bad days golf 21 October 2012

  By macim67

  I played there today as part of a 16 man society. We payed £30 for a round, a welcome bacon batch and a cup of tea. I find it hard to critisize the set up, greens and condition of the course considering the rain we have had. The greens were very wet and spongey but on a whole the course has drained fairly well. The pin positions were unfair and didnt agree with any of our party, made harder by footprints around the hole due to the wet greens. Would I return, Yes, recommend, Yes.

• 4.5 out of 5 Pure Golf 18 June 2010

  By bally07

  We turned up to find teeoftimes had messed our booking and tee times up on the Championship course. Neither the less the hospitality we received was outstanding, a new tee time was made available for us almost instantly, despite a big corporate event going on throughout the day. We even had a free complimentry breakfast! The course itself was in amazing condition, the greens super quick, but still soft enough to stop your ball on. The variation and degree of difficulty was apparent on several holes and any wayward shots were card destroying.. The staff were very welcoming throughout the day and esured we had a great day out on the course. The only possible downsound would be that because of the corporate event held on the course, it meant it was very busy and took us almost 5 and half hours to get round, but as was nearly 80 degrees that didnt seem to mind us... Would recommend anyone to visit this fantastic course, an oppotunity not to be missed...

• 4.5 out of 5 Dont you just love it! 11 October 2008

  By Leo Lionet

  Found a lovely day in September although it had been wet that week. The course was in tip-top condition and the greens were as fast as usual. With a sunny day there is no finer view in Cheshire than that from the 11th tee, and be sure to look out for the "footprint" bunkers! A visit to the clubhouse up the winding staircase is rewarded with further stunning views. A beautiful course.

• 4 out of 5 Set up for hotel guests- but worth a visit 05 October 2008

  By wookie

  Most holes have wide fairways, and rough not to punishing. Some well designed holes and fantastic views. Whilst weather had not been good, greens were excellent. Good value including buggy (recommended) as long walks from some green to tees.

• 4 out of 5 The Premier 07 May 2007

  By BaggieBoy

  Tremendous course, thouroughly enjoyed it. Tees and greens are superb. A test for all standards of player