Combining Golf with Cheshire's Culinary Delights: The Best Golf Courses with Top Dining Options

Golf is a lovely way to immerse yourself in nature and get away… But you still have to eat! Here are my favorite courses with excellent dining.

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There’s SO much to spend your time on in Cheshire. It’s hard to be bored here! One of my favorite ways to spend time (especially on warm, dry days) is to get on the golf course. There’s something special about being surrounded by nature and feeling far from the city, even if you’re not really.

And being a foodie too, I love a golf course with a great restaurant. Cheshire is, of course, known for its cheese, but there’s a bunch more excellent cuisine to enjoy here! When I pick a course, I always check out the on-site dining choices, too.

Here are my choices for the best golf courses with top dining options. They’re by no means the only ones—just the ones I particularly enjoy both in gameplay and after-round refueling!

1. Delamere Forest Golf Club

This club is hidden in the trees, but it’s a real heathland course. You’ll still feel pretty far from the “real world” on these fairways! And it’s one of my favourite spots for both golf and food.

Course Features

It’s laid out on interesting land, with no poor holes. Each hole has a unique character; some have wide, straightforward fairways for the big drivers and a good few risk/reward holes, some of which are good for an iron-off-the-tee shot.

Bring your A-game because it starts with a tough drive on the very first hole, a challenging par-4. Don’t let it get to you, though, because hole 2 is a great opportunity for a birdie. A couple of holes have high, exposed greens that run pretty fast, so you’ll need to be strong from tee to green here.

Dining Options

The best thing on the menu here is their array of sandwiches. Depending on your mood, you can grab a hot sandwich or a cold one, perfect for a quick bite before or after your round. There’s also a bunch of different daily specials, as well as some tasty local beers and a great wine selection. Plus, REAL ale, brewed by one of their members!

Be careful about hours, though. From April to October, you can grab a bite between 9 am and 6 pm, but from November to March, the restaurant is open from 10 am till dark. Depending on where you sit, you might get a nice view over the course to enjoy while you’re dining. Dress smart casual, and no golf shoes in the dining room.

2. Carden Park Golf Resort

Carden Park is a luxury golf resort smack in the middle of Cheshire. Normally, you expect to find these kinds of resort experiences in fancy exotic locations, but no—there’s one waiting for you right here!

Course Features

You can play both the Cheshire Course and the Nicklaus Course during your stay with a 5- or 7-day membership. Both are testing, so come prepared! Cheshire’s front nine is quite mundane, but push through it—the back nine is much more varied and exciting, with some challenging hazards.

The Nicklaus course has a parkland-style layout, and one of the best things about it is its impressive drainage system. Even if it rains, you should be able to get in a pleasant round on this one. With five sets of tees (from 5,211 yards to 7,045 yards), every golfer can play a comfy and enjoyable round on this fun layout.

Dining Options

On weekends and some weekdays, The Vines Restaurant is as much about theatre as it is about good food! It’s a child-free restaurant, and it’s a good idea to book beforehand so you don’t miss the experience because it is an experience!

If you’re staying at the hotel, grab a breakfast at Redmond’s Brasserie. It’s family-friendly, so it might be the better option if you’ve got kids, and the menu changes based on the season. Expect warm, comforting foods in winter and cooling meal options in summer.

Then there’s Elements restaurant, in the gardens with lovely views and refreshing drinks, Goldie’s Lounge for cocktails and afternoon teatime, and 2 bars with a huge selection of interesting drinks to enjoy.

3. Wilmslow Golf Club

This England Golf Championship course was founded back in 1889, and it’s only getting better with age. It’s one of the oldest clubs in Cheshire and has the atmosphere to match! It’s seen a lot of professional play, and it’s one of my top choices for a testing round and a tasty meal.

Course Features

You’re greeted by a bit of a tough par-4, featuring a stream cutting across the fairway, a barely-there dogleg, and a curvy fairway that could get you into trouble. Big drivers will appreciate the birdie opportunities on the two par-3s, but be careful—the green-guarding bunkers can swallow your golf ball if you go off course.

Most holes are lined with thick forest, but be particularly careful teeing off on 13 and 14, which both have you playing down a rather narrow channel. It’s a lovely walking course, so take your time before hitting the restaurant.

Dining Options

One of the things I quite enjoy is that you can grab a self-serve coffee at the Taggart Bar from 11 am, so you can get a shot of energy before you tee off. You can also get a light snack in both their upstairs bars from 12ish, so you can always have a quick snack before starting.

They describe their cuisine as “traditional quality Clubhouse fayre.” You can choose from a bunch of daily specials, and if you’ve got a specific request (preference-wise or diet-wise), the chef will be happy to accommodate you.

4. The Mere Golf Resort & Spa
 

Despite its name, this isn’t a “mere” golf course! According to James Braid, the original designer, the land had appealing sandy soil and near-perfect drainage. He took just one day to finalize his plans before they started going ahead with building!

Course Features

The course has a reputation of being one of the best-maintained in Northern England. Each hole is lined with gorgeous trees, some with closely packed vegetation that can add a shot or two to your scorecard. Beautiful views over Mere Lake make it a stunning experience, but pay attention—there are a few sneaky ravines and water hazards that can catch you out if you aren’t careful.

It’s not an easy course, but it's worth the round. Warm up on one of their many training areas ( double-tiered pitching green, putting green, sand trap tester, and floating driving range).

Dining Options

When you’re ready to eat, the Treehouse Restaurant is ready to welcome you. You should definitely enjoy a traditional British afternoon tea here at least once, whether you’re playing a round or not.

Otherwise, enjoy a delicious meal while you’re overlooking the greens, the perfect blend of golf and cuisine. They’ve got something for every appetite, from nibbles to “large plates” when you need to replenish your energy after a tough round.

Conclusion

If you’re a golfer who enjoys clubhouse meals as much as the sport, head to these courses! They’re some of my personal favourites, and I’m pretty sure you’ll love both the golf and the food just as much as I do.

They’re not the only golf courses with superb dining options, though. I do recommend putting them all on your “Golf and Food” bucket list, though, because they’re close to home, well worth the green fees, and definitely hit that hungry spot!

About the Author

Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring young golfers, he writes in-depth articles for his website, Golf Influence.