Childwall

The course design was based on the recommendation of James Braid when the Club moved to its present site in 1938. Over the years it has undergone some alterations, mainly to increase the length.

The Club host a World Amateur Golf Ranking Event every year, The Childwall Trophy, and this is when I sampled the course during the summer of 2016. It must be said the course was it excellent condition considering heavy rainfall the day before and the fact the winning score of just three-under par was set by an England International player adds testament to the challenge that the course provides.

The tree-lined nature of this par 72 (6,607 yards) course ensures that accurate driving is required and whilst it is unlikely you’ll lose a ball a stray drive is likely to result in a dropped shot. There are also plenty of fairway bunkers thrown into the equation from the tee so this is no walk in the park.

Some of the greens are slightly upturned and defended by several greenside-traps so precise approach play is also essential. With a number of holes tucked into the corners on my visit there was more than a few times when you certainly didn’t want to leave yourself above the hole.

The best green on the property is at the fifth, the shortest two-shotter on the course at just over 300-yards, which slopes from back-to-front and at the same time from left-to-right. You are likely to be playing to it with a short iron and the shot must be spot on; better players will want to take the spin off the ball and regardless of standard you really want to be under the hole.

The majority of holes, on this very easy walking layout, bend from left-to-right so a fader of the ball will enjoy this course. In fact nearly every par four and five, if it wasn’t dead straight, favoured a fade to some degree of another. Only the seventh and tenth really asked you to try and work the ball the other way.

Easily accessible from all corners of the North-West – and indeed West Yorkshire from where I travelled - Childwall has hosted other notable tournaments with the Four Counties Junior Tournament played earlier this year which followed on from the successful England Golf Northern Boys Championship held back in 2012. A number of well-priced open competitions are staged each year too.