Why you should visit Portal Golf & Spa Resort

Gentle rolling hills, meadows and woodlands typify the Cheshire countryside. A region well-known for its famous cheese and for being a residential hub for Premier League footballers playing in the north-west.

It is also a region with a strong golf culture, having a number of quality courses and the Open venue Royal Liverpool just across the border in Merseyside.

One of these locations is the Portal Golf & Spa Resort. Situated in Tarporley, the resort is home to three courses, each unique in character and posing differing challenges for players taking them on.

The Championship Course, as the name suggests, is a championship pedigree layout designed by esteemed course architect Donald Steel, the Premier Course is a shorter 18-hole layout, while the Arderne Course is a picturesque nine-holer. 

It is slightly on the modern side, dating back to 1990 at the inception of Oaklands Golf Club which has evolved gradually into a premier golf destination, Portal Golf Club.

Now, as well as its three courses, Portal is a full-scale resort, which includes a luxury spa, leisure facilities, three eateries, a dedicated bar, and an 85-room hotel.

Here’s what Portal has to offer for your next golf trip.

The Championship Course

Measuring 7,041-yards from the back tees, this par 73 parkland course is not for the faint-hearted. 

Course architect, Steel, has designed over 100 courses worldwide and helped renovate the classic Open Championship venue, Royal St George’s.

Set over the gently undulating Cheshire countryside, Steel opted for a strategic design rather than a penal layout, emphasising shot positioning and course management.

Although the length is challenging the course is more open than many other parkland layouts, where trees obscure the fairways and provisionals become a formality.

That being said there are subtle challenges aside from raw distance, including strategic bunkering and elevated greens, with water hazards lurking down the back nine.

The front nine is generally more forgiving, with wider fairways and fewer water hazards. Big hitters would hope to build a score early with plenty of room to play with on the first, a driveable par 4 on the second and par 5s at the third and fourth holes.

Whether you would consider the par 5s at Portal 'scoreable' is very player dependent. The third is a massive 603-yards from the tips, with trees down the right and bunkers lining the left side of the fairway. The fourth meanwhile, is 544-yards, but with an uphill approach plays longer.

The front-nine closes out with three par 4s, the ninth being the most challenging, with OB lurking down the right and an approach shot into an elevated two-tier green. Elevated greens are a regular fixture on the front-nine with holes four, six, eight and nine all requiring precise aerial approach shots. 

The Championship Course mixes it up on the back-nine, specifically from The Horn at 14. This par 3 is the signature hole and the first where navigating water requires diligent attention. A pond guards the front of the green meaning clubbing up is a sensible precaution, but be careful not to clip the trees either side of the green.

The 15th has plenty of room for your tee shot but may require three shots to clear the water guarding the green, unless you trust the flight in your longer irons. 

Like at any championship pedigree course, the closing holes are tough. The 17th is the hardest hole on the course, a 433-yard par 4. Water hazards flank the fairway and the approach plays uphill, so hitting the green in regulation is a stiff challenge. Then on 18 trees hug the left side of the fairway and anything past is OB, so aim right and eliminate the risk even if you are faced with a longer approach.

The Premier Course

Designed by European Tour professional Andrew Murray, the Premier Course is a shorter 18-hole option, measuring 6,518-yards from the white tees.

The par 71 parkland layout is built over Cheshire sandstone ridge, creating natural elevation changes and varied lies on almost every hole.

Tree lined fairways give it a more conventional parkland feel compared to the championship course, requiring accuracy off the tee to avoid trouble.

On the fourth hole the course springs into life, with an elevated tee shot plunging downhill before swinging on a sharp-left dogleg that climbs towards a challenging tiered green.

The 15th is the signature hole, with an elevated tee box offering expansive views. Distance control on drop-holes is tricky and measuring over 200-yards from the back tees is an especially stiff challenge. 

Soon after you are faced with another enticing par 3 at 17, a hole wry with danger means hitting the green is essential even if you must club up to avoid the drink.

While the Premier layout is more playable than the Championship course it is made just as interesting with variety. Every hole is a new challenge with sloped fairways forcing awkward stances and creative shot making.

Arderne Course

If you are keen to test your short game or dust off the cobwebs before taking on 18-holes then look no further than the Arderne Course.

This par-30 nine-holer can be played by experienced players wanting to hone their short game or beginners looking for an accessible place to improve.

Portal Golf Club refer to Arderne as their "hidden gem" and it’s clear to see why, with water features creating jeopardy off the tee and contoured greens testing pace control and feel with the putter in hand.

The course also offers four short par 4s, inviting aggression off the tee with the third and sixth holes reachable in one with a strong drive.

Hotel

Tucked into the Cheshire countryside, the modern Portal Golf & Spa Resort offers the perfect setting for a golfing escape. Its 85 generously sized rooms combine comfort with contemporary style, creating a space where you can truly unwind after a day on the course. Whether you choose a twin, double or an indulgent suite, each room is thoughtfully appointed with sleek en-suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and reliable internet access

Restaurants & Bars

Portal Golf & Spa Resort has a wide offering of food and drink, from fine dining to casual drinking. The Salt Brasserie is the go-to for dinner, with a menu that leans heavily towards steak, sourced from Scottish farms, alongside burgers and a bit of seafood. It’s relaxed and easy-going, serving high-quality familiar favourites.

Then there’s the Lounge Bar, which is the kind of place you end up using at all times of day. It’s ideal for a coffee, a drink before dinner, or a few post-round beverages. 

Your 19th hole is the St Andrews Sports Bar, named appropriately after the home of golf, with the décor in the bar taking inspiration from the historic town. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, serving burgers, pizzas and a variety of drinks, with large televisions showing sport, and there is golf artwork adorning the walls. The bar now even includes a sloping eight-foot putting green for a little post-round competition.

Spa & Leisure

If you’re feeling the effects of a long day on the course, the spa at Portal is an easy way to unwind. There’s a full range of treatments and therapies if you’re in the mood to properly switch off, but even just spending time in the facilities does the job.

You’ve got everything from steam, salt and ice rooms to a swimming pool and sauna, plus the well-equipped Technogym if you’ve still got some energy left.

In fact, if you’re playing the Championship Course we suggest getting in the gym before your round to help you hit bombs off the tee!

Other Activities

If you are planning on a longer stay, Cheshire has a lot to offer outside of the resort grounds. Beeston Castle is just a ten-minute drive away; perched on a rocky sandstone crag, the castle was built in the 12th century following the Crusades and offers panoramic views of the countryside.

For walking enthusiasts, Delamere Forest is one of the largest woodland areas in Cheshire and only 20-minutes away, with walking and cycling trails winding through trees and lakes.

If you are a fan of motorsport then tie in your stay with a race event at Oulton Park Circuit. The track is just 10-minutes away and frequently hosts events welcoming spectators, from superbike championships to classic car races.

With three very different golf courses to sink your teeth into, along with an array of leisure activities available for resort guests, Portal Golf & Spa Resort is a great destination for your next golf trip.

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