Course

It is hard to single out a “signature hole” but the fifteenth, a par 4 dog-leg left with the green set amongst woodland, reflects the character of the course. Decide on the tee that you will play to score a 5 and you will probably get it. To get a 4 requires a carrying drive to that part of the fairway which leaves you with a clear sight of the green. The green itself is elevated and sloped away at the rear. Timid shots run up short, “Tiger” shots run off into the shrubs behind, wayward shots end in the bunker or amongst trees – the classic golfing dilemma of risk and reward.

There are four par 3 holes, each presenting a different challenge. The seventeenth, set amongst heather and gorse requires accuracy both in line and distance, but the hole that people remember is the twelfth (163 yards for women or 173 yards for men). Aim your drive between copses to a green backed by woodland and guarded by three bunkers to the right. The green itself slopes back to front and is raised on both sides. Trust the line, strike the putt and hope you have made allowance for the small borrows. Walk to the thirteenth having scored a three and you will have every right to feel pleased.

At around 5,000 yards, Wirral Golf Club is a compact golf course (par 70 for women and par 68 for men). It has short walks between greens and the next tee and with a round taking on average a little over three hours, the golfer will have had their game tested, enjoyed a walk in a traditional natural setting and perhaps most importantly have enjoyed the good company of fellow golfers with plenty of time left to mull over their game whilst enjoying the rest of the facilities at the clubhouse.