Caldy

Meanwhile the inland holes, on the other side of the Wirral Way, offer a more secluded and tree-lined experience yet still benefit from firm-ish turf for the most part, or at least it was in mid-April 2017 when I visited to play the 36-hole Caldy Quart scratch competition. On this section of the course you are sheltered from the wind but the holes are tighter and you must plot your way round a little bit more.

There are a number of stand-out holes throughout the round. The first is an inviting opener whilst the par-three second is the first of a particularly good set of short holes with the 17th, played over Thor’s Dyke, the pick of the quartet.

Holes 3 to 10 are played closest to the estuary and this is a fine stretch of holes. They are all quite open and whilst it is not really linksland you certainly need to work the ball into the greens and avoid the sporadic dabs of gorse.

The backdrop to the third is quite wonderful before the next three all run right along the coast with the cliffs to your left. The one outstanding piece of architecture on the course comes at the green setting for the sixth with the putting surface sitting on a plateau at the other side of a deep, angled hollow.

The 14th is the most interesting of the parkland holes with a dry ditch angling across the fairway where you can try and carry it down the left for a better angle into the green.

The four par fives at Caldy didn’t really excite me although the 11th and 18th do a decent job of getting golfers back up the hill to the elevated clubhouse which offers a wide view out to the course.

The greens and their surrounds throughout the 18 holes played nice and firm and there are plenty of modest run-offs which can leave some tricky recovery shots.

Par is 72 and with SSS set at 74 from the 6,700 white tees making a score is not an easy assignment but overall the course is more than playable and an enjoyable test of golf.