Grange Park

It is set up for enjoyable golf with a variety of holes, hazards and green complexes that all combine together nicely to create a pleasing experience.

It is tucked away in the town of St. Helens but is certainly worth locating.

I was indeed pleasantly surprised with what I found when I played here for the first time in June 2013. It has a lovely secluded feel to it despite being located in quite a densely populated area.

With the ball running well on the tight, almost links-like fairways, it didn't seem to play its 6,500 yards. However, there are three long par fours coming in the space of four holes at the ninth, 11th and 12th plus there is also a 200 yard par three at the fourth but otherwise it is a fairly modest test when dry in terms of distance.

You are introduced to the course with three medium length par fours each with a slightly different feel to them. The first is an excellent opening hole with a generous fairway and just a lone bunker on the right but it is the attractive bunkering on the approach which makes the hole. The second and third both play downhill before the long par three fourth rises slightly.

Back-to-back par fives follow. The fifth is a fairly dull affair but the sixth is a wonderful hole. It is slightly uphill and dog-legs to the right before rising sharply to an angled green set on a ledge halfway up the hillside. There is a pond on the inner-elbow of the dog-leg which you must flirt with if you aspire to reach the green in two.

The seventh is a quaint hole with a tiny green and bunkers on both sides plus a small beck behind the green.

The 10th is a short par four but this comes in the midst of the three afore mentioned longer two-shotters, the shortest of which is 444 yards.

The drive at the par five 13th is from high above to the fairway below and allows you to open your shoulders but it is touch that is required around the up-turned green should you miss it. The next is a basic par three followed by another par five to a severe two-tiered green. Hole 16 is a good looking par three with nice bunkering whilst the 17th has a blind drive before the hole turns at a 90 degree angle to the left and feeds down to the green. The 18th isn't the finest finishing hole but the fairway bunkers on the right require a straight tee-shot.

It may not compete with the ensemble of courses on the Lancashire coast but all considered Grange Park is worthy of a visit for anyone seeking golf in the North-West.