Wrexham Golf Club

The drive out of Chester towards Wrexham takes you through proper Cheshire countryside - rolling fields and the kind of views that make you understand why people move here for weekends. Wrexham Golf Club sits just outside Chester, an 18-hole course that's been around since 1906 and shows the kind of maturity you'd expect from that age. The layout meanders through 140 acres of woodland and parkland, so you're never just whacking balls across a flat field. Trees close in on both sides of several holes, which means accuracy matters more than distance.

This is genuinely enjoyable for golfers at all levels, though beginners might find the tighter fairways in the back nine a bit punishing on their first go. The greens are well maintained and the course flows naturally with the terrain rather than fighting against it. A round takes about four and a half hours if you're a moderate player. Green fees aren't publicly listed online, so you'll need to ring ahead, but courses in this part of the country tend to be reasonable for weekday play.

If you're based at Manor Wood - that five-star park just down the road - this is an obvious choice for a morning or afternoon depending on conditions. The weather can be damp here, so late spring or early autumn usually offers the best greens and least soggy ground. The clubhouse is functional rather than flash, which is fine if you're just after a good game. Worth booking in advance, particularly at weekends.