Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa
A view of a hole at Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa.
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4.2
196 Reviews (196)
5 Stars
84
4 Stars
77
3 Stars
17
2 Stars
9
1 Stars
9
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.0
Amenities
4.1
79.7%
Recommend this course
164 out of 196 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
3.8
Layout
4.4
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.4
72.7%
Recommend this course
8 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.1
26 Reviews (26)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
4
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.0
Layout
4.5
Pace
3.7
Amenities
4.1
StaffFriendliness
4.3
73.1%
Recommend this course
19 out of 26 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 73
Length 7037 yards
Slope N/A
Rating N/A
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Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa - Championship Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1990
Golf Season Year round
Architect Donald Steel (1990)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes - "Lee Westwood Golf School"
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Walking Allowed Yes

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities, Banquet Facilities, Spa

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness
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Reviews

4.2
196 Reviews (196)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Portal Championship Course

Yes it was wet..

Yes it blew a gale..

But as big as the hikes were and as hard as the game was I still enjoyed every minute!!

Course on a whole considering conditions was great and will definitely return in summer months when can enjoy it’s full beauty!!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Winter Golf at its best

I had an opportunity to play the front nine in the summer and it was very enjoyable. I’ve played the whole course in January and it was absolutely brilliant. Real tees, real greens, and balls not plugging. A good day of exercise and an opportunity to let go with a big hit and a breath of freezing air.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Portal golf course championships

Very good course, long, interesting and good lay out of holes. Could only fault slight hold up on last four holes. Very enjoyable round would definitely play there again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

6 hour round

Greens very poor stuck behind society 6 hours if course was closer to home would have walked off after nine holes won't play here again local muni golf course has better greens

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Great course but-

Everything about the course it`s self was very good, the greens were excellent as were the fairways and lay out etc.

It took us 5 1/2 hours to get round, there was just to many people on the course with nearly every hole that we saw having at least 3 groups on at once, there was no starter to sort people out and everyone was getting a little wound up even before they started with everyone`s tee times being at least 15mins later than they should have been.

They need people riding round making sure everyone gets a move on.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Walked

Great course, really enjoyed it

What a great course. Undulating through the country with lots of challenging bunkers (well I found a lot of them!)

Great price through Teeofftimes,, have paid a lot more for much worse courses.

Greens in great condition!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Walked

Excellent course

Hadn't played the course for some 20 years or more.

Course is challenging and was in very good condition.

Played as a Two ball in a KO final . we played 18 holes and had drinks in the bar all in less than 4 hours !!

Will be making plans to return later in the year but will be taking some 'Happy pills' along for the benefit of the bar staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course maintained to championship standards

I can only recommend Portal Championship course, it was found to be in excellent condition. It was wet early on but dried very quickly in the sun and wind. The greens were all in fantastic condition, I could only recommend better drainage in the bunkers with better quality sand as some were a bit heavy. Nowgolf allows you to play this course at the same price or less than other local courses which are in no way kept to the same standards. Absolutely stunning views of the Cheshire plain and beyond almost all round this course, try it - it won't disappoint you.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Very slow

Lots of slow 4 balls in front - gave up after 4 and a half hours and 16 holes

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Walked

Not Sure

Played here in strong easterly wind. Course dry as a bone so ball going miles with the wind. Fairways very good, rough not bad at all but it has wide fairways. Greens-well it looks as though they have had fusarium but it has been cleared leaving some bare patches, some rain should really clear these up.

We walked-it is a long course with plenty of walking between holes and some elevation differences. Plenty of buggies available if you wanted.

Played here a few times and this was the best I have seen it. Still prefer the Premier course as this is a bit bland.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent course

Good conditions, very relaxing game. But rough test of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Not for the shorter hitter

Brutal in a cold wind, for November in very good condition. The shorter hitter in our group found the round a slog even with an electric trollley so a buggy highly recommended. Don't let the gentle first 2 holes fool you. A gps app would make a lot of sense for this course as would a more sensible price for 2 cups of coffee. I'm not sure I would rush back specifically but I would like to see the premier course next time. im not sure if this is the original hole order layout but I think it could be tinkered with and would improve the experience. enjoyable and would play again but hopefully not in a strong icy wind

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Walked

portal championship

Picturesque course with incredible panoramic views to hills 30 miles away. Well designed with challenging holes, long 5's and short 3's. Top level greens a real challenge. Great facilities in a wonderful setting.

There are not many courses that can match this setting and layout. Worth a visit if you get the chance.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Golf day at portal

Great course with some fantastic views.

The parkland course is beautiful with lots of mature trees, plenty of room and also some tricky par 3 s. Quite hilly but manageable with a powered trolley. There were a few people on carts and this did cause us to keep letting single players in a buggy through. Perhaps they should space these out or pair them up. The cost of the bacon barm was horrific at £4.50 and not that good.

Overall a really good round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
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