About The Club
Vale Royal Abbey officially opened on October 1st 1998 and has since developed into one of the most desirable Club's in the region. The Club is privately owned but operates as a traditional Member's Golf Club with policies being agreed by the Club's Management Committee consisting of elected Members of the Club. The Club is exclusive to it's Members and their guests and does not accept causal green fee paying visitors or golf societies. The Club is extremely friendly and relaxing and our Members are proud of the welcoming environment that is provided at all times.
We have pleasure in welcoming you to our web site and will be very pleased if you would browse the site, which will provide you with a further understanding of the Club and provide some extremely useful information for our Members and site visitors alike.
Management Committee
The Club is managed, on behalf of the Members, by the Management Committee who are responsible for the approval, or otherwise, of recommendations presented from the sub-committees and for the introduction and insurance of Club policies and procedures in conjunction with the 'Club's Constitution & Rules'. All Members serving on the Management Committee are responsible for the fulfilment of their roles and responsibilities in conjunction with the 'Register Of Duties Of The Officers Of The Club'.
Click here to view the 'Members Of The Management Committee'
Sub Committees
The operations of the Club are evaluated by the sub-committees who provide appropriate recommendations to the Management Committee for approval. The sub-committees are made up of co-opted Members and each sub-committee is chaired by the Chairperson as elected at an AGM for a three year term of office. The sub-committees are Finance, Gentlemen's Handicap & Competitions, Greens, House, Ladies' Handicap & Competitions, Marketing & Membership, Seniors and Social.
Club Members are encouraged to provide feedback to Members of the relevant Sub-Committees to enable the highest quality and standards to be maintained at all times and to enable issues which may arise to be dealt with swiftly and effectively. Please reMember, however, that the Sub-Committee Members are providing a voluntary service to the Club and should be allowed to enjoy the Club facilities without undue interruption.
Click here to view the 'Members Of The Sub-Committees'
Staff
The Club staff are responsible for providing an enjoyable, friendly and welcoming atmosphere throughout the Club whilst ensuring high professional standards are maintained at all times. Club Members are encouraged to provide feedback to senior management staff. Please, however, be aware of the busy day to day activities at the Club and the requirements of the staff at all times.
Senior management staff attend relevant sub-committee meetings and, following approval from Sub-Committee and, where necessary, from the Club's Management Committee, the appropriate staff become responsible for the implementation and completion of necessary actions required throughout their specific department.
Click here to view the 'Members Of Staff'
Location
Vale Royal Abbey is situated in a remote location in the Cheshire countryside with beautiful quiet surroundings, however, travel to the Club could not be easier as it is to be found only 2 miles from the A556, the main direct artery between Manchester and Chester.
Click here to view 'Directions & A Map Of The Club's Location'
Vale Royal Abbey History
The Club is on the site of what was England's largest Cistercian Abbey, founded by Edward I, who in 1277 laid the first foundation stone. It took a further 53 years to complete the Abbey. When constructed, the Abbey was larger than Westminster Abbey.
In the 16th century, following Henry VIII's Reformation and Dissolution of the Monasteries Acts, Thomas Holdcroft purchased the estate for £450 and pulled down the Abbey and built the Great House.
In the 17th century, the Cholmondeley family purchased the house and in the 19th century, Thomas Cholmondeley, who was the 1st Lord Delamere, refurbished the house in Georgian style.
In the 20th century, Imperial Chemical Industries owned the property and used it as the headquarters of the Salt Division. Later it became the responsibility of Vale Royal Borough Council but was not used and fell into a severe state of disrepair.
In the 1990s the building and estate were sold to Golf Club Holdings Group with planning permission being granted to create the golf course, club house and develop / build a number of private dwellings in return for restoring the Great House, in particular the roof and the Great Hall, which now provides a superb Members social facility.
The course opened in October 1998. The Great House having been converted into the clubhouse and a number of private apartments which adjoin the clubhouse.
In 2001 Crown Sports Ltd purchased the Club and owned it until 2003, when they took the decision that golf clubs did not form part of their core business and divested themselves of all such assets to focus on leisure and hotel activities.
The present owners, Patrick Cryne and Steve Graham, purchased the Club with what remains an ongoing commitment to operate the Club as a traditional Members club, exclusive to Members and their guests, with the management of the Club being carried out by a Members Committee structure based on R & A and EGU best practices.
The Driver
'The Driver' is the official newsletter of the Club and is printed three times each year.
Please click here to view the latest issue of 'The Driver'
The Junior Driver
'The Junior Driver' is the official newsletter of the Junior's section and is printed every two months.
Please click here to view the latest issue of 'The Junior Driver'