Merseyside, NW England

Located on England's North West coast, Southport is widely regarded amongst golfers as 'England's Golfing Capital'. The region has hosted every major tournament in golf including the Open Championship, Ryder Cup, PGA CHampionship, Walker Cup and Curtis Cup.

This superb stretch of coastline is host to 27 courses within half an hour's drive of the town centre, half a dozen of which are championship standard. You can choose to play at the following courses:

Formby Golf Club (Links - Curtis Cup Venue 2004)
Situated close by the shoreline of the Irish sea, the course has the charm and charisma of traditional links of charm, near Southport. Ben Wright in his description of Formby in the Official Programme for the 1967 Amateur Championship as “...a magnificent golf course ...” Formby is unique amongst all our great seaside courses, it is blessed with a profusion of pine trees and sand dunes.

Formby Hall Golf Club (Parkland - European Seniors Tour Venue)
At Formby Hall, a championship course meets a 4* hotel, restaurant and luxury spa, all beautifully located in the heart of The North-West Coast, England's Golfing Capital. Following an extensive development, our grand colonial-style clubhouse and a championship 18 hole golf course has been joined by a 62 bedroom hotel, residential PGA Academy, with lavish spa, health and fitness club. The resort will offer state of the art conferencing & event facilities for business meetings and corporate hospitality events.

Hesketh Golf Club (Links/Parkland - Oldest Club in Southport)
All the northwest courses are of exceptional quality, however Hesketh stands out. Set amidst the towering Victorian villas of Southport's premier residential area - Hesketh Park - is The Hesketh Golf Club. Standing alone on the crest of a tall sand hill, the clubhouse dominates the golf course and surrounding district. Opened in 1885, it is the oldest in Southport; a mixture of parkland and links set in a prosperous suburb among substantial Victorian villas. The course may be less classical than some of its rivals, but hosts qualifying competitions for whenever The Open is at Birkdale.

Hillside Golf Club (Links - Open Championship Qualifier)
From the white tees the course at Hillside measures over 6,800 yards meandering through majestic sand hills and tranquil pinewoods. Hillside golf Club was founded in 1911, taking its name from its location at Hillside Farm. The first major change to the course took place in 1923 when new land was leased from the Weld Blundell estate to construct a new 18 hole course. The most radical change to the course was started in 1956 with the appointment of Fred Hawtree as course architect. Many of the holes have elevated tees with fantastic views over the Irish Sea. After playing the course, Greg Norman wrote to the Club saying that "The back nine were the best in Britain", while Jack Nicklaus described the course as "A wild looking links".

Hurlston Hall Golf Club (Parkland)
Hurlston Hall Golf and Country Club welcomes individuals and groups at all levels of experience to its superb new undulating golf course. Set in 135 acres of beautiful parkland on the outskirts of Southport. The course was recently re-designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1994.

Mossock Hall Golf Club (Parkland)
Established in 1996, Mossock Hall is set in 130 acres of beautiful countryside on the Lancashire/Merseyside border. It is conveniently located close to the North West’s major road networks yet it maintains a peaceful tranquility when out on the course. The course is developing year after year with more strategically placed bunkers added to challenge golfers of all levels. The beautiful 18th century clubhouse has been refurbished maintaining many of its original features and offers a friendly relaxing atmosphere. Mossock Hall Golf Club can boast that the course is open all year round due to investment in quality drainage system and superb USGA greens.

Ormskirk Golf Club (Parkland)
A private members club, the market town of Ormskirk is situated only seven miles from the coastal town of Southport. The course has changed a great deal over the years, with two major reconstructions since Harold Hilton transformed it into a full eighteen holes in 1903. Visually beautiful and set in the heart of the West Lancashire countryside with mature trees lining the fairways. The course offers a challenge to all levels of golfer, having been used for Open Regional Qualifying, County Matches and many Society days.

Royal Birkdale Golf Club (Links - Open Championship Venue)
Royal Birkdale, situated on the same stretch of coastline as fellow Open Championship venues Royal Lytham St Annes and Royal Liverpool, is distinguished by its roll call of honours of two Ryder Cups, the Walker and Curtis Cups, and of course eight Open Championships. The stunning coastal resort of Southport is home to the finest links courses in England, but Royal Birkdale is regarded by many golfers as quite simply the best of all the great golf courses to have staged The Open Championship.

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club (Links - 1933 & 1937 Ryder Cup Venue)
S&A (as it’s popularly known), was founded in 1906, part of the great golf boom around the turn of the 20th century. There have been many changes to the course over the years, but the traditional feel of a championship links has been retained. The course is set amongst the dunes on the North West coastline and is another of course designer, James Braid’s great creations. The club has hosted two Ryder Cup matches in 1933 and 1937 and a number of other prestigious championships including The British Ladies Open and The British Amateur. It remains a final qualifying course for The Open Championship and is regularly voted among the top 50 courses in Great Britain. All the holes are of championship standard and no two are the same, the most famous being the sixteenth, on one side lined with railway sleepers, the other featuring great hills and mass bunkering. The course is a magnificent test of golf, especially with the sea breeze, profusion of heather and gorse combining to provide you with a definitely challenging experience.

West Lancashire Golf Club (Links - Open Championship Qualifier 2006)
“West Lancs” is the oldest surviving golf club in the county of Lancashire and is listed in the oldest ten golf clubs in England. West Lancashire Golf Club of Blundellsands is decidedly one of the more venerable of English clubs. The championship links lie on the banks of the Mersey Estuary and has been host to final qualifying for The Open Championship in 1976,1983,1991, 1998,and in 2006 and will do so again when the Championship returns to Royal Birkdale in 2008. The Club's place in history is assured as it has its name on The Amateur Championship trophy, one of the 24 clubs that contributed to the cost of the trophy. Donald Steel, after several visits in the 1990s, wrote 'only in Britain can one sample the true flavour of seaside golf of which West Lancashire is a perfect example’. Within the framework of the coastal dunes and the railway, a glorious balance unfurls, there are humps and hollows, greens on plateaux and greens in dells, contrast and comparative shelter in the inland holes and everywhere a sea of rough sandy wilderness to punish the wrongdoer.

Away from the sensational golf, the Southport region is renowned as a top holiday destination in its own right. There are a number of stunning beaches, excellent shopping districts and nightlife. You can choose your accommodation from the following venues:

Prince of Wales Hotel:

Located in the centre of Southport, the Prince of Wales is a beautiful reminder of Victorian Heritage, with its elegant buildings and landscaped gardens. Combining elegant and stylish character with modern luxury the hotel is perfect for business meetings or for those looking simply for a quiet stay by the sea. All 142 en-suite bedrooms have been tastefully designed to preserve the Victorian style of the hotel with many of the rooms overlooking Lord Street, the main shopping and entertainment area.

The Scarisbrick Hotel:

Ideally situated in the heart of Southport's tree-lined main boulevard, this traditional hotel offers the discerning visitor the highest standards of accommodation, cuisine and service. Close to the Promenade, Floral Hall, Arts Centre and only 12 miles from the motorway network. Whatever your requirements, the Scarisbrick Hotel offers Conference and Banqueting facilities tailored to suit every requirement as well as a comprehensive choice of entertainment, cuisine and leisure all within the hotel's complex.

Best Western Royal Clifton:

The Royal Clifton Hotel is ideally situated for both Southport's fantastic range of golf courses as well as many of the north's most renowned attractions. Indeed, Liverpool and Manchester are just 30 and 35 miles away respectively. This AA 3* hotel with Victorian façade enjoys panoramic views over the north west coast line and direct access to Southport's promenade. The Royal Clifton Hotel provides guests with a choice of two dining experiences. Both the recently refurbished Royal Pavilion Restaurant and the Conservatory provide guests with formal and informal dining options. After a hard day on the golf course, the Royal Clifton offers the perfect respite with an array of leisure facilities including a fully air-conditioned gymnasium, indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, spa and solarium.

Best Western Stutelea:

Set in its own picturesque gardens, The Stutelea provides a tranquil environment for a golfing weekend away. Ample parking within the hotel grounds and its proximity to Southport's famous Lord Street make the hotel not just an ideal base from which to attack the outstanding surrounding golf but to explore Southport's many other attractions. The food is perfect for golf holiday makers; the Garden Bar provides a variety of all day snacks as well as good views or alternatively, guests can sample the extensive menu and wine list in the á la carte restaurant. The Stutelea Leisure Club is top drawer; there's a heated indoor swimming pool with Scandinavian sauna, jacuzzi, steam room, solariums and a gymnasium. Guests can also experience a relaxing aroma therapy massage and there are exercise classes, aerobics and even a games room for those who want to keep the competition up off the golf course.

Cambridge House Hotel :

Cambridge Town House Hotel offers a delightful environment which has elegant Victorian furniture combined with spacious rooms which are comfortable and relaxing. Our friendly and charming staff are all that you would expect with a properly establishment. The lounge is designed with the utmost care and attention, in the knowledge that after a great day out our guests would like to unwind in beautiful relaxing surroundings.