Lancashire Golf Courses - Bliss Hotel Southport by Wyndham
Formby GC
Formby GC
Par: 73
Length: 6701 yards
Course designer: Willie Park, James Braid, Donald Steel
Venue: Curtis Cup, British Amateur Championship
Formby is a magnificent traditional links situated by the shoreline of the Irish sea, near Southport. Rolling fairways are dotted with cavernous pot bunkers and lined with an abundance of scented pine trees as they lead up to the large, firm greens. There are plenty of hillocks and swales to gobble the ball up or knock it back into play depending on your luck.
Formby has held many leading events including the 2009 British Amateur Championship and the 2004 Curtis Cup.
Although a lot younger than its more renowned neighbours (in Southport) Formby Hall has gained a glowing reputation and has hosted PGA Challenge Tour events. The inland layout gives a pleasant change to the links in the area. Water is a big feature on the course and some of the ditches present plenty choices off of the tees.
The M6 motorway runs up the length of the coastline and links to the major road network to Wirral (M56/M53), Liverpool (M62), Southport (M58) and Lytham (A59). Formby Hall Golf Club is situated approximately 15 miles south of Southport.
Hillside's links golf course is generally considered to be one of the best links courses never to have hosted the Open. Situated next door to Royal Birkdale it provides a peerless test of golf which tests all the shots in a majestic setting.
Greg Norman, the Australian who has won the Open twice (in 1986 at Turnberry and in 1993 at Royal St George's) wrote to Hillside saying its back nine holes were the best in Britain. Not surprisingly, Hillside keeps his letter safe and secure under lock and key!
Hillside is signposted approximately 3 miles South of Southport Town Centre along the A565, just to the right as you approach the bridge to Hillside Station. To get to Southport from the M6, take J26 exit and continue along M58 until the Southport exit. Follow the A577 and then the A570 through Ormskirk to Southport.
Venue: Open Championship, Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Ladies British Open
Royal Birkdale has consistently been voted as the number one course in Britain, and is ever-present within the British Open rota.
The course runs through a network of high dunes with wind stiffening the challenge and the rolling, firm terrain making clever shot-making essential.
In addition to hosting the Open on eight occasions, Royal Birkdale has also been the stage for many other great golf championships including the Ryder Cup in 1969, when Jack Nicklaus famously conceded Tony Jacklin’s final two-foot putt to ensure the overall match finished tied.
Tiger Woods holds the amateur course record here with a 65!
The club is 1½ miles south of Southport town centre on the A565 - Waterloo Road between Southport and Ainsdale. The nearest railway station is Hillside on the Liverpool to Southport line.
Drivers approaching from the North should use the M6, exit at Junction 29, Leyland, to the A582, A59 and A565. Drivers from the South, via the M6, M62, M57 and A5147. Traffic from Central Lancashire should use the M58, exit at Junction 3, Rainford, to the A570. Traffic from Wales and the Wirral should use the M53, Queensway Tunnel to the A565.
West Lancashire is another classic links in the northwest of England. One of the oldest golf clubs in Britain and the course is still proving a real test for members and visitors alike.
Nine miles North from the City Centre of Liverpool and a similar distance South from Southport. It is easily reached from either of the M53, the M57 or the M58 which connect with the motorways of the M62 and the M6. From the end of these motorways, follow through to Waterloo and Crosby, to the links at Hall Road West, Blundellsands.
