Region: Lancashire Coast, England | Best Time: April–October | Nearest Airport: Manchester (MAN) — 1h; Liverpool (LPL) — 45 mins
Editor’s Note: The Lancashire coast is England’s greatest concentration of links golf — and one of the least celebrated. Royal Birkdale is the fairest Open venue in England; Royal Lytham is one of the game’s most unusual championship tests; Hillside is the hidden gem that joins them. Add Southport’s Edwardian charm and the Fylde Coast’s extraordinary flat light, and this is England’s most underrated golf destination.
The 5 Courses to Play
1. Royal Birkdale Golf Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: George Lowe, extended Frederick Hawtree | Par/Yardage: 70 / 7,156 yards | Rating: 76.5 / 148
- Why Play It: Ranked #5 in The Global Golfer Top 100. Considered by most professionals the fairest of all the Open venues — every hole runs through the valleys between towering sand hills, entirely sheltered from lateral wind. The closing stretch from 15 is as demanding as any sequence on the Open rota. Visitor access Monday–Friday; handicap certificate required. Read full course review →
- Book: royalbirkdale.com | Green fees from £280
2. Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Harry Colt | Par/Yardage: 71 / 6,876 yards | Rating: 75.2 / 143
- Why Play It: England’s most idiosyncratic Open Championship venue — completely inland, surrounded by houses, with railway lines forming lateral hazards. Yet the links turf, the ferocious closing stretch and the sand hill bunkering produce one of the most legitimate championship tests in England. Bobby Jones secured his first Open here in 1926.
- Book: royallytham.org | Green fees from £225
3. Hillside Golf Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Frederick Hawtree (1967 redesign) | Par/Yardage: 72 / 7,216 yards | Rating: 75.4 / 142
- Why Play It: Sharing a boundary fence with Royal Birkdale, Hillside is the most underrated links in England — many professionals quietly rate the back nine superior to its famous neighbour. The 12th through 15th holes through towering sand hills deliver some of the most dramatic golf in Lancashire. Open to visitors with excellent availability.
- Book: hillside-golfclub.co.uk | Green fees from £145
4. Formby Golf Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: Willie Park Jr., extended Harry Colt | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,995 yards | Rating: 74.8 / 140
- Why Play It: Through the red squirrel nature reserve and out to the dunes — Formby is the most natural setting of all the Lancashire courses. The course transitions from woodland to links seamlessly; the par-3 17th over a valley to an elevated green is outstanding. Ladies’ course (Formby Ladies GC) is also excellent.
- Book: formbygolfclub.co.uk
5. Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Designer: James Braid | Par/Yardage: 72 / 6,612 yards | Rating: 73.5 / 137
- Why Play It: Ryder Cup host in 1933 and 1937 — the most historically significant course in Southport. Braid’s design threads through enormous sand hills with the 18th hole’s green sitting in a natural amphitheatre of dunes. Excellent value and highly accessible.
- Book: sandagolfclub.co.uk
Where to Stay & Practical Information
- The Vincent Hotel, Southport (4★): Southport’s finest boutique hotel — Art Deco glamour on the seafront. 10 minutes from Royal Birkdale. Check availability on Expedia →
- Waterfront Hotel, Southport: Modern hotel with Liverpool views; excellent base for the full Lancashire golf circuit.
- Getting There: Southport is 20 miles north of Liverpool — accessible via M57/A565. Liverpool Airport (LPL) is 45 minutes. Manchester Airport (MAN) is 1 hour.
- Combine With: Liverpool’s world-class music and restaurant scene (45 mins). The Beatles Story, Tate Liverpool and the Albert Dock make an excellent non-golf day.
- Best Time: May–September. The Lancashire coast is exposed to prevailing westerlies; spring and autumn offer the firmest links conditions.