Why play

A different kind of Lancashire links test

Royal Lytham sits slightly inland from the sea, but the breeze still influences play. Its defining feature is strategic bunkering: the club lists 166 pot bunkers across the course, so the useful question is rarely “how far can I hit it?” and more often “which line leaves the next shot simplest?”

For visiting golfers, it fits naturally into an England’s Golf Coast itinerary with Royal Birkdale and Formby, giving the trip a distinct strategic contrast rather than another version of the same round.

Course Intelligence

Play the bunkers before they play you

The Blue course is rated 76.5 with a slope of 152, but most visitors are encouraged to use the Green or Orange markers. That is useful guidance: moving too far back can turn intended strategic decisions into repeated forced carries and defensive recoveries.

On a first visit, prioritise position over bravado. Choose lines that keep the deepest bunkers out of play, accept centre-green targets when the wind rises and avoid turning every recovery into a heroic shot.

Visitor preparation

Use the practice facilities before the first tee

The club provides a driving range, pitching area, putting green and warm-up nets, with complimentary range-ball tokens available from the Pro Shop. Caddies, club hire and trolleys can be arranged in advance; buggies are restricted to players with a verified medical need.

Stay · Play · Recover

Anchor the trip around the scarce tee time

Use Royal Lytham as one of the fixed points of a Lancashire trip, then build the remaining rounds and accommodation around its live visitor availability. After a demanding walking links day, protect the next round with a lighter evening, hydration and sensible tee-time spacing rather than stacking every premium course back-to-back.