The Merseyside and Lancashire coast is without doubt one of the biggest stretches of linksland golf in Nice Britain.
The R&A is aware of it as a result of the Open usually visits Royal Liverpool on the Wirral and Royal Birkdale close to Southport.
However there may be much more to the area – referred to as England’s Golf Coast – than these two main championship customary exams.
Listed below are 5 of the perfect…
Hillside
Located proper subsequent to Royal Birkdale, Hillside has twice hosted the British Masters in latest instances and it’s well-respected for being each an incredible gem and likewise a fantastic check. The entrance 9 plots a route alongside principally flat however shrewdly formed land earlier than introducing a dramatic again 9 that flows between large dunes (the seventeenth gap is pictured above).
The par-3 tenth gap is an excellent par-3 that hits uphill to a inexperienced that nestles within the sandhills with woodland shaping the shot. Then, from an elevated tee, the eleventh is a par-5 that sweeps in direction of the ocean. Greg Norman famously concluded that “the again 9 holes are the perfect in Britain”.
Wallasey
Latest work on upgrading the conditioning of the course has made a fantastic venue into an exquisite one which sneaks between the dunes on the Wirral shoreline near Hoylake and Royal Liverpool. The membership is legendary for being the house of Dr Stableford who created the scoring system named after him that’s used the world over.
The good golf journalist Bernard Darwin wrote: “Wallasey is one other course of mighty hills: certainly I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen a course on which the contour of the hills and valleys was so infinitely picturesque.”
Southport and Ainsdale
Recognized to the golf group as S&A, this cracker hosted two Ryder Cups within the Thirties and has additionally been a number of Open Last Qualifying. With a cute little clubhouse and holes framed by marram grass-fringed dunes it’s among the many most stunning programs on this stretch of land.
Like Royal Lytham, S&A begins unusually with a par-3 and it may be a greater gap than Lytham’s. The inexperienced is protected by finely formed bunkers and is splendidly inviting however hassle lurks all over the place.
Formby
One other beautiful monitor and one that features extra bushes than the others on this record. However that is very undoubtedly a linksy check. The holes sweep alongside sandy terrain with super bunkering and crafty greens.
As with Wallasey, Darwin was a fan writing: “It’s altogether a kind of programs the place the participant’s destiny is completely in his personal palms. If he performs effectively every little thing will conspire to assist him on his manner, however he has obtained to play rather well – good, sterling, sincere golf: there isn’t a mistake about that at Formby.”
West Lancashire
An everyday host venue for Open Last Qualifying, West Lancs (as it’s recognized to everybody) was shaped in 1873 and that makes it among the many 10 oldest golf equipment in England. It’s extra open than Hillside’s again 9 however it’s a wonderful deal with.
Tommy Fleetwood has mentioned of it: “I at all times make time to play West Lancs. A correct hyperlinks which is at all times in prime situation, a should play for any golfer.”
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