Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
We get the best tee timesPTS Protected · ATOL for flightsSince 1981 · 4.9★ on GoogleA specialist replies promptly
Where to stay while you play Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
3 hotels package this course — cheapest first, every one tailored to your group.
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Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa Hotel
Golf at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Stay & play — from
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Malmaison Liverpool
Golf at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Stay & play — from
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The Waterfront Hotel Southport
Golf at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Stay & play — fromAbout Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club is a true championship links course on the Fylde coast.
Southport golf course is set among the sand dunes in Lancashire and is one of James Braid’s greatest creations. It starts with a par 3, one of several well designed short holes. The par 3 16th stands out with its huge hill and massive bunkers, lined with railway sleepers. This is not your traditional out and back layout, it is laid out in two loops, with holes 2 to 6, forming the inner loop.
The whole course is a magnificent test of golf, especially with the sea breeze and flora combining to provide hazards of the finest kind.
This beautiful area in north-west England is a must do destination for every serious golfer wanting to play a collection of Britain's best courses.
- Close to Hillside, Royal Birkdale and The West Lancashire Golf Clubs
- Buggies - limited number are available, we can book these for you.
- Trolleys - Electric and manual trolleys are available
- Clubhouse
Our take
Southport and Ainsdale threads two loops through the Lancashire dunes rather than a straight out and back, and it is a proper championship links from the first tee.
- Serious golfersJames Braid at his sharpest, opening with a par 3 and saving the sleeper faced bunkers of the 16th for the closing stretch. In our experience cards tend to die at the 5th and again at the 17th.
- Higher handicapsThe walking is gentle, just 63 metres of climb all round, so the defence is breeze and sand. Club up into the wind, stay clear of the railway sleeper bunkers and you will get round with your dignity intact.
- Buddy tripsA strong run of short holes bookends the round, from the opening par 3 to the sleeper faced bunkers of the 16th that everyone remembers afterwards. Good value for a links trip along this stretch of coast.
Tell us who’s coming and how you like to play, and we’ll shape the right trip around you.
What you are actually facing
The walk. Flat, and an easy walk — 63 metres of climb over the round.
The wind. The wind is usually westerly, averaging 15 km/h, gusting to 52. It is the club selection that catches people out, not the yardage.
The water. 5 hazards in play. Bring a few more balls than you think you need.
The design. George Lowe, redesigned by James Braid.
The holes that will cost you. The 5th, the 17th and the 2nd. The 17th is the one you will be talking about afterwards.
Hole by hole — how we would play it
Terrain and prevailing-weather data, read hole by hole. It is our own assessment of how the course plays, not an official course or slope rating.
The course at a glance
Host of the 1933 and 1937 Ryder Cup
WHERE TO STAY
Places to stay while you play Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Base yourself near the course — every venue here includes Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club in your golf holiday.
Tap a hotel to open it, or zoom in on the satellite view to see how close each one sits to the first tee.
- Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa HotelFrom
£300pp (≈ €345) (≈ $395) (≈ CA$555) (≈ AU$575) (≈ NZ$685) (≈ CHF 325) (≈ kr 3,845) (≈ kr 3,865) (≈ kr 2,605) - Malmaison LiverpoolFrom
£455pp (≈ €525) (≈ $605) (≈ CA$845) (≈ AU$865) (≈ NZ$1,045) (≈ CHF 495) (≈ kr 5,835) (≈ kr 5,865) (≈ kr 3,955) - The Waterfront Hotel SouthportFrom
£615pp (≈ €715) (≈ $815) (≈ CA$1,145) (≈ AU$1,175) (≈ NZ$1,415) (≈ CHF 665) (≈ kr 7,885) (≈ kr 7,925) (≈ kr 5,355)