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Golf In North England The finest courses in the north of England are to be found on the Lancashire coast, on a stretch of golfing terrain that is the envy of many other areas. Basing yourself in, say, the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport places Royal Birkdale, Formby, Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale all within 15 minutes' drive, and Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St Annes - scene of Open victories by Bobby Jones, Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros - are accessible within an hour. Formby Golf Club North England Unusually for a links, Formby does not have views of the sea. Instead, the fairways snake through duneland covered in parts with pine trees. A pretty course, with a fine and hospitable clubhouse, it is a popular venue for amateur events. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Formby Golf Club, North England, today. Ganton Golf Club North England Set in the heart of James Herriot country, this may be the most beautiful course in Britain. Dunn, Vardon, Fowler and Braid are all names associated with this course, which has hosted the British Amateur. At the 5th, one can feed the trout in the water hazard! Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Gaunton Golf Club, North Englan, today. Hillside Golf Club North England Even Jack Nicklaus Says It's The 'Best Back Nine He's Ever Played' Established in 1911, The Hillside Golf Club took its name from its location on Hillside Farm. In 1923 new land was leased from the Weld Blundell Estate to build a new 18-hole course. The course remained until the club bought new land in the 1960's and Fred Hawtree did some major remodeling, especially on the back nine. The front nine is nearly flat and plays well, but the back nine are now compared to St. Andrews and Ballybunion. The homeward stretch consists of wavy greens and holes inter-weaved with giant dunes. Jack Nicklaus once said the back nine at Hillside were the best he has ever played. Hillside is ranked in the top 25 course in the British Isles and shares the same land as the Royal Birkdale. In fact, they are literally side by side among the massive sand dunes near Southport. Many locals say the courses are so similar it is hard to differentiate between the two. Peter Alliss described the first nine as, 'frightening,' particularly when the wind blows from the right to left. Winds do come in from the Irish Sea, but this is normal for links courses on the Northwest coastline. The course has elevated tees and a plethora of challenging holes. Some of the holes are sheltered and resemble natural amphitheaters. Others are hidden among the dunes. The 11th hole is noted in the book 'The 500 World's Greatest Golf Holes.' This par 5 is over 500 yards and doglegs to the left. The tee is situated so high that players can view the current hole in play, other holes at Hillside, and at the same time see the Royal Birkdale Golf Club and the Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club in the distance. The fairway is flanked with dunes and golfers must avoid a gaping bunker to the right. It is a testing hole that golfers will not soon forget. The Hillside Course is great for players of every level and the welcoming environment adds to the enjoyment of the day. Although Hillside has hosted many events including the British PGA, it does not have a large international reputation because it has not hosted an Open Championship. However, Europeans and golfers that travel to the UK are fully aware of this hidden gem. The course has been used as a qualifying course for the Open Championship five times. It has also hosted the Amateur Championship and many other notable competitions. Greg Norman called Hillside his favorite course in England. Hillside prides itself on providing a friendly atmosphere and casual clubhouse. They welcome visitors from around the world and they will provide you with a fabulous day of golf. With the Royal Birkdale Golf Club and the Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club being so close, you could plan a great week of golf without having to travel any distance at all. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Hillside Golf Club, North England, today. Royal Birkdale Golf Club North England Host To Many Events, Royal Birkdale Provides Golf History At Every Turn The Royal Birkdale was originally built in 1889, and underwent a major reconstruction in the 1930's by five-time Open Champion, J.H. Taylor and course architect Charles Hawtree. In the 1990's, the greens were redesigned and rebuilt to provide firm putting surfaces, and is currently being upgraded for the 2008 British Open. This includes being lengthened by 154 yards, which stretches the course 7,122 yards. The scenery includes beautiful views of the beach, stately pine trees, and elegant fairways, where some of golf's finest legends have played. This is not a course full of tricks; what you see is what you get. The fairways run through a valley of giant sand dunes, and each tee offers a clear view of the challenge ahead. However, be warned, a stray shot into the dunes, buckthorn, or scrub can change things rather quickly. To date, this club has hosted eight British Opens, two Ryder Cups, the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, and three Ladies British Opens. Winners of the Open at Birkdale include Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, and Mark O Meara. Royal Birkdale has played host to some of golf's unforgettable moments, and visitors can feel the history when they step onto the course, while enjoying a very challenging and undoubtedly memorable golf experience. The setting is among the dunes on the Irish Sea. Watson and Miller both won Opens here on a course which has surprisingly level fairways for a links but large, undulating greens that invariably test the best. At the 16th there is a plaque commemorating Arnold Palmer's miraculous shot from behind a bush to the green - with experts forecasting a bogey or worse the great man took his 6 iron and made par. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package to the Royal Birkdale golf club, North England today. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Royal Birkdale, North England, today. Royal Liverpool Golf Club - North England On the south side of the Mersey, Hoylake - as the locals call it - has hosted ten Open Championships in the past. Founded in 1869, this was the course where Peter Thompson won the Open in 1956. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Royal Liverpool Golf Club, North England, today. Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Golf Club North England One of the hardest Open venues, this is not a typical links course - having no actual view of the sea - but very much seaside in nature. Many fine players have won Open Championships here although Bobby Jones' win in 1926 is the only one to be commemorated by a plaque - on the site of his 180 yard bunker shot (with a hickory club) to the 17th green to secure victory. David Duval broke through here in 2001 in the Open to win his first major title. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package to the Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf golf club, North England, today. Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club North England Another regular for qualifiers when the Open is in town, this excellent seaside links has hosted many championships including two Ryder Cup matches. Call IGT to book your golfing vacation package including Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, North England, today. |
