Fleetwood

Fleetwood Golf Club is one of several cracking true links courses in the northwest of England, with the club having been at its current location since 1932. 

Originally founded in 1893, that makes Fleetwood one of the oldest clubs in England, and not much has changed at the venue since the move to Rossall Point. 

It is a true links course, with the sea wrapped around two sides, and with plenty of undulations and bunkers to avoid throughout a round.

Visit Fleetwood's website here.

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Golf dates back to 1861 in Fleetwood, with the first records suggesting the sport was played over the ‘Fleetwood Links’ that year. 

It was not until 1893 that the Fleetwood Golf Club was officially formed, however, with a new course on the Promenade having been constructed. 

Over the next 40 years, the club would have homes at Copse Road and Knott End, before moving to its current location in 1932.

Fleetwood Golf Club is, without doubt, the truest form of links golf. It sits right by the coast, with Rossall Beach and the Irish Sea just metres from the western boundary of the layout. The course plays much tougher than its course rating might suggest, simply thanks to the ever-present sea breeze that comes in from the Irish Sea. It plays at just over 6,500 yards from the tips, though there are scoring chances throughout the round. 

One of those comes at the opening hole – which is just over 300 yards from the tips. If you’re not going for the green, then aim out to the right side to give yourself the best angle into the putting surface with your second shot. Five bunkers surround the green. The 2nd takes you to the most southern point of the course, and again, a drive out to the right side is best. The first of the short holes comes at the 3rd, though it is the longest of the par 3s at more than 185 yards. No fewer than nine bunkers are in play, while anything long of the green could find the water hazard behind. 

The tee shot on 4 plays over the same hazard, and needs to be aimed further left than you first might think. The green is behind a mound, and anything down that left side will mean you have a semi-blind shot into the surface. You then reach the 5th, the Stroke Index 1 at Fleetwood. It is 450 yards from the tips, the longest par 4 on the course. Playing as a slight dog-leg to the right, and with a bunker located on the inside corner, if you can come away with a par here, you have succeeded. A pair of par 3s come quickly, at 6 and 8. The former is the shortest hole on the course at less than 150 yards, and plays inland from the sea wall. The 8th has a quintet of bunkers around the front of the green that have to be carried, though it often plays longer thanks to the prevailing wind. 

In between those lies the par 4 7th, a tricky hole that moves slightly to the left. At more than 425 yards, it is another lengthy par 4, and a good drive is the key. Around the turn, you will play three par 5s in four holes with those coming at 9, 10 and 12. The 9th takes you back to the clubhouse, while the 10th runs parallel and in the opposite direction, so you will deal with different winds on these two holes. That might mean you have a real scoring chance on 9, but then you will struggle to reach in three on the 10th! After the short par 3 11th, the last of the 3s on the course, you then come to the third of the par 5s around the turn. 12 is shortest of those at just 480 yards, and again, wind-dependant, is reachable in two. 

Remember the water hazard in play on 3 and 4 earlier? You’ll see it again on 13 – a medium-length par 4. The water sits to the right of the green, while a trio of bunkers guard the left side. At 360 yards, 14 is a scoring chance if you can get a good drive away and avoid the two fairway bunkers. You then come to the last of the par 5s – the 15th. It is just shy of 500 yards from the tips, and again, it is all about avoiding the bunkers if you are looking at going for it with your second shot.  

The closing stretch at Fleetwood comprises a trio of par 4s that get shorter as you get closer to home. 16 is 430 yards from the tips, and the toughest of the three finishing holes. 17 is a dog-leg left, which makes it play slightly longer than its 395 yards. Covering the two big bunkers on the left side is the key off the tee, while the green is surrounded by sand – seven bunkers will be in view for your approach. Fleetwood’s final hole is a short par 4. It is just 330 yards, though it plays as a strong dog-leg right. Bigger hitter might take it on, but with the clubhouse and the practice putting green behind the surface of the 18th, is it worth it? Many a birdie has been made by laying up to the right distance...

Where is Fleetwood Golf Club located?

Fleetwood Golf Club is situated in the very northwestern corner of the Fylde Coast, in the northwest of England. The Rossall Point Watch Tower sits by the northern end of the course, with the layout overlooking the Irish Sea. The entrance to the club is just a short walk from the centre of the town of Fleetwood, while the city of Blackpool is around eight miles to the south. Preston is 20 miles to the southeast, with Manchester and Liverpool around 60 miles south of the golf club.

Though Fleetwood does not have its own train station – with Poulton-le-Fylde being the closest – there are regular trams from Fleetwood through to Blackpool. These take around half an hour, with the nearest tram stops being Lindel Road and Stanley Road, both of which are around a mile’s walk from Fleetwood Golf Club. Manchester Airport – the United Kingdom’s busiest airport outside of London – is 70 miles away by road, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport also a similar distance from Fleetwood.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

The trio of Fairhaven, Royal Lytham & St Annes and St Annes Old Links are in a small golfing paradise on the North West Coast of England. These are all within a 15-mile drive from Fleetwood. The likes of Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, and Royal Birkdale are within a 90-minute drive around the Ribble Estuary.

What golf facilities does Fleetwood Golf Club offer?

Located between the 10th and 16th holes, in the middle of the course, sits the practice area at Fleetwood. There is a range of around 150 yards for you to hit your own balls to targets, along with a pair of nets. There is also a large putting green that sits outside the clubhouse, in between the 9th and 18th greens.

What are the green fees at Fleetwood Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Fleetwood Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Fleetwood, visit their website here.