Formby Ladies

Formby Ladies Golf Club is one of a number of incredible golf courses sitting on England’s northwest coast, overlooking the Irish Sea. 

Sitting on the same piece of land as neighbours Formby and having originally been a part of the same club, Formby Ladies came to be at the end of the 19th Century. 

The course was built while the original layout was being altered, and has gone on to host several major events throughout its history. It is a short course, but it is very fun to play. 

Visit the Formby Ladies website here. 

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Originally, there was a Ladies section at Formby Golf Club, which was established in 1886. A decade later, the Ladies would branch out on their own as the original course was being altered.

1896 saw the founding of Formby Ladies Golf Club - first as a 9-hole course, before then being extended to 18 holes in 1908.

In recent years, the club has played host to the Rose Ladies Series and to two editions of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship on the European Legends Tour. 

Formby Ladies enjoys the same delightful combination of coastal sand dunes, tall pines, heather, well-bunkered greens and fabulous turf. From the tees – and there are only one set here – it is 5,356 yards, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. There are a number of holes here that would comfortably sit in the layout of its more illustrious sibling and the tight drives, and tiny greens, mean that whether you are playing the holes on the flatter land or among the dunes, there is always enough interest and danger to keep you focused.  

The opening hole at Formby Ladies is a gentle opener, one of just 265 yards, and with the first tee shot of the day being played to a generous fairway – that is if you are not taking the green on. The 2nd, a short par 5 with a forced carry over the heather to a tight landing area, accelerates matters in some style. And it never really backs off from there. The next, a 129-yard par 3, should be nothing more than the shortest of irons but there are five bunkers in attendance and a green that measures only 22 yards from front to back. The 4th is another short par 4, this time one of 285 yards. A bunker in the middle of the fairway makes the drive slightly more difficult, but the green is much larger than the one just encountered on 3. 

The 5th and 6th are huge highlights – the first a little chip of just 120 yards to a putting surface that is set on a ledge with trouble lurking everywhere. 6 comes next, and it is a right to left dogleg that sweeps round the pines and some trickily placed bunkers. At 405 yards, and with all the trouble, it is no surprise that the 6th is the Stroke Index 1 at Formby Ladies. 7 is another drivable par 4 for some, at just 250 yards. However, four bunkers by the green might see you put the driver (or even 3-wood) back in the bag. The 8th is the longest hole on the course at 435 yards. Arrow straight and with a wide fairway, this is a good scoring opportunity, while the 9th has a small fairway, and one where driver might not be required due to the runout. The green is in amongst the mounds, and although there are no bunkers, the lack of size to the putting surface makes it more difficult. 

The back nine begins with the last of the three par 5s. A slight dog-leg to the left, two fairway bunkers and two greenside bunkers cause the trouble on this 425-yard hole. 11 runs in the opposite direction, and plays as a dog-leg right. There is no real trouble on this hole, and it is a good chance to put a circle on the card. The 12th is the longest of the par 3s at Formby Ladies, coming in at 160 yards. Four bunkers short of the green, and plenty of gorse behind the surface, make club selection crucial. 13 is another tough, and long par 4, before you get to the short 14th. Less than 300 yards, but a narrow landing area for your tee shot, make this hole more difficult than it might first seem. 

The 15th green is somewhat hidden behind a mound if you come in from the left side of the fairway, so you want to aim down the right side – where there just happens to be two fairway bunkers. The 16th is the last of the par 3s, and at 130 yards, it is not long. However, it is a small surface to aim for. Both 17 and 18 are slight dog-legs to the right, with the latter featuring four large bunkers to catch anything awry. Two of those are on the right of the fairway, with one then either side of the front of the putting surface. 

David Elliott: Quaint, very short course but extremely tricky. Beautifully presented and great fun

Sean Arble: I was particularly impressed with the balance of hole movement in terms of doglegs and straight holes; it is just about perfect in not favouring any particular ball shape 

David Walker: An incredibly pleasant surprise having played Formby many times. From the first tee shot it is both fun and challenging with wonderful par 3s and a number of risk-reward options with turf and conditions every bit as good as its big brother. No denying the course is short but with tight fairways and heather it is unlikely to be overpowered and good scores will come from strategic play

Steve Carroll: Beautiful natural heathland course that demands accuracy to tame its tight fairways and tiny greens

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Where is Formby Ladies located?

Formby Ladies Golf Club is situated on the northwest coastline of England to the north of the town of Formby in Lancashire. The venue looks out over the coast, with the National Trust area of seaside dunes between the course and the Irish Sea. The cities of Liverpool and Manchester are both within an hour’s drive to the south, with the A565 running close to the course.

When it comes to trains, Freshfield Station is literally next to the entrance to the golf club, with services running between Liverpool Central and Southport on a regular basis. With the two cities being so close to the venue, it is no surprise that Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are the two closest international airports to Formby Ladies Golf Club. The venue is less than an hour from both, with Manchester being the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside of London.

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

This part of the country is littered with stunning venues, and there are plenty of them that have a spot on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Formby sits on the same piece of land, while the likes of Southport & Ainsdale, Hillside, West Lancs and Royal Birkdale – one of three Open Championship-hosting venues in the region, all within a short distance.

What golf facilities does Formby Ladies offer?

Along with the stunning golf course, Formby Ladies is also the home to some great practice facilities as well. There is a driving range, short game area with three bunkers, putting green and practice nets, so you have no excuse for not being warm when you walk to the first tee!

What are the green fees at Formby Ladies?

The price of a green fee at Formby Ladies 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 Formby Ladies, visit their website here.