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Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
Located in Southport, Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club sits on a stretch of incredible golf courses steeped in tradition. For those searching for a top-class golf course near you or planning a trip to the top 100 golf courses in the UK, this iconic golf club should be at the top of your list.
The golf course map of Southport and Ainsdale reveals a number of different challenges and pleasures. It is a superbly designed masterpiece that consistently ranks in the top 100 golf courses in England, appealing to both visitors and links enthusiasts. For those located within 20 miles looking for accessible golf courses, Southport and Ainsdale is a perfect choice.
Southport and Ainsdale’s aspiration to beat the standards of other top golf courses in the UK has cemented its stellar reputation among the UK’s top 100 golf courses. It’s place as one of the best golf courses in the UK is no accident and even when compared with other golf courses in the UK, it can rival any for quality.
If you are heading to Liverpool or Southport, you need to visit what will be one of the best golf courses near you. It has earned a place in the top 100 UK golf courses for a reason, so why not head to the first tee on a trip to Merseyside.
Visit Southport & Ainsdale's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
Visit Southport & Ainsdale's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
A Brief History of Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club opened its doors in 1906 and it has always been held in high regard for the challenge it poses to amateur and elite golfers. In 1914, it hosted the Lancashire Amateur Championship and has hosted this prestigious event 10 times.
J.H. Taylor, Ted Ray and James Braid played an exhibition match to raise funds for the war effort in 1917. The club hosted the British Ladies Amateur Championship in 1936, and the club will forever be associated with the Ryder Cup.
The club hosted the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937. The US team was captained by Walter Hagen and it became the first to win an overseas match against Great Britain.
Not only has the Southport and Ainsdale hosted the Ryder Cup, it also held the first overseas tournament that Jack Nicklaus played in – the Piccadilly Tournament in 1962. Arnold Palmer played in the Nine Nations in 1965 alongside Gary Player, Bing Crosby and Sean Connery.
Southport and Ainsdale have always maintained high standards having hosted qualification for the Women’s Open. Earlier this year, the club hosted The Professional Rose Ladies Series, the Amateur Championship and the England Golf Men’s County Finals.
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
An Opening Flurry
The course at Southport and Ainsdale boasts an ingenious design that weaves seamlessly into the natural terrain. The architects have masterfully integrated the undulating dunes, indigenous flora, and the coastal elements into an 18-hole masterpiece.
The fairways are a perfect balance of tight and forgiving, providing golfers of all skill levels with an enjoyable round. The signature par-3s demand precision, requiring golfers to navigate the ever-changing winds and strategic bunkering.
Southport and Ainsdale uniquely begins with a par 3 – a lengthy one that will test your long iron game, especially if the wind is blowing. In front of the clubhouse too, there is an element of pressure added to the occasion.
Accuracy is crucial in the next stretch of holes that follow the tricky opener. Holes 2,3,4 and 5 require pinpoint accuracy off the tee to avoid fairway bunkers and navigate the narrow fairways.
The 6th hole is an exciting dog leg that takes you round a set of tall trees. Your tee shot must thread the eye of the needle through a gap in two mounds. This is one of many delicately and quite impressively designed holes at Southport and Ainsdale.
Par 5, Par 3, Par 5, Par 3
Just before the turn, you are faced with touch of relief with two par 5s divided by a tricky par 3 with a raised green.
Hole 7 is a par 5 that curls around a corner to the 8th tee box, that challenges every aspect of your iron game. The 9th hole is another par 5 that is fairly flat, but sensible golf and precision is rewarded here.
The 10th hole is flatter than the 8th. This par 3 goes away from the halfway hut and will punish any shot that goes left or right of the green with a tricky bunker shot back across the putting surface.
The Closing Stretch
The majority of the back nine weaves superbly around gorses, trees and deep rough – a hugely enjoyable part of the golf course. The par-5 16th hole is certainly a highlight with its memorable wooden frame in the middle of the fairway.
A strong downwind is needed to reach the green in two shots, but the strategic play needed on this hole, and many holes at Southport and Ainsdale, is what makes this such a special golf course.
The 17th hole runs parallel to the Merseyrail trainline, while the 18th hole perfectly curls around the dunes next to the 1st and finishes just below the clubhouse patio.
Where is Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club located?
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club is in Southport, England, just above the city centre of Liverpool. It is easily accessibly by driving and by train from Liverpool city centre and other cities.
What facilities does Southport and Ainsdale offer?
Southport and Ainsdale welcome large groups of golfers before and after their round. Guests can choose to dine in the Ryder Room surrounded by historical memorabilia with a replica of the Ryder Cup menu, or a custom built four-course meal with wines and spirits.
Less formal food options can be enjoyed in the clubhouse or the outdoor patio that overlooks the 18th green.
There is a driving range to the left of the 18th hole, and a putting green below the clubhouse at the start of the course to help you prepare for your round.
Visit Southport & Ainsdale's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
Visit Southport & Ainsdale's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.