Southport and Ainsdale

Southport and Ainsdale | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Rankings

7th

29th

51st

69th

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club sits on a stretch of incredible golf courses steeped in tradition.

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 highly, appealing to both visitors and links enthusiasts.

Despite being in the same region as Royal Lytham, Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and many more, S&A is now overshadowed, and is a glorious golfing venue in its own right.

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A Brief History of Southport and Ainsdale

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 biennial team event in both 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 Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

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. The next four holes 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.

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. 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 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 misses on either side of the green with a tricky bunker shot back across the putting surface. 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.

Our Panellists Notes for 2025

David Walker: S&A is a thinking man's course epitomised by the crater-like Gumbleys bunker on the 16th

Joss Powick: Good interaction with dunes good elevation changes excellent condition

Mike Robertson: Some unique holes make this a very good golf course and a lot of fun to play

Steve Carroll: The 16th and 17th holes are all-timers

Peter Rudd: The current greenkeeping staff have transformed S&A into a high-quality links

David Elliott: Excellent presentation. Some fantastic holes and a good mix of holes

Dan Murphy: Outstanding presentation. Several intriguing holes

Read more about our panellists here.

FAQs about Southport and Ainsdale

Where is Southport and Ainsdale located?

Southport & Ainsdale is situated on the North West Coast of England, just outside the town of Southport. The western coastline of the country is less than half a mile from the entrance to the golf club, out to Ainsdale Beach and the Irish Sea. Liverpool is within 15 miles to the south, while the likes of Preston, Bolton, Blackburn and Manchester are all within 50 miles from the golf club.

Due to its proximity to those two cities, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are the two nearest international airports to Southport and Ainsdale. Liverpool’s offering is closer, but Manchester operates a wider range of flights, and it is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside of London. For those travelling to the northwest coastline via train, Ainsdale Station is a stone’s throw from the club’s entrance. Trains run between Southport and Liverpool Central on a regular basis.

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

Southport and Ainsdale is located in one of the best golfing paradises in the United Kingdom, with no fewer than five courses on the NCG Top 100s: England list within just a short drive. Hillside sits on the other side of the railway tracks, with Royal Birkdale on the other side of that. Formby, Formby Ladies and West Lancs are also within ten miles.

What golf facilities does Southport and Ainsdale offer?

Along with the cracking golf course, Southport and Ainsdale also has some great facilities. 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.

What are the green fees at Southport and Ainsdale?

The price of a green fee at Southport and Ainsdale 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 Southport and Ainsdale, visit their website here.

Visit Southport & Ainsdale's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Website

http://www.sandagolfclub.co.uk/

admin@sandagolf.co.uk

Phone

+44 (0) 1704 578000

Address

Bradshaw's Ln, Ainsdale, Southport PR8 3LG

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