St Annes Old Links

St Annes Old Links is a glorious links course located on England’s Golf Coast, the northwest coastline of the country. 

Although it is somewhat in the shadow of its near neighbour, St Annes has a rich and famous history itself, including hosting Open Championship Qualifying. 

The course runs in two distinct loops, both out and back to the clubhouse, and there is always a prevailing wind to deal with during your round.

Visit the St Annes Old Links website here.

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St Annes Old Links dates back to the start of the 20th Century, with the course being designed on land that had previously been the home to Lytham & St Anne’s. 

The original site for the course was lost to a late-Victorian housing development but fortunately the members had the foresight to re-establish themselves at their current location.  

Originally a nine-holer designed by the club's first professional, George Lowe, it was subsequently extended by Sandy Herd. That was back in 1909 following the move and very little has changed since - apart from the course's surrounds. 

Although somewhat outshadowed by its Open Championship-hosting neighbour, St Annes Old Links is a glorious links venue that is over a century old and every bit as authentic as its famous neighbour. One consequence of St Annes being designed in two distinct halves is that both start and end in front of the clubhouse. Broadly speaking, when you play away from this tall, prominent building that looks more like a small school or hospital you will be hitting into the prevailing wind. If it is in your sights, you will most likely have a breeze at your back. All in all, from the very back tees that are used when St Annes is an Open Qualifying venue for Lytham the course measures a sturdy 6,900 yards. 

Despite only being 345 yards from the tips, the opening hole could see you reaching into your bag for a wood twice, thanks to the prevailing wind direction. The 2nd is played with the wind, but with 12 small pot bunkers in play, including three which cross the fairway around 40 yards from the green, there is plenty of trouble to be had from the off. The opening par 3 comes at the 3rd, an awkward par 3 with a sloping green and six more bunkers ton contend with. Then, you get into the toughest stretch on the course.  

The 4th is the Stroke Index 1, playing 450 yards from the tips and usually with the wind in your face. Add in the out of bounds if you flail one right, three fairway bunkers and two greenside traps, and you have an incredibly difficult hole. The four par 5s at St Annes come in two pairs, with the two on the front nine coming at 5 and 6. The former also plays into the wind, and at 565 yards, it will certainly be three shots for all bar the very few. The 6th is around the same distance, but travelling in the opposite direction. You tee off over water to begin with, and if you fire one out right, you could even find water with your second. If you manage to get through those two par 5s unscathed, then you have two more 400-yard par 4s to deal with. 7 is a slight dog-leg left and features three cross bunkers, akin to the 2nd, while the 8th at least plays with the wind (if you have the prevailing gusts) at your back.  

The highlight of the front nine is undoubtedly saved until its last hole. On a site that the club's own website describes as "a barren, windswept stretch of Lancashire coast", there suddenly appears a couple of large mounds with a natural hollow in between that makes for a par three of exceptional quality. It is made particularly difficult by three distinct factors. One is that it is impossible to get a full view of the putting surface from the tee. Another is the presence of several nasty bunkers, one of which it is entirely possible to putt into, and finally there is the sheer depth of the green. At all but 50 yards from one end to the other, it is all too easy, even after doing the hard work of finding the narrow target, to walk off with a bogey four. So impressed by this hole was the legendary amateur Bobby Jones when playing here ahead of the 1926 Open at Lytham that he would go on to win, that he reportedly made detailed notes and took down measurements. 

The back nine begins with a run of three par fours into the prevailing wind, followed by a long and formidable par 3 along the northern boundary of the course. 10 is a slight dog-leg left, while the 11th has a split fairway, so laying up to the right distance is the key to make sure you have a good lie. 12 is the hardest hole on the back nine thanks to playing against the wind, and due to the difficulties you will find on the putting surface. 13 is the first of two pare 3s coming home, and it has a kidney-shaped green that is long and narrow. The 14th, while no pushover and complicated by more cross-bunkers that are a feature of several of the downwind holes, is a birdie chance if you can find position off the tee and the 15th is another under 400 yards – though there are 11 bunkers to avoid. 

Then there comes the final par 3 before the run home begins. 16 is 175 yards and the easiest hole in terms of Stroke Index. However, when you look at it from the tee, with its seven bunkers surrounding the green and the train line running behind it, it is no mean feat. The 17th is much the longer of the two closing holes – at 620 yards from the tips - but in some ways is less complicated than the last. At least you can see where you are going, because the 18th green is on the other side of a hill. Unless you play well to the left, as many of the locals do, your approach will be played blind towards a marker post that stands behind the green. It is a finishing hole where most scores are possible and it provides a fitting conclusion to a course that is never less than worthy and frequently rather better than that. 

David Walker: A flat links with no real sea views or dunes but it does have a host of challenging and nuanced holes

Greg Webber: While the surroundings are an ever-present, the course is consistently good and a real treat to play

Dan Murphy: A links that grows on you – taken individually, nearly all of the holes are worth playing and bear scrutiny

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is St Annes Old Links located?  

St Annes Old Links is located in the northwest of England, on the Fylde Coast. Although not right on the coastline, the Irish Sea can easily be seen from St Annes. The course sits directly next to the boundary of the now-private Blackpool Airport, with the city of Blackpool just a few miles north up the coast. The M55, which runs from the M6 to Blackpool, is the best way of getting to this part of the country by road. 

St Annes-on-the-Sea and Squires Gate are both close to St Annes Old Links for those using the National Rail service. Trains run through both stations on the Blackpool to Preston line, with the service operating regularly throughout the day. Both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are within an hour from St Annes Old Links, with the latter being the busiest airport in the country outside of the capital city of London. 

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

The northwest of England is a hotbed for great golf courses, many of which are on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Royal Lytham & St Annes - an 11-time host of the Open Championship – is just a stone's throw away from St Annes Old Links. 

Down in Merseyside, and all within an hour’s drive from St Annes, sit the likes of Royal Birkdale, Southport & Ainsdale, Formby, Formby Ladies, Hillside and West Lancs as well. 

What golf facilities does St Annes Old Links offer?  

Along with the stunning 18-hole golf course, St Annes Old Links also has a driving range which sits at the side of the 5th fairway, running inland. By the clubhouse, there is a short game area and a putting green, to allow golfers to practice prior to taking to the 1st tee. 

What are the green fees at St Annes Old Links?  

The price of a green fee at St Annes Old Links 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 St Annes Old Links, visit their website here.