Liverpool & Southport

England's Golf Coast

Liverpool & Southport

A 20-mile stretch of England's northwest coast contains the most concentrated cluster of Open Championship venues anywhere in the world.

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Royal Birkdale

Location
Southport, England
Opened
1897
Designer
George Lowe
Events
The Open Championship (10 times) Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Women’s Open, British Masters, Ryder Cup (2 times)
Rankings
3rd best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com, 42nd best golf course in the world, Golf Magazine (2021)

Royal Birkdale is akin to an Oak Hill in the United States, where it has hosted every possible high-level event. Champions like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, and Jordan Spieth have navigated these expansive dunes and sophisticated, small pot bunkers, and winds coming off the Irish Sea. Unlike other links golf courses, and closer to an Irish golf experience, Birkdale plays in the bottom of the towering dunes on either side, with relatively flat fairways providing a perfect canvas for tournament golf. Wallasey Golf Club · Location: Wallasey, England · Open: 1891 · Designer: Tom Morris Sr., with later contributions by James Braid and Donald Steel · Major Course Updates: Donald Steel (1990s), Mackenzie & Ebert (ongoing consultancy) · Events Hosted: The Open Championship Final Qualifying, Women’s British Open Qualifying, English Amateur Championship · Key Rankings: 44th best golf course in England, Top 100 Golf Courses (2025) Tucked along the scenic coastline of Wallasey in northwest England, Wallasey Golf Club occupies a prime spot on the Wirral Peninsula, close to the prestigious Royal Liverpool Golf Club, yet boasts its own allure. Wallasey is the home of the Stableford scoring system, invented in 1932 by one if its members, Dr. Frank Stableford. Similar to its Open Championship venue neighbours, this timeless Tom Morris layout, enhanced by James Braid, blends strategic depth with classic links charm, creating a memorable golfing adventure for all.

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Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)

Location
Holyoke, England
Opened
1869
Designer
George Morris
Events
Open Championship (11 times), Ryder Cup (2 times), Curtis Cup, Walker Cup
Rankings
15th best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com, 79th best golf course in the world, Golf Magazine (2021)

A must-visit destination for any golf enthusiast, particularly for those interested in the rich history and tradition of the sport. Notably, a multiple Open Championship venue has produced champions like Greg Norman, Bobby Jones, James Braid, and Tiger Woods in 2006, who famously only used driver once during the entire week. Long views of the Irish Sea, as well as rolling, rumpled fairways and undulating greens combine with one of England’s clubs to provide a first-rate experience.

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Royal Lytham & St Annes

Location
Lytham Saint Annes, England
Opened
1897,
Designer
George Lowe
Events
The Open Championship (11 times), Ryder Cup (2 times), Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Women’s Open Championship, British Masters
Rankings
7th best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com, 67th best golf course in the world, Golf Magazine (2021)

Numerous golfing greats—including Bobby Jones, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, David Duval, and Ernie Els—have won majors on Royal Lytham & St. Annes, which peculiarly starts on a long par 3 down the hill. Also notable, Royal Lytham is known for an astounding amount of bunkers throughout the round, which are almost impossible to avoid fully. In total, 174 bunkers are found for a whopping 9.66 a hole.

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Hillside

Location
Southport, England
Opened
1911
Designer
unknown
Events
British PGA Match Play Championship
Rankings
22nd best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com

While nearby Royal Birkdale gets all the Open Championship fame, Hillside plays an important part in being in England’s best links golf region, hosting the 1982 British PGA Match Play Championship. In that championship, Tony Jacklin tied Bernhard Langer in regulation, but Jacklin went on to win on the first playoff hole. Dunes and rumpled fairways further treat those who step away from Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale, while all three combine to create one of the best three-course rotations in England.

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Southport & Ainsdale

Location
Southport, England
Opened
1925
Designer
James Braid
Events
Women’s Open Championship, Ryder Cup (2 times)
Rankings
43rd best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com

Located in the popular beach town in northwest England, Southport & Ainsdale is located near Royal Birkdale, but holds its own with some notable design elements. The bunker-less par 3, 8th is generally regarded as a standout, with a raised table top green repelling mishit shots and providing challenging approach shots. Where Birkdale is a difficult, challenging golf course notable for the events hosted, this James Braid golf course is sporty, unique, and fun, providing a brilliant experience in itself.

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Wallasey

Location
Wallasey, England
Opened
1891
Designer
Old Tom Morris (with later work by James Braid)
Rankings
40th best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com

While nearby Royal Liverpool draws the Open Championship spotlight, Wallasey holds a unique place in golf history as the birthplace of the Stableford scoring system, devised here in 1898 by club member Dr. Frank Stableford. The course itself, originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891 and later refined by James Braid, plays through some of the most dramatic dunes on the Wirral Peninsula, with sweeping views across to the Welsh mountains and the Irish Sea. Tight, undulating fairways and towering sandhills make for a links experience that rivals anything in the area.

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Formby

Location
Formby, England
Opened
1884
Designer
Nature, with an additional 9 from Willie Park Jr.
Events
2004 Curtis Cup
Rankings
23rd best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com

An impressive list of architects that reads like a discussion for the best architect ever, including H.S. Colt, James Braid, Willie Park Jr., and Donald Steel, have laid hands on Formby, a stunning golf course on the coast of England. Interestingly, the golf course benefits from both seeing links land near the ocean, and diving into the forest inland, all while playing around Formby Ladies Golf Club.

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West Lancashire

Location
Liverpool, England
Opened
1873
Designer
Unknown
Rankings
35th best golf course in England, top100golfcourse.com

In a golf-rich area like Liverpool, golf courses like West Lancashire help establish the area as a go-to area to travel to, mainly because they add depth and options. Such is the case at this superb golf course, which opened in 1873 at the hands of unknown locals, or mother nature, perhaps. The opening hole is a brute of a start, while the shorter par 4, 13th gains praise from enthusiasts, curving around a dune to a green on a low plateau. Interestingly, West Lancashire is home to the longest hole in one ever, per the Guinness Book of Golf Facts & Feats, on the 393 yard par 4!

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