Southport - England's golfing capital

Golfing enthusiasts from Dublin to Fort Lauderdale are getting the message that Southport is the number one location for the sport in England.

An international marketing campaign has been launched using the slogan 'Southport - England's Golfing Capital' to raise awareness of the 15 top-class courses in and around the area.

And the message is certainly getting out as the North West of England, of which Southport is part, is delighted to have been nominated for the Established Golf Destination in the Year Award in the competition organised by The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO).

In Southport the most famous course is, of course, Royal Birkdale, which regularly plays host to the Open Golf Championships and other Open courses like Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham are just a short drive away.

Although Royal Birkdale is widely regarded as one of the world's finest links courses, there are many other golfing gems nearby, two of them within walking distance of the course.

These are Southport and Ainsdale and Hillside, which have also staged many top events. For example Tony Jacklin triumphed in the PGA Championships at Hillside back in 1982.

The oldest course in Southport - the Hesketh, which can trace its history back to 1885 - is another major test of a golfer's skill, reflected in the fact that it is used as a qualifying course for the Open at Birkdale.

Other courses in Southport include the municipal Southport Golf Links near the Promenade. This is 6,139 yards, par 70 course and nearby in the nine-hole Southport Old Links.

A short drive from Southport in any direction will result in exciting new challenges for the golf enthusiast.

Formby Golf Club, set among big sand dunes and pine trees, has staged many amateur championships and home internationals.

The club is unique in having a separate ladies course - Formby Ladies Golf Club - inside the men's course. The ladies set-up is entirely different - but men can play on the course!

Further down the coast, West Lancashire Golf Club is another excellent example of seaside golf with its elevated tees offering striking views across the River Mersey to Blackpool and the Welsh hills.

West Lancs is also a record breaker - the longest recorded hole-in-one in British golf was achieved on its 135-yard, dog-legged seventh.

Elsewhere in the area Formby Hall Golf Club is a parkland course, which hosts Challenge Tour events and high quality charity and pro-am events.

Out towards Ormskirk, Hurlston Hall Golf Club and Mossock Hall Golf Club are both new courses, which have matured in the last three or four years since they opened. In contrast, Ormskirk Golf Course celebrated its centenary in 1999.

South Sefton can boast two courses. Bootle golf course is a popular pay-and-play while the nine-hole Aintree set-up can be found within the famous Grand National steeplechase course.
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Here golfers can enjoy the bonus of a close-up look at the famous jumps and take advantage of the course's driving range.

Also see: online golf supplies.

Author Notes:

Wayne Guest contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-golf.com. A source of information on golf equipment, golf manufacturers, supplies, tips and more.