Broadstone

The Broadstone (Dorset) Golf Club is a private Members' Club, originally founded in 1898 by Lord Wimborne. The original course - known as the Dorset Golf Club - was laid out by Tom Dunn and was played to the east of the now disused Somerset and Dorset railway line and was part heathland and part parkland. In 1914, H S Colt was commissioned to redesign the course. Holes 6, 7 and 8 were incorporated in existing land and holes 10 to 16 were laid out to the west of the railway line, thus changing the full 18 holes to heathland. The course has remained largely unaltered to this day, apart from modifying the 9th hole from a par 4 to a par 5. Through the quality of the course, the Club has been selected to host many National, Regional and County Golf Tournaments.

Dudsbury

Donald Steel designed parkland course rolling gently down to the River Stour. Set in 160 acres with panoramic views of the Stour Valley, Dudsbury has some of the most spectacular countryside on view in Dorset. A fine test of golf. Wide variety of challenging hazards, with water in play on 14 holes. 

Royal Porthcawl

The Course has a magnificent setting sloping down to the seashore. The absence of sand hills usually found on links courses enables the golfer to see the sea from every hole and to enjoy memorable views south to Somerset and Exmoor, and northwest across Swansea Bay to the Gower Peninsula. With holes facing into every point of the compass, the player is always tested by the wind and will probably need every club in the bag. The status of the course is sustained by the many amateur and professional events held at the Club over the years. Among others, the Club has hosted the Amateur Championship (six times), the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the European Team Championship, the Home Internationals (eight times), the Vagliano Trophy, the Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, the Dunlop Masters, the Penfold and the Coral Classic. 

Southerndown

Originally designed by Willie Fernie in 1905 with later modifications by Herbert Fowler and Willie Park - and most recently by Donald Steel - Southerndown takes full advantage of its natural features. Undulating fairways and tight lies give the course a downland/links character. Bracken and gorse punish wayward shots and on windy days golfers need to negotiate the hazards with care. There are many longer courses, but few with a finer set of par-threes. Equally memorable are the closing holes, usually played into the wind. The 18th in particular with its intimidating gorse and renowned split-level fairway will live long in the memory. The potential of Southerndown as a championship course has long been recognised. Years ago Harry Vardon and James Braid predicted that it would become one of the best in the country. Having hosted the Piccadilly Masters and the Martini International, Southerndown annually stages the first of the Welsh Amateur Order of Merit events - THE DUNCAN PUTTER. The name of the tournament evokes the memory of Wales's leading golfing family. Established by our late President, Colonel Tony Duncan, in honour of his father (John Duncan was one of the founders of the club), the tournament attracts the nation's leading amateurs. Past winners include Iestyn Tucker, Paul Way, Peter McEvoy and Gary Wolstenholme, while Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose are among those competitors who tried but failed to clinch the title.

 

St Annes Old Links

Club history Founded: 1901 Championship Length: 6,684 yards Designer: George Lowe, Sandy Herd PAR: 72 Type: Links SSS (Course Rating): 72 Founded in 1901, St. Annes Old Links is another of the fine championship links of England's north-western coast, which also includes the likes of Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Formby and Royal Birkdale. Having been forced to move from their original home due to encroaching building work, the club identified a barren, windswept stretch of Lancashire coast, comprising dunes, sand and wild grasses, which ultimately would provide a new and permanent home for St. Annes Old Links. The club's first professional, George Lowe, was charged with the responsibility of designing the initial nine holes and thus, the foundations of a great links were laid. Membership blossomed quickly and the links hosted its first major event in 1919, when the English Ladies Amateur Championship was played here, while from 1926, when the Open Championship has been held at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, the links has been an official qualifying venue for the Open. The pure links character of St. Annes has changed little over the years, although building development is now surrounding most of the perimeter. Every hole has its own individual characteristics, with the 170-yard par three, 9th hole, which offers a narrow green, well guarded by bunkers, is probably best known. Bobby Jones, in fact, when playing here in 1926, was so impressed with this hole that he reportedly took detailed measurements so that he could reproduce a hole of similar character in the United States . But while the 9th is probably the most talked about hole, with its immense 56-yard long green, others certainly provide a stiffer challenge. While there are countless majestic holes at St. Annes Old Links, the purists often rate the 447-yard 7th hole as the most difficult on the course, particularly when played into the teeth of the prevailing westerly wind. Getting home in regulation is a struggle for even the longest hitters and for most players, the decision to lay up short of the ditch, which protects the green, is a decision very well made. Each hole on the homeward journey, beginning with the short but testing par four 10th hole presents varying challenges, while the long finish of two par fives, with the railway lurking as out-of-bounds for over one thousand yards on the right hand side, demands the utmost in concentration and tact. 

Fairhaven

Listed in both 'The Best 10 'Open Championship' Qualifying courses', and 'Great Britain & Irelands Best 10 Opening Holes', Fairhaven is “a real hidden gem”, not only is it a beautiful place to play golf, but fully lives up to its designation as a 'Championship' course. Peace and tranquillity are assured. Not a road or house can be seen from the course, despite it being only within two miles of both Lytham and St Annes town centres and hotels. Professional golf at Fairhaven started back in 1934, when the course played host to the 'Penfold' Tournament. The Club has hosted one of the 'Open Championship' Final Qualifying Competitions, when the 'Open Championship' is played at neighbouring Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club, since 1952. The Professionals' course record of 64, was achieved by Justin Leonard in 1996, while he was playing in and leading the final qualifying rounds. Fairhaven Golf Club has all the characteristics of a traditional links course, including a sand sub-soil, allowing year-round golf, whilst being entirely surrounded by trees and open farm land. There is an abundance of wildlife, including various breeds of pheasant, which can be seen strutting around the course and depicted in the Club emblem. Peace and tranquillity are assured. Not a road or house can be seen from the course, despite it being only within two miles of both Lytham and St Annes town centres and hotels. The course is particularly colourful in May and June time when the glorious rhododendrons on the course are in full bloom. The present Fairhaven Golf Course is not only a beautiful place to play golf but it lives up fully to its designation as a 'Championship' course. The Club was inaugurated in 1895 at Fairhaven, but was relocated in 1924 to its present site, to make way for the development of the area which now surrounds Fairhaven Lake. The course's original features were designed by James Braid. It was lengthened and updated in the 1960's by Dave Thomas and Peter Allis, and more recently new features, such as challenging 'traditional links' fairway bunkers designed by Donald Steel, have further enhanced the course. At 6883 yards long and with a par of 74, comprising of 6 par 5's, 4 par 3's and 8 par 4 holes, it provides golfers of all abilities with various challenges, and the opportunity, with the right positional shot, to score well. Professional golf at Fairhaven started back in 1934, when the course played host to the 'Penfold' Tournament. The Club now hosts one of the 'Open Championship' Final Qualifying Competitions, when the 'Open Championship' is played at neighbouring Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club. The Professionals' course record of 64, was achieved by Justin Leonard in 1996, while he was playing in and leading the final qualifying rounds. He later went on to win the 'Open Championship'. The Club has been privileged to host many other prestigious events, including in 1995, the Club's Centenary year, an amateur International match between England and Spain, which featured a very promising young man by the name of Sergio Garcia, as well as playing host to the English Boys Under 15 Championship, England v Italy Under 15 International match and the English Mid-Amateur Championship. Fairhaven has, on a number of occasions hosted the Lancashire County Championships, as well as various Lancashire County matches and Northern County Championships. Fairhaven has also hosted final qualifying rounds for the Weetabix Ladies Open Championship, as well as a number of major Ladies' Championships, at both National and County level. The course is maintained and presented to the highest standard consistently, and its well-draining sandy sub-soil means that good playing conditions can be enjoyed throughout the year. The Club enjoys entertaining and catering for all its visitors, and we welcome all, from two or three friends taking a leisurely break, to large parties requiring special arrangements. The Club is supported by an excellent Professional's shop, traditional clubhouse and bars and offers visitors a variety of catering options. All visiting parties are welcomed on arrival, ensuring they get the most out of their day and leave feeling they have enjoyed a very special golfing experience.

 

Ganton

There are few better places to play golf than Ganton. As one arrives along the lane to the Clubhouse there is a feeling of peace which is only broken by glimpses of the bunkers, real bunkers which as Patric Dickinson described in his classic book 'A Round of Golf courses' seem to say "Good Morning, we hope to be introduced." The course is laid out on quiet undulating heathland which with a sandy subsoil is very freedraining. The fairways are predominantly bents and fescues, which provide a firm base for all well executed shots. It was said that the lies at Ganton provide the perfect place to practice one's brassie shots; not that today's players carry, let alone need a brassie. However, the modern player will find that Ganton puts a premium on accuracy rather than length. Impenetrable gorse abounds within the open nature of the heathland. There are few trees other than those on the boundaries; with plenty of space the original open character of the terrain has been retained. As to the bunkers, Ganton has few peers; the player who is bunkered is punished for his error. In an age when golf designers are making bunkers less penal, this is a welcome feature. 

Scarborough South Cliff

The course of the Scarborough South Cliff Golf Club falls into two parts, divided from one another by the main road from Scarborough to Filey. On the seaward side of the road lie the fourth to the tenth holes. On the land-ward side the first three holes and the last seven are laid out along the bottom of a rolling valley stretching southwards into the hills and on the slope of the ridge to the East. The greatest charm of the course is the glorious situation of the holes on the cliff, looking down on the South Bay and Scarborough Town on the one side and along the bold and rugged coastline towards Filey on the other. But the two parts of the course make a pleasant and piquant contrast and both provide some excellent golf. The turf, even on the cliffs, is of the down-land rather than the seaside type and provides excellent lies for the fairway wood slots. A great attraction to visitors is the inspiring view of the shore and sea. There is an exhilarating freshness of the breeze that is never wholly absent on the calmest of days and which at other times can add a new hazard to the testing quality of the course.

 

Hillside

From the white tees the course at Hillside measures over 6,800 yards meandering through majestic sand hills and tranquil pinewoods. Many of the holes have elevated tees with fantastic views over the Irish Sea. After playing the course, Greg Norman wrote to the Club saying that "The back nine were the best in Britain", while Jack Nicklaus described the course as "A wild looking links". 

Southport and Ainsdale

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club is a true championship links course, with first class facilities to match. The course is set amongst the dunes on the North West coastline and is another of course designer, James Braid's great creations. S&A (as it is widely and affectionately known), was founded in 1906, part of the great golf boom around the turn of the 20th century. Inevitably the passing of so many years has brought about changes to the course, but the traditional feel of a championship links has been retained. The club has hosted two Ryder Cup matches in 1933 and 1937 and a number of other prestigious championships including The British Ladies Open and The British Amateur. It remains a final qualifying course for The Open Championship and it has been voted by one golf magazine as among the top 50 courses in Great Britain. All the holes are of championship standard and no two are the same. However, if one had to be singled out it would, be the sixteenth. This famous hole has a great hill and bunkers, lined with railway sleepers and is a cunning trap, catching poor second shots. It is called 'Gumbleys', after the gentleman who spent some time in there! The course is a magnificent test of golf, especially with the sea breeze, profusion of heather and gorse combining to provide you with a challenging and immensely enjoyable experience. The recently refurbished clubhouse also provides a splendid setting for unwinding after your round. The main lounge and patio to the front of the clubhouse provide stunning views across the course, including the 18th green and 1st tee. Complemented with a warm welcome and excellent catering, everything is in place for you to enjoy a memorable day.

 

Woodhall Spa

Hotchkin Course

Voted best inland course in England by Golf World magazine in November 2002 & November 2004 One of Britain's finest courses, The Hotchkin, is built on sandy soil which allows for year round play. Set amongst banks of gorse and broom, backed up with layered canopies of oak, fir and towering silver birch and encapsulated all upon a glorious carpet of heather, the natural beauty of this Lincolnshire oasis serves only to emphasise the majesty of this famous course. Renowned for its formidable bunkers and narrow fairways, most visitors will remember the panoramic views of the 11th and the charm of the short 12th hole. It has often been stated by the golfing press and top players alike that there are 18 great holes on the Hotchkin. A golfers' course rewarding of good shots, considerate to the moderate, punitive to the bad, but always presented in pristine condition amidst wonderful natural surroundings. 

Bracken Course

Created from commercial woodland, scrub and arable farmland, Donald Steel's vision for The Bracken Course has materialised into a course of exceptional finesse and imaginative design. Although it is situated alongside The Hotchkin, the design and terrain are quite different. Many of the holes are in a parkland setting and the remainder make good use of Bracken Wood at the far end of the estate. The fairway and greenside bunkers, together with the large undulating greens, provide a resemblance to an American style course. Much emphasis has been placed on ecology with many species of wild flowers encouraged to grow whilst, at the same time, securing the habitat of local wildlife. This subject is high on the list of priorities of the English Golf Union who, amongst its many roles, provide an advisory service on how to build golf courses in harmony with nature.