Need a course in the Liverpool area for my group of 8 to play on Saturday, 27th 2025

[hammergolf]

My group is taking our biannual trip across the pond in late September. This years venue is Southport, UK. I have all of our times booked and arrangements made with the exception of finding a place to play on Saturday, September 27th. I have tried West Lancs, Walessey, Formby, Hillside, and Southport & Ainsdale but none of them have availability for visitor play. We have our own transportation and are staying in Southport so driving an hour or so is fine. We prefer links style courses, but at this point we can’t be choosy. Not sure if there are any members at the clubs I listed, but any help or recommendations would be appreciated.

 

Thx

[Chanceman]

Try Hesketh which is just near Southport. It’s a bit weird but ok.

[AltC]

Old St Anne’s Links? Never played it but not far from Southport

[El Gringo]

I don’t recall if you included Formby Ladies in your itinerary. If not, it’s the obvious place to check out. Delamere Forest is very good. Nearby Sandiway has a good rep. A bit further away Manchester has a good rep. Prestbury is good. I like Reddish Vale despite a few oddball holes. 

[hammergolf]

8 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Try Hesketh which is just near Southport. It’s a bit weird but ok.

Thanks.

[hammergolf]

7 hours ago, El Gringo said:

I don’t recall if you included Formby Ladies in your itinerary. If not, it’s the obvious place to check out. Delamere Forest is very good. Nearby Sandiway has a good rep. A bit further away Manchester has a good rep. Prestbury is good. I like Reddish Vale despite a few oddball holes. 

I tried Formby Ladies but they don’t have any availability.

[hammergolf]

7 hours ago, El Gringo said:

I don’t recall if you included Formby Ladies in your itinerary. If not, it’s the obvious place to check out. Delamere Forest is very good. Nearby Sandiway has a good rep. A bit further away Manchester has a good rep. Prestbury is good. I like Reddish Vale despite a few oddball holes. 

Thanks for the suggestions, I’ll see if they have any availability 

[hammergolf]

8 hours ago, AltC said:

Old St Anne’s Links? Never played it but not far from Southport

If check with them.

[tad950]

If you're just looking for someplace to play, there is Formby Resort. An 18 hole parkland course and a 9 holer. We used it as a warmup on arrival day from the U.S. Flat, nothing special, but not horrible. There was a sign there stating that it was Tommy Fleetwood's old home course. But I think I've seen that same claim at a couple other courses in the area.😄

 

If you play there, could you pick up a logo ball for me? They were out when I played there. 😀

[hammergolf]

19 minutes ago, tad950 said:

If you're just looking for someplace to play, there is Formby Resort. An 18 hole parkland course and a 9 holer. We used it as a warmup on arrival day from the U.S. Flat, nothing special, but not horrible. There was a sign there stating that it was Tommy Fleetwood's old home course. But I think I've seen that same claim at a couple other courses in the area.😄

 

If you play there, could you pick up a logo ball for me? They were out when I played there. 😀

Well, the good news is I received emails back from St. Anne’s Old Links, Delamere Forest, and Hesketh that they all have availability. So I’m trying to decide which one to play. However, I will stop by and pick up a logo ball for you.

[El Gringo]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

Well, the good news is I received emails back from St. Anne’s Old Links, Delamere Forest, and Hesketh that they all have availability. So I’m trying to decide which one to play. However, I will stop by and pick up a logo ball for you.

I can without reservation say that Hesketh is not in the league of Delamere Forest. 

[tad950]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

Well, the good news is I received emails back from St. Anne’s Old Links, Delamere Forest, and Hesketh that they all have availability. So I’m trying to decide which one to play. However, I will stop by and pick up a logo ball for you.

That would be great! But just if you’re in the immediate area. Certainly don’t make a special detour. Either way, I appreciate the offer!

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, El Gringo said:

I can without reservation say that Hesketh is not in the league of Delamere Forest. 

Thanks!

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, tad950 said:

That would be great! But just if you’re in the immediate area. Certainly don’t make a special detour. Either way, I appreciate the offer!

We’re staying in Southport for the week and playing Hoylake and Wallesey so I’ll be driving right by it.

[El Gringo]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

Thanks!

But….Hesketh has one of the coolest trophies in golf…The Hitler Trophy. If you have time to stop in for a coffee, I suggest you take a look at this remarkable bit of history.

[hammergolf]

11 hours ago, El Gringo said:

But….Hesketh has one of the coolest trophies in golf…The Hitler Trophy. If you have time to stop in for a coffee, I suggest you take a look at this remarkable bit of history.

One thing Hesketh does have is it would only be a 6 min drive from our house. However, it has the latest tee times so we will have to hustle to finish before dark. In looking at the course, I kind of like the quirk in a few of the holes, but not sure others in my group will. It looks like St. Anne’s Old Links may be the choice since it has the earliest times. In addition it looks a really solid traditional links layout with great bunkering, but haven’t decided for sure yet.

[Chanceman]

6 hours ago, hammergolf said:

One thing Hesketh does have is it would only be a 6 min drive from our house. However, it has the latest tee times so we will have to hustle to finish before dark. In looking at the course, I kind of like the quirk in a few of the holes, but not sure others in my group will. It looks like St. Anne’s Old Links may be the choice since it has the earliest times. In addition it looks a really solid traditional links layout with great bunkering, but haven’t decided for sure yet.

Hesketh admittedly not a great course but it does have a nice quirky address - it’s up Cockle Dick’s Lane.

[hammergolf]

On 12/19/2024 at 10:39 PM, El Gringo said:

But….Hesketh has one of the coolest trophies in golf…The Hitler Trophy. If you have time to stop in for a coffee, I suggest you take a look at this remarkable bit of history.

We won’t be playing Hesketh since they didn’t have a tee time that would allow us to finish our round. However, it’s very close to our rental house so I’ll make it a point to stop by. We ended up only being able get on at St. Anne’s Old Links on that Saturday, but given the rest of the tough courses we are playing it will be a nice break. Counting the days until we’re there.

[hammergolf]

On 12/20/2024 at 5:01 PM, Chanceman said:

Hesketh admittedly not a great course but it does have a nice quirky address - it’s up Cockle Dick’s Lane.

That will mix well with The c0ck & Rabbit pub we will be frequenting…. 😉

[El Gringo]

5 hours ago, hammergolf said:

That will mix well with The c0ck & Rabbit pub we will be frequenting…. 😉

Two pix…The Hitler Trophy and a certain road sign.

[El Gringo]

May as well provide some history of the trophy. 

[hammergolf]

18 hours ago, El Gringo said:

May as well provide some history of the trophy. 

Thanks. 

[Chanceman]

On 3/3/2025 at 1:54 PM, El Gringo said:

May as well provide some history of the trophy. 

Very good potted history, thanks. I played there in about 2010 and don’t think much was known about it at the time. Apart from the old joke about having a Hitler- two shots in the bunker.