Top 20 Golf Courses in Lancashire 2015 Lancashire Best in County rankings updated With more than 140 golf clubs located in Lancashire, there’s absolutely no shortage of good golf courses to play in the Red Rose County. Pride of place goes to the dozen or so mainly links layouts that line the coastline between Bootle and Blackpool, where twenty Open championships have been held since 1926 at Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St Annes. Of course, there’s a lot more to golf in Lancashire than the top tracks strung out along “England’s Golf Coast” so our Top 20 chart for this area features many of the inland venues that might otherwise get overlooked. As we’ve just concluded our biennial re-ranking exercise for this region, we’re now presenting the latest edition of our listings for this county. Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St Annes remain at number 1 and number 2 in the new Top 20. And because both courses enjoy such a high profile in our World rankings, don’t expect to see either of them ousted from their current positions in the county chart anytime soon. The Open returns to Birkdale in 2017 and the Walker Cup was held very recently at Lytham St Annes, cementing the credentials of these two courses as top golfing venues. Formby climbs one place to number 3, swapping position with Hillside in the revised county listings. Formby is set out with a 470-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest where a number of respected course architects have had a hand in its design. Hillside celebrated its centenary in 2011 and the course was extensively remodelled in the 1960s when Fred Hawtree fashioned a new back nine for the club. The remaining places in the upper half of the Top 20 are as they were last time, except for the number 10 position which Ormskirk now occupies, having risen one spot from number 11. This fine 18-hole layout, designed by Harold Hilton in 1903, has undergone a couple of extensive reconstructions since it was first built, evolving into an engaging tree-lined parkland challenge. Three other courses make upward moves in the county chart. The first of these is Manchester (up one to 12) which Harry Colt designed in 1912. Described by one reviewer as “a big, strong golf course” with “great greens, fast fairways and tough rough,” this 18-hole layout is set out on open moorland to the north of Manchester, where the wind is a constant factor. The course at Formby Ladies Golf Club advances two places to number 13. Set in the centre of Formby Golf Club’s expansive property, this 18-hole layout extends to almost 5,400 yards, with golfers of both sexes permitted to play a very entertaining track. Opened as a 9-hole affair in 1896, the course was expanded to a full 18-hole configuration within twelve years of its inauguration so it’s been in play for over a century now. The third and final chart climber is Lancaster (up three to 17), designed by James Braid in 1932, which is laid out close to the estuary of the River Lune. It’s actually the fourth course that the club’s used. Their original layout was formed in 1889, the second one was built in 1901 and the third 9-holer – now used by Lansil Golf Club – was established in 1905 before the club moved to its current location. There’s only one new entry in the Top 20, with West Derby making way for Preston at number 20. The club dates back to 1892 but the layout is a 1923 redesign by James Braid, the most prolific course designer in the first half of the 20th century. Officially opened with an exhibition match between Abe Mitchell, Ted Ray, Arthur Havers and the architect, the course is famed locally for the excellence of its USGA-spec greens. We’re grateful to everybody who helped with our re-ranking process for this region. To view details of all the courses in our Lancashire Top 20 rankings click the link. If you have extensive experience of playing across the northwest region of England and would like to contribute to our next re-ranking exercise then please email Editor-in-Chief Keith Baxter at keith@top100golfcourses.com. Jim McCann Editor Top 100 Golf Courses

11th January 2011 Huddersfield & Pleasington Golf Clubs to host new strokeplay competition. The Fixby Challenge, a new individual strokeplay tournament for amateur golfers, will be held at Huddersfield Golf Club on Friday 17th June 2011. And the event will have one of the biggest prizes on offer in the country – a place in the all-expenses paid two-day grand final of the Northern Matchplay Golf Championship at Alwoodley Golf Club. The Northern Matchplay is a season-long knockout competition for amateur golfers across the North of England. The winners of each county – Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire – will progress to the 72-hole climax at Alwoodley next September. The winners of two stand-alone tournaments, one of which is the Fixby event, will also join them. The other competition is to be held at Pleasington Golf Club, near Blackburn in Lancashire, on Thursday 18th August 2011 Organiser of the championship, Edward Battye, explained, “The main route to the grand final is by entering the matchplay section and becoming the champion of your county. However, I also wanted to add an extra dimension and provide another way for golfers to qualify. A stand-alone tournament, where effectively the winner takes all, should add for some great excitement and tension.” Battye, a former member at Huddersfield added, “When the opportunity arose to bring the event to Fixby it was an easy decision. The course speaks for itself and it’s perfectly located for golfers across the North. It’s a true test of golf and whoever comes out on top will be a worthy winner.” Huddersfield Golf Club, one of the finest championship courses in the North of England, has famously staged European Tour Seniors events in the past and is a regular venue for the Yorkshire Amateur County Championship. In 2009 it was a qualifying course for the prestigious Brabazon Trophy and since work was carried out on the greens about a decade ago, bringing them up to USGA standard, it has received many plaudits nationwide. Whilst the player returning the best nett score on the day lines up at Alwoodley a prize voucher of £200 will also be awarded to the player returning the lowest gross score over the 18 holes. That’s sure to tempt many of the regions better players who are familiar with the course. Entry to the Huddersfield event is £40 and includes soup and sandwiches although anybody entering before January 31st can do so at a reduce price of just £30. The Pleasington event is excellent value at £70 per pair, which includes soup and sandwiches. More details and an entry-form can be found on www.northernmatchplay.com

A good halfway house can turn a great round of golf into a memorable one. It might be a cold beer on a Scottish links, a burger with a spectacular view or a hot drink to warm you up before the back nine. Whatever is on offer, the best halfway houses give golfers a chance to forget about the scorecard for a few minutes and enjoy the experience. We recently asked the Top100 Golf Courses community to share their favourite halfway houses, uncovering plenty of memorable stops around the world. We've picked five of their recommendations, alongside five more renowned halfway houses that are well worth knowing about. What is a Halfway House? A halfway house is a food and drink stop positioned around the turn of a golf course, usually between the ninth and 10th holes. Some are little more than a hut serving snacks and drinks, while others have become destinations in their own right, offering everything from full meals and cocktails to fires, views and plenty of local character. Five Halfway Houses Chosen by the Top100 Community Sunningdale Golf Club (England) There is a reason the halfway hut at Sunningdale has become one of the most famous refreshment stops in golf. The small Swiss-chalet-style building has been in place since 1903, sitting where the ninth holes of both the Old and New Courses meet their respective 10th holes. But the building itself isn't the main attraction. That would be the sausage sandwich. Sunningdale's legendary hut serves a simple sausage on buttered bread, with other food and refreshments available alongside it. The hut has become such an established part of the experience that the club's own tradition says everybody stops, but does so speedily. It's not fancy, and that's rather the point. After nine holes of heather-lined fairways, a hot sausage sandwich and a cup of tea can feel like exactly what golf ordered. Nairn Golf Club - The Bothy at Nairn (Scotland) The Bothy at Nairn has a history that goes well beyond golf. Built in 1877, the stone building and neighbouring icehouse formed part of the Easter Delnies Fishing Station, one of five salmon fisheries operating along the coast between Nairn and the mouth of the Findhorn. In a good season, the fishery could catch up to 5,000 salmon, with ice collected from local rivers and a specially made pond and stored in the icehouse to keep the catch fresh. The buildings have since been given a new lease of life, with the Bothy converted into a halfway house where golfers can stop for snacks and refreshments at the turn. On a cold day beside the Moray Firth, there's also a fireplace to warm up beside. The historic stone building, Highland setting and views across the course provide plenty of atmosphere. One of our community members put it rather simply: a dram of whisky and a fire are hard to beat. Hard to argue with that. Turnberry Ailsa (Scotland) Turnberry's halfway house is about as far removed from the traditional golf hut as you can get. The Ailsa's ninth hole now finishes beside the famous Turnberry Lighthouse, which doubles as a halfway house for golfers. The lighthouse itself dates back to 1873, while the golf course's dramatic ninth was redesigned as part of the Ailsa's major renovation. Inside, golfers can stop for food and drink before heading to the 10th, but the real attraction is outside. From the lighthouse, there are views across the Firth of Clyde towards the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. It's a halfway stop that feels more like a destination than a quick pit stop. When your halfway house is a historic lighthouse overlooking one of Scotland's most spectacular stretches of coastline, you've got a pretty good excuse to take your time. Ardglass Golf Club (Northern Ireland) At Ardglass, the halfway-house experience is wonderfully straightforward: have a Guinness and enjoy the view. The course's old cottage halfway house at the back of the 7th green has become one of its most memorable features, with golfers able to stop for a pint before continuing their round. A recent visitor described it as a gorgeous cottage with Guinness, while another praised the combination of a Guinness, sausage roll and views over the Irish Sea. It fits Ardglass perfectly. The County Down links is already one of the most dramatic places to play golf in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Sea never far away. Add a pint of Guinness just before the turn and you've got a halfway house that feels distinctly of its surroundings. Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. Blair Atholl Golf Estate (South Africa) Blair Atholl might have been one of the less obvious names to appear among the community recommendations, but the descriptions made it impossible to leave out. The halfway stop sounds less like a quick break and more like an event. One golfer highlighted the chicken burger, a chef cooking a barbecue beneath the trees and a deck sitting beneath a stream. Another mentioned silver-service high tea. That's quite the halfway-house menu. It's also a good example of why the best stops aren't necessarily the most famous. A halfway house can become memorable because of the food, the setting or simply the feeling that you're being looked after rather than rushed back onto the course. Five More Renowned Halfway Houses St Andrews Links - The Old Course (Scotland) If we're talking about halfway houses, it makes sense to visit the place that has a claim to starting the tradition. In the 19th century, David "Old Da" Anderson sold ginger beer and other refreshments from a cart on the Old Course at St Andrews. It has been described as golf's first refreshment stand. The modern version sits behind the ninth green and keeps the tradition going, albeit with a rather more substantial menu. The pork and haggis sausage roll is a popular choice, while the club's own Tom Morris 1821 Lager provides a suitably Scottish accompaniment. It's difficult to think of a more fitting place for a halfway stop. The Old Course is steeped in golfing history, and even the break between nines has a story of its own. Pine Valley Golf Club (New Jersey, United States) Pine Valley's halfway house is memorable before you've even ordered anything. Rather than a conventional hut, it is built into the base of an old water tower, which golfers encounter around the eighth hole and again near the 12th tee. It's an appropriately unusual feature for one of the world's most unconventional golf courses. The tower doubles as a stop for drinks and snacks, giving golfers a chance to take a breather before continuing around Pine Valley. It even boasts an impressive collection of golf balls from around the world. There aren't many halfway houses that can claim to be built inside a water tower. Quivira Golf Club (Baja California Sur, Mexico) Quivira has taken the halfway-house concept and spread it across the entire round. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course has multiple all-inclusive comfort stations, each offering golfers food and drinks as they make their way around the Cabo San Lucas layout. The most spectacular is The Cliffs, perched almost 300 feet above the Pacific, where golfers can stop for a breakfast burrito and take in the views over the ocean. Then there's The Oasis, the main halfway house near the ninth green. Here, the emphasis is on the food, with freshly prepared Baja cuisine including tacos and tostadas, alongside a full tequila bar. A final stop, Cañada, sits near the 16th tee, while another comfort station beside the oceanfront practice facility offers snacks and cold drinks before golfers even reach the first tee. The food and refreshments are included in the green fee, making Quivira's comfort stations much more than somewhere to grab a quick drink. Tacos, tequila and spectacular Pacific Ocean views make the breaks almost as memorable as the golf. Whistling Rock Country Club (South Korea) At Whistling Rock, there isn't just one halfway house to look forward to. The South Korean club is made up of three nine-hole loops, each with its own themed tea house: Cocoon, Temple and Cloud. The three buildings are each distinctly different. One is a rounded structure between a lake and forest, another is a formal wood-and-glass building, while the Cloud tea house sits high among the trees. The result is a halfway-house experience that feels distinctly different depending on which nine you're playing, with each tea house adding another layer to the Whistling Rock experience. Royal Dornoch Golf Club (Scotland) Royal Dornoch's halfway house is proof that sometimes the best idea is a simple one. The stop sits behind the ninth green of the Championship Course, with views back across the links towards the Dornoch Firth. And then there's the traditional order: hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream, a combination that makes considerably more sense when you're standing on a Scottish links in a North Sea wind. It's a small detail, but one that has become part of the Royal Dornoch experience and exactly the sort of halfway-house tradition golfers remember.