The ‘Royal’ is the most well known of Lytham St Annes’s golf courses but nearby Fairhaven, designed by James Braid and opening for play exactly 100 years ago in 1924, is an excellent alternative test with its varied links and parkland style.

Despite predominantly sandy soil, Fairhaven had a lot of surface water after a particularly wet winter, including a deluge on the night before we played, although this did not detract from a hugely enjoyable playing experience over largely flat terrain.

Numerous bunkers on the immaculate fairways and around the greens are the major defence of a course with the many trees seldom in play. In the prevailing conditions, missing these fairways still often meant a heavy penalty for the surrounding long grass was often thick, damp and difficult to play from. A glut of flowering rhododendrons adds to the views although these have been cut back in recent times for in places they were getting too dominant! The greens are flat and although unsurprisingly on the slow side, they were encouraging to putt on and rolled well. 

I am sure however that the course would play very differently later in the year or during a hot summer.

The blissful ambience of Fairhaven is a feature as are the many good holes, even if at times they seem slightly repetitive and without a wow factor. The ancient clubhouse has recently been given an expensive facelift, and this with the golf course and most convivial welcome from the members and support staff all contributes to a happy and inspiring visit to one of the unheralded stars of Lancashire’s ‘golf coast’.