It's famous members, Hansen and Dalglish, footballers and later pundits would have called it a game of two halves.

In the days before driving ranges, golf courses often started with a "gentle handshake". The first at Hillside fits this bill, the railway that separates the links from Southport & Ainsdale flanks a fairly perfunctory opener on a front nine that occupies the flatter parcel of links land. However, from the 2nd tee the course comes alive. A recent M&E overhaul has added features and interest without looking contrived and now balances the two nines better. To pick hairs - other than the unremarkable opener, both par 5s run in the same direction and the two short holes are a similar length and feel. But this is being vey picky, it's a proper test with variety and challenge.

Half-time.

The back nine winds up, down, round and through some of the most undulating dunes in the UK&I and the routing and new tees makes every advantage of the land. Good uphill par 3s are hard to design, Hillside has two great ones on the back nine, the 10th is potentially the best example I've played - a punchbowl green with danger long and right and fierce pot bunkers protecting the front. The 11th a picture perfect par 5 through a valley doglegging left to a raised crowned green is world class. Follow by four varied par 4s including doglegs left and right, before the home straight running south to north along it's boarder with Birkdale - a 240 uphill Par 3 from the tips; a carbon copy long hole running counter to the 11th and a long sweeping Par 4 returns you to the house.

High quality indeed. Is it as good as it's Royal neighbour? Not quite. It occupies better land and it's highs might just be higher but it is lacking the subtle green complexes of Birkdale. But it only just looses on penalties!