Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club occupies prime links land along England's Golf Coast, where James Braid created one of his finest seaside designs in 1924. The links hosted the Ryder Cup twice within a four-year period during the 1930s and served as Jack Nicklaus's first professional overseas tournament venue. Situated between Royal Birkdale and Hillside, this championship course delivers authentic links golf through towering dunes and natural heather corridors just 42km (26 miles) from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Why Play Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club?

Experience James Braid's masterful routing through Lancashire's finest duneland, where two Ryder Cup matches were decided on dramatic final putts. Only The Belfry has hosted more home Ryder Cups amongst British venues.

History of Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

The club was established in the spring of 1906 as The Grosvenor Golf Club before changing its name twice within months. By October 1906, it became Southport Golf Club, then finally Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club. George Lowe laid out the first 18-hole course between the railway line and the cemetery in 1907, measuring 5,600 yards.

In 1922, Southport Council routed a new road directly across the links, bisecting the course. James Braid was commissioned to resolve the problem, constructing six new holes and redesigning the remaining twelve by 1924. This work transformed the course into Braid's vision of links golf amongst exhilarating dunes and tangly heather.

The venue hosted the 1933 Ryder Cup, with captains J.H. Taylor (Great Britain) and Walter Hagen (USA). The contest went to the final match between Easterbrook and Shute, decided on a missed four-foot putt by Shute that gave Great Britain victory 6½-5½.

Four years later in 1937, the USA claimed their first Ryder Cup victory on British soil under captain Walter Hagen, defeating Henry Cotton's Great Britain team despite unpleasant weather, with rookies Byron Nelson and Ed Dudley delivering crucial points.

Between the 1940s and 1950s, the course hosted the Dunlop Southport and Swallow Penfold professional competitions, won by Max Faulkner, Fred Daly and Christy O'Connor. The links has also staged The British Ladies Open and The British Amateur, and since 1965 has served as an R&A Final Qualifying venue when The Open Championship visits the region.

Frank Pennink reported changes in 1962, though the architect remains unclear. Marc Westenborg was engaged in 2018 to enhance the closing hole's aesthetics through dune installation, screening the fairway from the driving range, and removing some trees around the tee complex. Bunkers were also removed from the 1st, 17th and 18th greens as part of reducing sand hazards across the course.

Course Layout & Playing Experience

The links extend 6,807 yards from the championship tees at par 72, dropping to 6,396 yards at par 71 from the yellow tees. Both nines uniquely begin with par-3s, with the 1st followed immediately by a par-5, while the 7th par-5 leads directly into the 8th par-3.

Despite being true links, the course possesses a distinctive heathland character with scrub, gorse and pines amongst the sandhills and dunes. The routing winds through natural corridors, with narrow fairways bordered by sandy dunes and channels demanding accuracy from the tee rather than distance.

The 8th is a bunker-less par-3 measuring 157 yards, with the green sited on a raised table where only precise strikes stay on the putting surface. The 16th, called "Gumbley's," is a 506-yard par-5 playing directly into the prevailing wind. Three solid strikes are required to reach the green when conditions are adverse. A sleeper-faced bunker is set into a large tussocky sand ridge, creating one of the course's most intimidating hazards.

Championship History

• Ryder Cup 1933 Great Britain & Ireland 6½-5½
• Ryder Cup 1937 USA 8-4

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Travel & Planning

Regional Golf Context

England's Golf Coast offers extraordinary links concentration within a compact area. From Southport & Ainsdale, Royal Birkdale and Hillside Golf Club share the Birkdale Dunes immediately adjacent, separated only by footpaths and the Mersey Rail line. Royal Birkdale sits 3km (2 miles) north, approximately 8 minutes driving.

Formby Golf Club lies 6km (4 miles) south, approximately 11 minutes by road, offering classic links and inland sections amongst mature dunes. Hesketh Golf Club, established in 1885, sits 8km (5 miles) north in Southport's premier residential area.

Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, another Open Championship venue, is located 48km (30 miles) south, approximately 50 minutes driving via the A565 and A5207. West Lancashire Golf Club, founded in 1873 as England's ninth-oldest club, sits 10km (6 miles) south.

Southport provides the ideal accommodation base for multi-course itineraries, with most championship venues accessible within 15 minutes' drive. The concentration allows visitors to experience four or five championship courses during a week-long golf holiday.

Practical Planning

Advance booking is essential, particularly during peak summer months and when Final Qualifying coincides with The Open Championship. Valid handicap certificates are required. Green fees vary seasonally, with premium rates during summer months when course conditions are optimal.

The clubhouse features the Ryder Cup Room, displaying memorabilia from both historic matches. Dining facilities include the fully air-conditioned restaurant with golf course views, plus the main lounge split into separate areas, including the Casual Bar.

Practice facilities include a driving range with complimentary balls, a putting green and a short-game area. Arriving early for warm-up is recommended, as the range can be busy during peak times.

Transport Information ✈️

Liverpool John Lennon Airport: 42km (26 miles), approximately 46 minutes driving via the M57 and A565. Major car rental facilities available with direct motorway access to the M57 and M58 linking to the A565 coastal route.

Manchester Airport: 80km (50 miles), approximately 1 hour driving via the M56 and M6 motorways. International connections complement Liverpool's regional services.

Public Transport: Merseyrail operates trains from Liverpool South Parkway to Southport every 20 minutes, with journey time approximately 1 hour. From Southport, the course is accessible by local bus or taxi. Ainsdale railway station is nearby on the Southport to Liverpool line.

Ground Transport: The A565 coastal road provides direct access from Liverpool and points south. From the north, the A570 connects Southport to the M58 motorway. The course is located at Bradshaw's Lane, Ainsdale, with parking available for visitors.

Seasonal Timing

Spring (March): Course emerges from winter dormancy with improving conditions through April and May. Advance booking advised as demand increases with better weather. The yellow gorse and purple heather create spectacular visual displays during late spring.

Summer (May-September): Peak season with optimal conditions, firmest fairways and best weather. Premium green fees apply. The course can be busy, with bookings essential. Longer daylight hours allow early morning or late afternoon rounds when conditions moderate.

Autumn (October): Shoulder season offers excellent value with generally favourable conditions through September and early October. Winds strengthen as autumn progresses. Course remains in strong condition, though daylight hours decrease.

Winter (November-February): Year-round play available, with links drainage ensuring the course remains open during wet periods. Winter green fees provide exceptional value for experiencing a championship venue. Wind and rain are frequent. Daylight is limited to approximately 7-8 hours.

Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club: The Verdict

Southport & Ainsdale stands as one of the Lancashire coast's finest links, where Braid's 1924 redesign created authentic championship golf through towering dunes and heather corridors.

The dual Ryder Cup heritage, unique par-3 openers on both nines, and demanding holes like the bunker-less 8th and sleeper-faced 16th distinguish this from neighbouring venues. Its position amongst Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Formby makes it essential for England's Golf Coast itineraries.

The course's championship credentials combine with year-round accessibility and comprehensive facilities, delivering exceptional links golf that rewards both strategic thinking and accurate striking.