Southport and Ainsdale - Discussion

[srp973]

Or S&A as it is affectionately known. My second home!

Reasonable length by todays standards and a good test of golf for the club golfer. Not overly long but not short either. 6728 off the whites and 6339 off the yellows.

I could go on for pages about this course as I LOVE IT but will try not to bore you with the details! Have been a member for nearly a year but have been playing this course for many years. Pro shop is well stocked and the staff are very helpful. Pro is an ex European Tour Pro and a great teacher, although he may have met his match in me! Bar staff and clubhouse staff are also very friendly. The only criticism I would have is that it is sometimes difficult to get food after 6pm!

A practice field is available (use your own balls), two nets if you want to warm up the driver and the  practice green is large and generally, a true representation of the greens on the course. The chipping area consists of a large raised green with 3 pins in it, surrounded by slopes, rough and three steep bunkers. Starter is friendly but he WILL tell you to tuck your shirt in if it is not already!

Start with a nice gentle 204 yard par 3 surrounded by 9 pot bunkers! Course is quite a tight driving course with bunkers at driver length and heavy rough. There is also masses of heather and gorse to make your life difficult. Signature hole is the 16th, Gumbleys, a par 5 with sand dunes fronted by railway sleeprs at 300 yards. Hit the sleepers (with your second shot) and your ball is likely to end up in the adjacent Hillside, if you do get it back it will forever have "Gumbleys Rash" on it, a large brown mark! Underneath the sleepers are two more bunkers. A blind shot over the dunes leaves a fairly short shot into a long, narrow, two-tiered green.

It has a great history hosting two Ryder Cups and numerous other events and can be viewed in the Ryder Spike Bar.

If you want a guided tour give me a shout! Green fee is £65 during the week and £90 at weekends, is it worth it, I would have to ask if any course is!

Rating 9.5/10

Played this in the Jamesons Champion of Champion Qualifier and honest can say that this is my favourite course along the Southport coast - good test of golf and great variety of holes.

[wilo]

I have had the pleasure of playing S&A with ture blue and would agree with true blue appart from the fact i would mark it as a 10 
Best course i have played by far

[ecclesrec]

TB has invited the hoodie hoolie to his course next week, so can't wait to play. Wonder if they will let me in through the front gate!

[True Blue]

TB has invited the hoodie hoolie to his course next week, so can't wait to play. Wonder if they will let me in through the front gate!

Oi, reviews only....if you want to start something take it elsewhere...otherwise post after you have played >:(

[rsh1960]

What can i say about this course,from the moment you stand on the first tee and look at the green 180 yard par 3 (off yellows)with 9 bunkers around it you start a round on one of the best courses i have had the pleasure of playing.
If i had the choice of playing only one course for the rest of my life, so far i think this would be the ONE
(got round playing the same ball for 18 holes)
PS keep out of the heather or if you do go in it as rob advises, play out sideways.

[oldnovice]

Very nice course to play .. some great holes .. I think you would play better the secound time as you need to know where to play the ball.

Looking forward to playing it again in the summer with TB & some of the scottish guys.