From elation to despair.....

[Deleted Member 1156]

Booked in to play Hillside yesterday, been looking forward to our Southport trip for weeks. Walked into the pro shop to be told the course was on 18 temp greens.....absolutely gutted! But the extremely helpful pro rang around and we went to S&A which was on the full course. The pro there did us a great deal on green fees, the sun came out and we had a cracking day on a course that is every bit as good as it's more illustrious neighbours. We even got to play it off the back tees.

Only down side is Merv79 took the money.....but he did shoot 1 over round a strange course in blustery conditions so fair play to him.

 

[Robobum]

S&A is the fairest Links course I've played.

Nice work by the pros up there!

 

[richart]

S & A is a lovely course. Odd that Hillside should be on temps seeing as the two courses are next door to each other.

I assume you would have had to shoot par golf to beat Andy then Gordon.

 

[Junior]

Glad you had a great day. S&A is a superb course and tough in the wind. Great work by the pros to get you a game also. Did Hillside reduce the fee for temps?

Although I do have to disagree when you say s&a is every bit as good as its neighbours....each to their own but imo Hillside and Birkdale are spectacular.

 

[pbrown7582]

That's great customer service by the pros. and good shooting by merv79.
Not played S&A but heard good things, interesting opinion its as good as Hillside.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Good stuff, have to say I think Hillside a better than S&A comfortably, not to say it is not any good but Hillside is one of the best around. Almost as good as Birkdale IMO and some people say it is.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Not having played Hillside I can't say if S&A is as good but several people we have spoken to this week have said it is. All I can say is S&A is a belter of a course and obviously doesn't match up to Birkdale but possibly holds its own with the other courses in the area. It's 6800 off the whites with par of 72 and SSS of 74 so it's not to be sniffed at.

Birkdale today was as good as it gets, I'd say it's the best course on the British mainland. There just isn't a bad hole on the course and it's very cleverly designed so that even the shorter par 4s are into the wind. Most of the par 3s were also into the wind and today even the short ones were 4 and 5 irons. It really is a supreme test of golf.

Finish our mini tour tomorrow with Formby, yet another very stern test.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Formby is another beauty you will enjoy it there, tough especially when the weather is against you but very enjoyable indeed, miss the fairway at your peril.

 

[Junior]

Not having played Hillside I can't say if S&A is as good but several people we have spoken to this week have said it is. All I can say is S&A is a belter of a course and obviously doesn't match up to Birkdale but possibly holds its own with the other courses in the area. It's 6800 off the whites with par of 72 and SSS of 74 so it's not to be sniffed at.

Birkdale today was as good as it gets, I'd say it's the best course on the British mainland. There just isn't a bad hole on the course and it's very cleverly designed so that even the shorter par 4s are into the wind. Most of the par 3s were also into the wind and today even the short ones were 4 and 5 irons. It really is a supreme test of golf.

Finish our mini tour tomorrow with Formby, yet another very stern test.

Sounds like a great trip !! Formby is a superb course and you will love it. I hope the weather holds - personally the stretch 6-9 and 11-15 are superb!!

 

[pbrown7582]

Hope you have a good day at Formby, real shame you missed Hillside it pushes Birkdale very very close IMO.

 

[davemc1]

Don't know if you know, but Formby has a 9 hole par 3 course. If you have any spare time give it a go, really really good!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good customer service and glad you had a good time. Never really played that neck of the woods. Must address that

 

[garyinderry]

good luck with Formby tomorrow. it gave us north west lot a battering a few months ago.

 

[In_The_Rough]

Lad that used to be at my college is a member at Formby Paul Kinnear his name. I believe he is an England international squad member. He shot 61 round Formby of the back tees not so long ago. Something to aim for.

 

[PNWokingham]

Sounds like a great trip !! Formby is a superb course and you will love it. I hope the weather holds - personally the stretch 6-9 and 11-15 are superb!!

what about 10 - if it is that long par 4, it is an awesome hole. Love Formby. Enjoy today Gordon. Check out the house by the 17th tee - apparently the owner, part exed his Veyron for a new one a couple of years ago!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

what about 10 - if it is that long par 4, it is an awesome hole. Love Formby. Enjoy today Gordon. Check out the house by the 17th tee - apparently the owner, part exed his Veyron for a new one a couple of years ago!

You can't help but notice that house Paul!!

What a course Formby is. We asked nicely in the shop and as we are all low handicappers we were allowed to play off the white tees. When we got to the 1st, there were only yellow markers out so we played from the proper white plates, the full 6800 yards in winter so we really saw what the course is about. Some truly outstanding holes, 7&8 possibly my favourites although so many good holes to choose from. Yet again, very lucky with the weather, just a couple of showers so pretty much 3 dry days playing some of the best links in the country in the middle of winter.

In case anyone else is interested, Formby charge £200 for a winter 4ball which includes soup and sandwiches. I challenge anyone to find a better deal in this country

 

[Snelly]

Good posts.

A lot of nice courses there. I have played all 4 and whilst Birkdale is probably the best, it is a close call with Hillside in my view. Certainly I think the back 9 at Hillside is the best collection of 9 holes together of all the course mentioned. It really is quite special.

 

[Piece]

My personal favourite is Formby main course, with Hillside just behind. S&A third for me with Birkdale in 4th...just didn't find it as interesting as the others.

Formby ladies course is a right challenge too. Short as you like but so so tight and lined with the thickest heather I've seen.

The staff at all these courses were fantastic in their welcome. Southern clubs could learnt a lot.

 

[Foxholer]

Birkdale; Hillside; Formby for me (not played S&A, but only heard great things).

Wallasey and West Lancs as beauties as well.

Birkdale would score lower than all on 'Value for Money', but highest as 'Must Play'. Wouldn't argue with anyone describing at the 'best' course in UK! Though I can understand Piece's point of view too!

 

[pbrown7582]

The quality of the courses is undoubted which order you rank them is personnel preference, I can also confirm customer service of the highest order from birkdale, not only during the visit but afterwards too, i left my shoes in the changing room 2 emails and 1 day later i was reunited after the sec had them special delivered too me.