NW links debate

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Only played Birkdale and Fairhaven...

Two things, Im not big fan of links golf.. Don't get the hype....

Is Fairhaven a links course??
 
Jack_bfc said:
Only played Birkdale and Fairhaven...

Two things, Im not big fan of links golf.. Don't get the hype....

Is Fairhaven a links course??
Click to expand...

Clear off then, your type isn't welcome round these parts :rofl:
 
Junior said:
Id say Fairhaven was a heathland course. Did you not enjoy Birkdale?
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I did enjoy birkdale... But given the choice I would prefer a good parkland course..I like tree lined fairways. Water etc

I had a walk around st andrews a few months ago.. It was blowing too hard to play but it looked boring.. I went up to the dukes for a look.. That looked a better course than the links..
 
Jack_bfc said:
I did enjoy birkdale... But given the choice I would prefer a good parkland course..I like tree lined fairways. Water etc

I had a walk around st andrews a few months ago.. It was blowing too hard to play but it looked boring.. I went up to the dukes for a look.. That looked a better course than the links..
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Nurse, nurse... he lose again:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
The ones I have played its just been the once (except twice at s&a) so its tricky to have a definitive answer. Also I need to play well on it to really appreciate it.

S&A
Formby
West Lancs
Hillside
Wallasey
Silloth

To be fair to Silloth, alls I can really remember is the brutal winds. Oh, and 2 birdies :clap:
 
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Of those I've played, my ranking is....

Birkdale (but I agree about getting beaten up if an 'every day' course!)
Hillside Just ahead of....
Formby, though I'd take a shotgun to deal with that bleedin' pheasant that squawked at the top of so many backswings, that when it stopped, it was just as upsetting!
Hoylake
West Lancs equal with Wallasey
St Annes Old

And no, Fairhaven is NOT a links course, but well worth a visit!

I seem to remember some commentator (Bernard Darwin?) saying that the front 9 of Formby combined with the back 9 of Hillside would make a fabulous round! Even including the 6th (I think) occasionally described as barmy, but I had no issue with a blind shot to a green!
 
I have played quite a few of the ones mentioned and have loved most, only played of the Open venue, Royal Liverpool and was rather disappointed, I had played Formby the day before and RL was a let down in comparison. The front 9 at Silloth and the back nine at Hillside would make one hell of golf course.
 
I have only played Royal Liverpool and I loved every minute of it - lovely course , very tricky and loved how every hole just appeared in front of you as you arrived on the tee.

I can see why some don't like it as much as others as it looks flat and the driving range is strange in the middle of the course.

I think I preferred it compared to Royal St Georges.

The clubhouse is superb as well
 
Birkdale
Lytham
Formby
Wallasey
S&A
Hillside
SAOL




Hesketh (holes over the road are poor, good ones round the clubhouse though)

Haven't played Royal Liverpool yet.
 
Only ones I've played are, my preference

Royal Lytham
Royal Birkdale
West Lancs
St Anne's Old Links
Fairhaven
 
]Birkdale
Lytham
Formby
Silloth
Wallasey
S&A
Hillside
West Lancs
SAOL


Caldy




Hesketh (holes over the road are poor, good ones round the clubhouse though)

Haven't played Royal Liverpool yet.

Edit: forgot Silloth, West Lancs and Caldy.

Fairhaven isn't a links.

I would absolutely love to be a member at Formby, stunning place to play golf.
 
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Royal Birkdale
Royal Lytham
Formby
Royal Liverpool
Hillside
Wallasey
West Lancs
St Annes Old Links

Royal Birkdale for me is still the second best course I've played, behind Muirfield and just ahead of Carnoustie. I really enjoyed Royal Lytham, a real test of golf and one where if you learn where to put the ball then a score can be made despite the number of bunkers it has.

Royal Liverpool is a massively under rated links in the same way Hillside is over rated. Formby is just a stunning golf course and a great test, a test that I will take again next Thursday. It would be unfair of me to comment on Wallasey, I love it as a course and feel very privileged every time I tee up there.

I haven't included Silloth as although technically in the North West of England it's not really the North West as is commonly known I think, but it is a stunning course and probably on a par with Wallasey or slightly ahead.

All in my opinion of course.
 
I'm being picky here but what lets Hillside down for me personally is a lack of character and charm. Its a fantastic test but I want more than that if I'm paying big bucks.

Visually from the tees mainly, the best of the back 9 holes are stunning. But when your playing them,down at fairway level (from the mainly elevated tees) the fairways lack any definition, they're mostly reasonably flat albeit surrounded by Huge dunes.


Comparing these holes though to the elevated tees and winding rolling fairways of the likes of Silloth, Formby and the the Better holes at Wallasey, for me I just get much more enjoyment playing them.

I usually walk off 18 at Hillside feeling like I just want to sit down in the clubhouse whereas with the others I'd happily go straight back out again.
 
TonyN said:
How is it? Or by whom? Its on the open rota so cant be that under rated.
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I think people are a bit underwhelmed by it because it doesn't have the Birkdale or Hillside-esq towering dunes or views out to the ocean (although the estuary does look really nice). However, as a test of golf, when the long whispy rough frames the holes, it's up there with the very very best. I think it's one of those courses, that the more you will play it, the more you will love it and rate it.
 
Junior said:
I think people are a bit underwhelmed by it because it doesn't have the Birkdale or Hillside-esq towering dunes or views out to the ocean (although the estuary does look really nice). However, as a test of golf, when the long whispy rough frames the holes, it's up there with the very very best. I think it's one of those courses, that the more you will play it, the more you will love it and rate it.
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100% spot on
 
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