Course Conditions
Current playing conditions across all six Sefton Coast courses — updated manually each morning by 7:30am. Check before you travel.
Royal Birkdale
Ideal links conditions. Ball runs well, greens fast.
Course in excellent condition. Winter rules not in play. Greens running 10.5 on the stimpmeter.
Updated: 07:30 today
Hillside
Ideal links conditions. Ball runs well, greens fast.
Comparable to Birkdale — firm and fast. Back nine playing into the wind this morning.
Updated: 07:30 today
Formby GC
Good playing conditions. Normal ball flight expected.
More sheltered through the pines. Slightly softer than Birkdale. Fairways good.
Updated: 07:30 today
West Lancashire
Soft underfoot. Less run on fairways. Check for winter rules.
More exposed to Irish Sea — soft underfoot after yesterday's rain. Winter rules in play on some fairways.
Updated: 07:30 today
Southport & Ainsdale
Good playing conditions. Normal ball flight expected.
Good playing conditions. Course drains well. 2nd hole still marked as GUR from last week.
Updated: 07:30 today
Southport Old Links
Good playing conditions. Normal ball flight expected.
Fine for all abilities. More sheltered than the coast courses.
Updated: 07:30 today
Condition Guide
About Links Conditions
Links golf conditions are fundamentally different from parkland golf. The key variables are wind direction and strength, recent rainfall and drainage, and the firmness of the turf. A firm, dry course plays completely differently to a wet, soft one — approach shots don't stop, the ball runs further off the tee, and chipping becomes more creative.
The Sefton Coast courses drain well by design — they're built on sand. Even after heavy rain, Royal Birkdale and Hillside typically recover faster than inland courses. Southport & Ainsdale and West Lancashire can hold water slightly longer due to their terrain. Formby's woodland sections dry quickest.
Wind speed and direction matter more here than almost anywhere in England. The prevailing south-westerly at Royal Birkdale creates the "natural" course experience the routing was designed for. An easterly off the land produces a completely different course. This guide includes a wind direction key for Royal Birkdale specifically.
Conditions data is approximate and manually maintained. Always verify with the individual club before travel. SeftonLinks accepts no liability for course closures or conditions that differ from this page.