Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Southport & Ainsdale — known locally as S&A — hosted the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937, making it one of a tiny number of non-Royal venues with that distinction. The history alone makes it worth a round, but the course earns its reputation on its own merits too.

S&A sits between Hillside and Formby and shares the coastal dune terrain that characterises the best of the Sefton Coast. The first few holes are relatively benign, which gives visitors a false sense of security — the course stiffens considerably through the middle section, with several holes genuinely exposed to the prevailing westerly.

Green fees are among the most accessible on the coast for what is genuinely a historic and challenging links. For visitors putting together a multi-day trip, S&A pairs well with either Hillside or West Lancashire for a strong two-day itinerary at reasonable cost.