79. West Lancashire: Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

West Lancashire in England has been ranked number 79 in Golf Monthly’s top 100 courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

West Lancs 3668
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

West Lancashire in England has been ranked number 79 in Golf Monthly’s top 100 UK & Ireland golf courses 2015/16.

79. West Lancashire: Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

Hall Road West, Blundellsands, Liverpool, L23 8SZ

T: 0151 924 1076

W: westlancashiregolf.co.uk

GF: £95 per round

Architect: CK Cotton

Visitor Information: Welcome after 09:30 Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri and between 13:30 and 15:30 on Tuesdays - severe restrictions at weekends

Catering Options: Comprehensive catering

2012 Ranking: Down 3

Work Undertaken since 2012 ranking: None

West Lancs 1

Founded in 1873, The West Lancashire Golf Club is one of the 10 oldest clubs in England. On the coast just north of Liverpool, it’s a 20-minute drive down from the golfing hub of Southport.

West Lancs delivers an uncompromising but fair test of seaside golf. The holes roll naturally across the terrain, with views of the Mersey Estuary and across to the mountains of Wales.

West Lancs 2

Humps and hollows, raised greens, coastal dunes and of course, a railway line, West Lancs epitomises British seaside golf.

Many holes here are exposed to the wind and, with thick rough through the summer months, it’s all too easy for a good score to disappear on the gusts.

There‘s a fine stretch of holes from 12 to 14. The 12th is an excellent par 3 of 175 yards, no frills just two bunkers waiting short and thick rough on either side.

west lancs 3

The 13th is played from an elevated tee, around the dunes to a green designed to accept a low-running approach, then the 14th is a superb par 4 where you must trust your swing on the blind tee shot before firing a long iron into the raised green. It’s probably the hardest hole on what is really quite a hard course.

 

+ Great test of links golf

Modern-style clubhouse lacks character

 

Panellist comments

“We played in a reasonable breeze and found this excellent layout to be rather demanding. It must be a real brute when the wind really blows.”

“There’s wonderful rolling terrain at West Lancs allowing the golfer to be properly creative when it comes to shot choice.”

Next course: 80. The Belfry (Brabazon): Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16

Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor

Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.