Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

The Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, or the S&A as it is affectionately known, is part of the chain of links courses spread along the North West coastline. The entire course is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with natterjack toads and squirrels resident among its sand dunes and heath land.

The course was designed by James Braid, who alongside Henry Varden and J H Taylor, dominated British professional golf in the first half of the 20th Century. Much of Braid's original layout survives to this day and the fine par four, third hole, is named in his honour.

The traditional feel of the links has been retained through the years, with S&A making the worthwhile effort to control the spread of trees and bushes and keep the character of the course. So impressive is the course that one golf magazine named it amoung the top 50 golf courses in Great Britain.

The course deservedly gained a good reputation in the early years, hosting two Ryder Cup matches in 1933 and 1937. Great Britain and Ireland were victors in the first encounter, with the outcome decided by the last putt on the final green, while the United States were convincing winners in 1937.

Since then the S&A has hosted countless top events including the Ladies British Open and remains a Qualifying venue for The Open whenever it is staged in the region. In 2005 the club co-hosted the Amateur Championship with Royal Birkdale.

The S&A is well known for producing disinguished amateurs such as Dr David Marsh, English Amateur Champion twice and former Walker Cup Captain, Geoff Roberts and Sam Robinson, amongst others.

The course is not long by modern standards, 6,200 yards, but requires concentration and accurate shots from the tees onwards. The fairways are narrow and bordered by sandy dunes and channels, made all the more hazardous in the variable wind conditions.

All the holes are of championship standard and no two are the same. However, if one had to be singled out it would have to be the sixteenth. This famous hole has a great hill and bunker, lined with railway sleepers and ia a cunning trap, catching poor second shots. It is called the Gumbleys after a gentleman who spent some time there!

The fine clubhouse sits above the eighteenth green and the first hole, a welcoming place to watch the incoming and outgoing golfers and enjoy the club's trophies and photographic archives.

Opening Times

Opening 1 Jan 2009 - 31 Dec 2009