Aintree Golf Centre

Everyone knows Aintree as the home of the Grand National. But golfers who seek out the less well known places to play around England's Golfing Capital also know that here too is a lovely parkland course.

So sport lovers have a bonus, playing golf surrounded by the familiar scenes of the greatest steeplechase in the world. The golf course is set in the middle of the racecourse with the famous sights, Beecher's Brook, Canal Turn.... The course, part of a public pay-as you-play golf complex, is nine holes. There are plans to extend the layout to a full 18 holes, again using land at the centre of the racecourses, alongside the famous Chair and in front of the grandstands.

A 9-hole course often suggests a modest golf challenge. But that does not apply to Aintree. The first hole is a huge 555 yards from the white tee and, played as a full 18-hole course, the distance is 6624 yards - the longest nine-hole course in the country.

The golf challenge is about more than length too. The hazards include not just the bunkers, the deep lake and the stream that wanders around the course but playing across a fence of fir trees with a brook in front, forming a replica of Grand National fences that covers the width of the 3rd fairway.

The golf test goes all the way to the finishing post. The last hole is also a mighty 550 yards with the tee placed near to Bechers Brook, the most famous steeplechase jump in the world and the green almost parallel to the troublesome first Grand National fence. Tough at any time and particularly when the wind blows. Like its near neighbour Bootle, Aintree has a reputation as a fast-drying course. We think we have better than average weather in Southport but if you should be unlucky and your visit coincides with rain leading to the closure of your number one choice of golf venues it is worth giving Aintree a call. You could find them open where others are closed. But then the weather never brings a total halt to golf here.

The facilities also includes a superb 30-bay driving range, ideal if you feel in need of some extra practice at the end of the round or perhaps at the start when viewing the golf test ahead. Either way, the friendly professional is available to help with basic tuition or a little fine-tuning.

So if your favourite golf course cannot offer a tee-time or it is after dark and you still want to hit golf balls Aintree gives endless opportunities for the keen golfer of all abilities, daytime and evenings, sunshine and rain. Not surprisingly, the exceptions include Grand National time.