Hillside Golf Club

Hastings Rd, Hillside,

nr Southport, Lancashire PR8 2LU

  • Office

    +44 (0)1704 567 169
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1704 568 360
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1704 563 192
  • Golf pro

    Matthew Duncan (Club Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.

  • Surroundings:

    Rural countryside.

  • Designer:

    Frederick W. "Fred" Hawtree designed the current layout which dates from the 1960s.

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
7029
6204
5639
Par
72
72
76
SSS or slope
72
72

Location

Latitude:

53.620367

Longitude:

-3.027747

How to get there:

17 miles N of Liverpool

From the centre of Southport, head south on the A565 direction Liverpool. After 1.9 mi (100 yds after Royal Birkdale entrance) turn right into Hastings Rd at Hillside GC sign. After 400 yds golf is on your left.

Hillside Golf Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1911

Hillside Golf Club: There is no doubting the pedigree and popularity of Hillside, nor the calibre of the company it keeps. It is bounded by Royal Birkdale to the north, and Southport & Ainsdale to the east (across a small railway line). Amongst this wonderful triumvirate of seaside links courses, Hillside can boast the tallest and most impressive sand dunes, especially on its fabulous back-nine.

Laid out in two out-and-back loops, the front-nine occupies flatter terrain, and is located further inland than the more memorable second-nine. It's on Hillside's back-nine that you'll encounter a wonderfully dramatic stretch of holes that weave their way through towering sand dunes. Most celebrated of all are the par-5 11th and 17th holes, which run side-by-side (in opposite directions) through a valley bounded by large sandhills.

Hillside is characterised by rugged links golf at its best. In the middle section of the back-nine you come closest to the sea, with the higher elevations offering occasional glimpses of the Irish Sea. You may be disappointed that the layout stays several hundred yards back from the shoreline, but such is the case with all the top links layouts on the Lancashire coast. When the courses were originally created, some degree of protection from the wind was considered a higher golfing priority than spending time admiring sea views.

Always maintained in top condition, Hillside provides an excellent golfing challenge in a wonderfully dramatic duneland setting, most especially on the layout's much acclaimed back-nine loop.

List of courses: England - Lancs / Cheshire

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays, Saturdays (after 3:30pm) and Sundays (after 12 noon). No visitors on Bank Holidays.

Must book in advance. Handicap required

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (late-April thru' late-Sept): weekdays £220; weekends £250.

Contact club for full details, discounts, day tickets, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (if pre-booked).

Practice facilities

Limited

Did you know?

A stunning five-mile stretch of duneland on the Lancashire coast is book-ended by the seaside towns of Southport and Formby. At the northern end of this stretch of sand hills, and closest to Southport, you'll find three of England's top-rated links courses sitting cheek-by-jowl. The proximity of this formidable triumvirate, comprising Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale, can be clearly seen on a satellite view map.

Royal Birkdale lies closest to Southport. A small pathway separates this revered Open Championship venue from Hillside, which adjoins it to the south. Across the railway track to the south and east of Hillside, lies Southport & Ainsdale. If this trio doesn't satisfy your links golf appetite, the also excellent courses of Formby and West Lancs lie just a few miles further south.

Hillside, like its revered neighbours, has hosted many top level tournaments. In 1982 Tony Jacklin won the Sun Alliance (now BMW) PGA Championship here, beating Bernhard Langer in a playoff to claim his last European Tour title. For more details see Top Golf Tournaments at Hillside Golf Club.

Published ranking

England's 27th best course (Golf World, 2023).
Britain & Ireland's 66th best course (Golf World, 2024).

Where2Stay

  • The Vincent Hotel4-star

    98 Lord Street, Southport PR8 1JR

    +44 (0)1704 883 800

    Visit website

    Located on Lord Street, Southport’s main boulevard and opening in 2008, The Vincent Hotel is a contemporary boutique hotel. 60 guest rooms, suites and a penthouse occupy the six floors in this award winning design. The hotel's facilities include a Cafe & Sushi Bar, Spa, gym and Galleria Suites for weddings & corporate events.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Hesketh; Royal Birkdale; Hillside

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Southport & Ainsdale; Formby; Formby Hall; West Lancashire

  • Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa3-star

    The Promenade, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1RB

    +44 (0)1704 533 771

    Visit website

    The Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa is noted for its excellent range of facilities and standards of service. Over recent years the hotel has been refurbished to offer guests the comfort expected from one of the best located hotels in Southport.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Hesketh; Royal Birkdale; Hillside

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Southport & Ainsdale; Formby; Formby Hall; West Lancashire

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