Hastings Rd, Hillside,
nr Southport, Lancashire PR8 2LU
Office
+44 (0)1704 567 169Pro shop
+44 (0)1704 568 360Fax
+44 (0)1704 563 192Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Brian SeddonThe Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Rural countryside.
Designer:
Fred Hawtree designed the current layout which dates from the 1960's.
53.620367
-3.027747
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
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.
Visitors welcome on weekdays, and after noon on weekends. No visitors on Bank Holidays.
Must book in advance. Handicap required
Credit cards accepted. [Last updated: 2019].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire (if pre-booked).
Limited
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.
GB&I: 70th best course in Britain & Ireland (Golf World, 2020/21).
England: 27th best course in England (Golf World, 2021).
98 Lord Street, Southport PR8 1JR
+44 (0)1704 883 800
Visit websiteLocated 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.
No
Hesketh; Royal Birkdale; Hillside
Southport & Ainsdale; Formby; Formby Hall; West Lancashire
The Promenade, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1RB
+44 (0)1704 533 771
Visit websiteThe 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.
No
Hesketh; Royal Birkdale; Hillside
Southport & Ainsdale; Formby; Formby Hall; West Lancashire
Tournaments:
Women’s major championships: the month of June sees two women’s majors: the US Women’s Open (June 3-6), with A Lim Kim defending, and the Women’s PGA Championship (June 24-27), with Sei Young Kim defending.
Senior PGA Championship: the revered Southern Hills in Oklahoma hosts the 81st staging of this event (May 27-30); Ken Tanigawa holds the title from its last playing in 2019.
Who's Who:
Phil Mickelson: in winning the 2021 PGA Championship, the world’s most famous “leftie” became the oldest winner of a golf major championship.
Hideki Matsuyama: became the first Japanese professional to win a men’s major championship, when he triumphed in this year’s Masters Tournament.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
American Dunes opens for play following Nicklaus transformation
Nicklaus Design has transformed the former Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan into the American Dunes Golf Club, a new public course that is now open for play
New course opens for play at Barnbougle
Bill Coore designs 14-hole layout with “sporty” holes on dune ridge above Lost Farm (golf carts allowed).
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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