Playing Golf in Southport

In 2008, Hesketh hosted the R&A Junior Open Championship with 110 children from over 70 different countries taking part and more recently, the Club hosted the Centenary Lancashire Amateur Championship and the English under 14 Championship in 2010 and co-hosted the Amateur Championship in 2011 with Hillside Golf Club.

Hesketh is well established in the history of golf - the English Golf Union has its roots here, the initiative came from a former Hesketh Captain who went on to become the Union's first President. Among the famous names to play at Hesketh is Henry Cotton (set a course record of 68 in 1932) and no history of Hesketh would be complete without referring to the Bentley brothers, Harry and Arnold, who are often described as the most illustrious pair of brothers in the history of the amateur game. Arnold also deserves special mention for being one of the two-man team that triumphed for Britain at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, leaving Hitler decidedly unimpressed that the Germans could not demonstrate their superiority. The so-called 'Hitler Trophy' now resides in Hesketh's clubhouse after many years without a permanent home and another part of Hesketh's folklore is the fir tree that was unusually presented to Arnold as part of his prize and which now sits on a sand dune outside the clubhouse. 

 Mike Kanski of Hesketh recorded the Amateur Course Record of 67 on the 6th July 2002 and although not everyone can emulate this score, the course sets a testing yet fair challenge for golfers of all abilities. It is distinctive by virtue of the fact that half of the holes nestle between sand dunes, while the others border the Ribble estuary. The closing holes, from the 14th to the 18th meander between the sand hills and the clubhouse and provide a tremendous finish.

The growing stature of the club was acknowledged in 1951 when the King gave his permission for the club to be known as The Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The course has been the stage for many great golf championships including the Amateur Championship, the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the Ryder Cup and the Women’s British Open. On nine occasions the greatest championship, The Open, has been played here, the most recent in 2008. In 2005, the club was the venue for both the Amateur Championship and the Women’s British Open which Royal Birkdale will host again in 2010.

The Championship Course now measures 7.180 yards. Visitors generally play the yellow tees which at 6.381 yards is a test in itself even for the most accomplished golfer. The wind, whistling down the fairways when it comes from the sea, adds to the challenge.

Each hole runs through a landscape of high dunes, the fairways are flat and fair and from the tee there is generally a clear view of the task ahead. Each hole is memorable, from The Open Championship tee the 13th measure 498 yards, one of the longest par 4s in championship golf.

Visitors to the course can walk in the footsteps of many of golf's legends, among them Open Winners, Peter Thomson, a double winner at Royal Birkdale, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson. On the 16th hole, a plaque commemorates Arnold Palmer's great shot in appalling weather conditions, on the way to his Open win 1961.

The clubhouse was designed to resemble an Ocean Liner cruising through the sand hills of Birkdale. It too has undergone significant changes over the years but it has retained its distinctive art-deco style. The balconies and handrails have been replaced with enormous bay window in providing spectacular views of the 18th green and it is the only place to be on the last afternoon of The Open.

The club has hosted two Ryder Cup matches in 1933 and 1937 and a number of other prestigious championships including The British Ladies Open and The British Amateur. The club has acted as a final qualifying course for The Open Championship and is a fixture in any ranking of the Top 100 courses in the Great Britain & Ireland. 

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

The course is a magnificent test of golf, especially with the sea breeze, profusion of heather and gorse combining to provide you with a challenging and immensely enjoyable experience. 

The recently refurbished clubhouse also provides a splendid setting for unwinding after your round. The main lounge and patio to the front of the clubhouse provide stunning views across the course, including the 18th green and 1st tee. 

Complemented with a warm welcome and excellent catering, everything is in place for you to enjoy a memorable day.