Hillside or S&A?

[Eric Franzen]

Friends,

Looks like I might have a couple of hours to kill in Southport in a couple of weeks from now. Since I already played Royal Birkdale, which will be closed for the Women's Open anyway, I am leaning towards a round at Hillside or Southport & Ainsdale.

Which of them would you choose to play, and why?

Eric  

[Sean_A]

Friends,

Looks like I might have a couple of hours to kill in Southport in a couple of weeks from now. Since I already played Royal Birkdale, which will be closed for the Women's Open anyway, I am leaning towards a round at Hillside or Southport & Ainsdale.

Which of them would you choose to play, and why?

Eric 

Eric

I would plop for the extra 15 minute drive and play Formby instead.  If its strictly between Hillside and S&A I would go to S&A because its been longer since I visited.

I would also consider West Lancs although I don't think it is any better than Hillside or S&A.  It does have a good variety of holes and it has an early morning break on the fees - I think before 9am.

Ciao

[Michael Whitaker]

I second the nomination of Formby. You will not be disappointed.

[Brent Hutto]

Third.

[Mark Chaplin]

Hillside was a real let down and vastly overrated IMO.

Not played S&A but Formby is very nice and West Lancs the purest of the links courses in the area.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

You don't necessarily have to drive. Formby is right next door to Freshfields station and West Lancs adjacent to Hall Road. Going by train adds a little atmosphere.

If, by some freak, all the courses mentioned are fully booked there is also a part-links in Southport, Hesketh, and Ormskirk is probably the best of the inland courses in this part of Lancashire - the back nine is Harold Hilton, compact and tight, while the front nine is newer and on a much more expansive scale.

[Eric Franzen]

Sean, Michael, Brent, Mark C & Mark R,

Many thanks for your advice. I might actually go for West Lancs. Looks like a charming links experience when I browse their web site.

 

[Ran Morrissett]

I have only played Hillside - and that was nineteen years ago - but the front had enough holes of interest and then the back is justly famous for getting into some of the biggest dunes in that region. There's a perfectly placed cross hazard at the 5th and just the tee shot on 11 makes it worth your while. The final three holes require big hitting but the rolling topography of the dunes makes them fun nonetheless. Nothing is as clever as a some of the holes at Silloth on Solway way to the north but it is interesting to see that Hillside generates little fondness based on the posts above. Maybe the heavy equipment that Hawtree used snuffed some of the charm normally found in links fairways?

So much work has been done to Formby, I am not sure how much it lives off a reputation for some coastal holes long gone versus how good are the eighteen holes today?

[Brent Hutto]

I never saw the older version but I love Formby regardless of the fact that it does not have much remaining coastal character. It is a little like Golspie in moving you through a variety of terrain and flora. Although not as much so as Golspie (and also I think Formby is the superior course of the two). Plus it's just one of those places with a great feel and vibe that makes you want to stick around for another round. Charming I guess you'd say.

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