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mps

Manchester Area
« on: January 04, 2002, 01:21:23 PM »
Planning to play for 8 days in the greater Manchester area & I'm looking for input on the itinerary.  I've got the following set up:

Royal Birkdale (54)
Royal Lytham & St Annes (54)
Royal Liverpool (36)
Formby (36)
Silloth on Solway
Hillside
West Lancashire

Should I try to squeeze in a round at Southport & Ainsdale (at the expense of one of the rounds listed above)?  Are there any other must play courses in the area?  How would you Manchester experts allocate your time in the area?  Thanks for your suggestions!


« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Brian Phillips

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2002, 01:42:58 PM »
MPS,

I have played Birkdale and S&A.  I played crap at Birkdale and didn't really enjoy the round.  But it is still worth a game DEFINATELY.

I fell in love with S&A straight away.  I can't explain it, I just love it.  

I wouldn't want to advise you anything as the list you have is awesome.

However Siloth on Solway is further apart than all the other courses.

I wouldn't ever say that any of these courses are in Manchester area, unless you want annoy the people of Merseyside.

Can you believe as an 18 year I lived 5 minutes walk from Royal Lytham and never played the course and still haven't to this day!!

Brian
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:01 PM by -1 »
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Bunkers, if they be good bunkers, and bunkers of strong character, refuse to be disregarded, and insist on asserting themselves; they do not mind being avoided, but they decline to be ignored - John Low Concerning Golf

mps

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2002, 02:41:00 PM »
Thanks Brian - based on your recommendation I'll be sure to work in S&A on my trip to "Meyerside/Lancashire/Cumbria."  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Mark_Fine

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2002, 03:25:50 PM »
Great line up of courses!! I'd add S&A especially since it is literally next door to Birkdale.  
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2002, 05:12:03 PM »
mps:

Should be a great trip!  Hope the weather cooperates.

Top Tier:
Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Royal Birkdale
Royal Liverpool (the changes they made in preparation for the
Open have made a real difference, and taken a very good
course to a great links!)

Next Tier:
Formby
Formby Ladies (not a joke! - the best par 3 at the facility
is on the Ladies' course!)

Lower Tier:
Southport & Ainsdale - lots of history, but only one really
good hole (#1- the par 3) and that funky bunker on about
15 or 16 are the only reasons to visit, IMHO.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Paul Turner

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2002, 02:22:49 AM »
mps

Wallasey looks to be much better than S&A.  It's very close to Hoylake and has plenty of really wild holes in the dunes, with a few dullish holes too.  (Look at Donald Steel's book to get the idea).  S&A appears to be generally much flatter with little to distinguish it other than the Gumbley bunkers.

Hillside is undergoing (might be finished now?) some major redesign work and tree clearing (Donald Steel).  The course might not be open or on temporary greens...?

If you fancy a non-links experience then Delamere Forest (Fowler-heathland/downland) in Cheshire might be worth a look too.  And Windermere is a beautiful, short, quirky course in the Lake District.

Paul

I've played Formby ladies and that par 3 is a nice one!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2002, 05:26:18 AM »
Paul:

Thanks for the reminder.  The famous bunker at S & A is the
Gumbleys.

The caddie I had at S & A, as well as the cab driver, as well
as a few locals I spoke with during my visit there last year
assured me that Hillside was a much better course than
S & A.  There was a competition there that day at Hillside,
so my next choice was S & A.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

mps

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2002, 10:50:57 AM »
Thanks for the info - as far as inland courses, if I stray from the links, I'll probably make the 2.5 hour drive to Woodhall Spa.  Never played it but it is supposed to be the best inland course in Britain.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Brian Phillips

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2002, 02:53:07 PM »
mps,

Played there in September and it is worth the trip.  I again had a lousy game but enjoyed the course.  I got some really good photos.

As Tom Doak says in his book it is tougher off the yellow tees than the white tees as the yardage doesn't reduce that much (400 yards) but the par drops from 73 to 71.

quote:

'...making Woodhall Spa the only course I know on which those trying to make par would be better advised to play from all the way back.'

I found the 18th a monster!!

442 yards with a huge oak tree in the way..

The Bracken course is supposed to be brilliant as well, designed by the man people are discussing on this site Donald Steel.

The Woodhall Spa book is worth buying in the pro shop as well.  

Get there early if you want to warm up on the driving range as it is a 2-3 minute drive in the range buggy.  It picks you up at the pro shop and delivers you at the range.

Enjoy..
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Bunkers, if they be good bunkers, and bunkers of strong character, refuse to be disregarded, and insist on asserting themselves; they do not mind being avoided, but they decline to be ignored - John Low Concerning Golf

mps

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2002, 03:19:30 PM »
Brian - I followed your advice & added a round at Woodhall Spa & a round at Southport & Ainsdale.  The pics of Wallasey do look great but I think it's going to have to wait until next time.  Has anyone played Wallasey?  If it's worth it, I guess I could sacrifice my second round at Formby to play it.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2002, 05:11:36 PM »
mps

Woodhall Spa is definately worth playing. :)

Don't forget to see that famous short par 3 on the Formby
Ladies' course!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Tom (Guest)

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2002, 12:22:49 AM »
I have played Wallasey and it is worth it but no more so than going into North Wales ie. Nefyn and District, North Wales GC, Conwy (hosted Birtish Youths and Home Internationals in the past) all of which are very good and within 45 mins to 1 hours drive of Liverpool.

You might also consider going slightly further afield and trying Royal St Davids at Harlech which is a lovely course and regarded by some as "the toughest par 69 in the world".  The course is about a 2 hour drive from Liverpool.

In terms of the lesser known courses in the area, try Sandiway which is very good, Portal in Cheshire, if you go into the Lake District Seascale is worth a look, Beau Desert in Staffordshire, Heswall on the Wirral which has spectacular views of the Wirral Peninsular, a few years ago I would have said Warrington but they have made a complete pigs ear of the 18th hole (it is almost a case study on its own of how to ruin a once-great par 5), St Annes Old Links which many prefer to its neighbour Royal Lytham !!!

Hope this helps
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Jeff_Lewis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2002, 02:18:17 PM »
RE: Woodhall Spa. It is very good, and quite a trek. I thought Ganton was also excellent and definitely worth going out of the way for.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Paul Richards

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #13 on: January 09, 2002, 02:37:58 PM »
Jeff:

Just so they understand, it's a full day's trip from Manchester
to Ganton.  

Worth the trip, but it's a 4 hour or so, car ride, each way, from Manchester to Ganton.

Ganton is literally in the middle of Nowhere, England!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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"Something has to change, otherwise the never-ending arms race that benefits only a few manufacturers will continue to lead to longer courses, narrower fairways, smaller greens, more rough, more expensive rounds, and other mechanisms that will leave golf's future in doubt." -  TFOG

Jeff_Lewis

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2002, 03:13:28 PM »
Actually, I think nowhere might be an hour or two away from Ganton. But given the mention of Woodhall Spa, I didn't want Ganton getting left out!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Fred Ruttenberg

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #15 on: January 09, 2002, 03:18:24 PM »
I am making a similar trip and have booked:
   Notts
   Royal Liverpool
   Southport&Ainsdale
   Formby
   Royal Birkdale
   Royal Lytham&St Annes
My round at Lytham is in the afternoon and I would appreciate suggestions as to where I could play in the morning.
I also have had difficulty finding a place to play on Saturday. Is a trip to Isle of Man to play Castletown feasible for one day and worth the trip? Any other suggestions for a Saturday round.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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Fred Ruttenberg

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2002, 06:27:21 AM »
I am making a similar trip and have booked:
   Notts
   Royal Liverpool
   Southport&Ainsdale
   Formby
   Royal Birkdale
   Royal Lytham&St Annes
My round at Lytham is in the afternoon and I would appreciate suggestions as to where I could play in the morning.
I also have had difficulty finding a place to play on Saturday. Is a trip to Isle of Man to play Castletown feasible for one day and worth the trip? Any other suggestions for a Saturday round.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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fred_ekermann

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #17 on: January 10, 2002, 08:42:23 AM »
Fred!

Congratulations on a well chosen name. And also on a formidable line-up. Especially on finding Notts, a great choice.

St Annes Old Links would be a good warm up for RLSA. A nice if somewhat cramped links course. Fairhaven is another suggestion, also in town, and also used as a qualifying course when the Open is on at Lytham. Designed by James Braid and founded in 1895.

To give you a helpful suggestion for Saturday play it would be good to know where you are playing Friday and Sunday.

Castletown is a fun course and just a hop away from Blackpool Airport (10 minutes  drive from Lytham). But personally I wouldn´t really go there for just a daytrip. There are so much more to discover on the mainland.


« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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mps

Re: Manchester Area
« Reply #18 on: January 10, 2002, 11:07:13 AM »
Look into Silloth on Solway for a Saturday round - it's 2.5 hrs north of Manchester (due west of Carlisle).  Golf Monthly says "It is a wondrous links in the style of Royal County Down, there is no greater compliment."  Golf World ranks it as the 10th best links course in Britain & Ireland (AHEAD of Royal Lytham, Lahinch, Royal St Georges, and even The Old Course!). Maybe not worth that kind of billing but obviously a worthy choice.

Due to its location, it's easier to get a weekend tee time at Silloth - amazingly, the weekend green fee is only 37 pounds! If you're traveling with your wife, she would love to spend a night in one of the nice country inns in the Lake District (Keswick / Windemere - between Silloth & Lytham).
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »
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