England trip Sept Added Swinley and hoping for Sunningdale.

[mike_malone]

 September


  9. Hopefully Swinley Forest
  10. Southport and Ainsdale
  11. Wallasey
  12. Lytham
  13. Formby and Hillside
  14. Liverpool
  15. West Lancs


  16. Brancaster


Then Buda!!!


Thoughts.

[David_Tepper]

Mike -

Looks very good. Liverpool to Lytham could be the best stretch of links golf in GB&I.


DT

[John Mayhugh]

If Swinley doesn't work out, Huntercombe is worth a visit. Sort of on the way to Southport.

Try to squeeze in Formby Ladies.

On the Buda Monday, if you don't play 36 at Seacroft, try to stop in at Mildenhall on the way back to London (assuming you're flying back from there).

[mike_malone]

John,


 Thanks. I thought of Huntercombe and would love to play there with Giles if possible.

[Brian Finn]

September

  9. Hopefully Swinley Forest
  10. Southport and Ainsdale
  11. Wallasey
  12. Lytham
  13. Formby and Hillside
  14. Liverpool
  15. West Lancs

  16. Brancaster

Then Buda!!!

Thoughts.

As we have discussed, I played everything I could between Liverpool and Lytham in October.  There is nothing on your list that I would not highly recommend.  I do agree with John that adding in Formby Ladies is worthwhile, and only requires about 2-2.5 hrs (and a very nice, easy walk).

One place to keep in mind, which I was sadly unable to arrange, is Delamere Forest.  It's just SE of Liverpool, and from everything I heard, is extremely worth visiting. 

That is one terrific trip.  Enjoy!

[mike_malone]

My guys wanted Birkdale also but I’m glad that we only have two open courses as there was no availability at Birkdale.


  I suggested in my email to Swinley that Tuesday after Buda would be acceptable. That opens up the Friday of arrival for either another course off the plane or a late afternoon closer to Southport.


We were scheduled for Formby Ladies in the past which we had to cancel. They were very welcoming.

[Tim Gallant]

September


  9. Hopefully Swinley Forest
  10. Southport and Ainsdale
  11. Wallasey
  12. Lytham
  13. Formby and Hillside
  14. Liverpool
  15. West Lancs


  16. Brancaster


Then Buda!!!


Thoughts.

Mike - incredible! Always fun to plan trips, and you have some fantastic courses lined up.


When travelling to / from Brancaster, Seacroft isn't too far, and Clyde Johnson has been doing work there for years. But if I was in that area (and needed to get back to London), I would absolutely make a stop at Mildenhall. How can you pass up the best 9-holer in the world?! 


Doh! Realise you'll be at Buda, so disregard Seacroft suggestion

[mike_malone]

Tim,


Thanks for your input. Still need to play North Berwick with you someday.

[Richard Hetzel]

As we have discussed, I played everything I could between Liverpool and Lytham in October.  There is nothing on your list that I would not highly recommend.  I do agree with John that adding in Formby Ladies is worthwhile, and only requires about 2-2.5 hrs (and a very nice, easy walk).



Did you play Hesketh as well? If so, how was it? I am planning a trip to Liverpool in the near future as well....

[Brian Finn]

As we have discussed, I played everything I could between Liverpool and Lytham in October.  There is nothing on your list that I would not highly recommend.  I do agree with John that adding in Formby Ladies is worthwhile, and only requires about 2-2.5 hrs (and a very nice, easy walk).

Did you play Hesketh as well? If so, how was it? I am planning a trip to Liverpool in the near future as well....

I was unable to get Hesketh scheduled, unfortunately.  My only open times were on the weekend, and they had a two day club comp.  I would like to see it, along with a few others in the area that I missed (e.g. St. Anne's Old).

[mike_malone]

This is planned for this September.


 

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

If you are at Royal West Norfolk, you really should try and include Hunstanton

[Kevin Pallier]

If you are at Royal West Norfolk, you really should try and include Hunstanton

+1


Enjoy Mayday

[Sean_A]

My guys wanted Birkdale also but I’m glad that we only have two open courses as there was no availability at Birkdale.


  I suggested in my email to Swinley that Tuesday after Buda would be acceptable. That opens up the Friday of arrival for either another course off the plane or a late afternoon closer to Southport.


We were scheduled for Formby Ladies in the past which we had to cancel. They were very welcoming.

It might be a more enjoyable and less stressful day to drop Hillside, stay on site and play Formby Ladies.

Ciao

[Duncan Cheslett]

As we have discussed, I played everything I could between Liverpool and Lytham in October.  There is nothing on your list that I would not highly recommend.  I do agree with John that adding in Formby Ladies is worthwhile, and only requires about 2-2.5 hrs (and a very nice, easy walk).

Did you play Hesketh as well? If so, how was it? I am planning a trip to Liverpool in the near future as well....

I was unable to get Hesketh scheduled, unfortunately.  My only open times were on the weekend, and they had a two day club comp.  I would like to see it, along with a few others in the area that I missed (e.g. St. Anne's Old).

Hesketh has a few wonderful links holes close to the clubhouse, but the bulk of the course is very disappointing. St Anne’s Old Links however, is the real deal.

[jeffwarne]

I'm assuming no direct flights to Manchester?
i.e. if so Swinley's another trip...
but if London is the way you're going, plenty of options near airport.


Up north St Annes Old Links is worthwhile and Formby Ladies as suggested makes a great second round of the day

[mike_malone]

Jeff,


No Manchester direct flights. Formby Ladies and St.Anne’s Old are next in line.

[David Amarnek]

Mike,
If you've not been, have you considered Sunningdale?

[mike_malone]

Mike,
If you've not been, have you considered Sunningdale?

We played Swinley Forest a few years ago and the rain puddled the greens. We are determined to go back. But Sunningdale is on my list. I love St. George’s Hill also.

[Pete Lavallee]

I will second the recommendations for St. Anne’s Old and Formby Ladies. St. Anne’s Old played screaming fast on our one play there; way faster than the Open Rota Courses in the area. The greens are quite lay of the land which means playing well short of the green if you wish to finish pin high. Formby Ladies is an excellent add on if the rest of your courses are ball busters; I bet you’ll be close to even par there and who doesn’t like to go low!


Delamere Forest is a brilliant Fowler design without a single weak hole; well worth the drive to add it. Plus they have the best sausage rolls in all of England!

[mike_malone]

Hoping that 36 at Sunningdale ends the trip.

[Mark Chaplin]

I played Delamere Forest for the first time last week and was very impressed with the layout and conditions. The greenkeeper does an amazing job considering there’s currently no automatic watering on the course, even the greens are watered by hand.


If you play off the back tees you are easied in gently with a 495 yard par 4 opening hole 🤣.

[mike_malone]

I played Delamere Forest for the first time last week and was very impressed with the layout and conditions. The greenkeeper does an amazing job considering there’s currently no automatic watering on the course, even the greens are watered by hand.




If you play off the back tees you are easied in gently with a 495 yard par 4 opening hole 🤣.

Thanks Mark


That would have to be Saturday morning on our way to Southport and Ainsdale

[Adam Lawrence]

Hoping that 36 at Sunningdale ends the trip.

Sunningdale is quite terrifyingly expensive these days. A 36 hole day this year is £500.

[Brett Meyer]

Sunningdale is quite terrifyingly expensive these days. A 36 hole day this year is £500.

I recognized at the time (March 2016) that the £145 winter rate that I paid for 36 holes at Sunningdale was probably the best deal I would ever get in golf. I noticed a year or two later that the winter rates were gone altogether.

Yet being an American, I still can't believe that a place like Sunningdale is open to the public. If you're really into golf courses and can afford it, it's still worth the £500 to see them both.