Hillside Golf Club

A links course adjacent to Royal Birkdale, Hillside Golf Club stretches across the Southport’s sand hills, open to the elements of the Irish Sea.

Since opening in 1911 Hillside has been host to tournaments including the Amateur Championship, Ladies British Amateur, PGA Championship and the 2003 English Seniors’ Open. It’s an established North West course widely regarded as the finest not to have held the Open Championship.

The course meanders through sand hills and pinewoods with the front nine consisting of elevated tees while the undulating greens of the back nine pass through the north coast’s dunes.

Hillside’s signature hole is among the most challenging in the region. At over 500 yards the hole requires a powerful drive, precise enough however to avoid the bunker off to the right and compensate the strong winds.

Hillside is a tough links course with its tight fairways and very thick rough a formidable challenge. With more facilities it has been argued the course would have the calibre to host the Open Championship. The back nine are the most difficult to tackle, a big difference from the relatively flat front nine.

www.hillside-golfclub.co.uk