Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club *****

Links Gate, Lytham St Annes, FY8 3LQ

Nearest main town: St Annes

 

Royal Lytham & St Annes is a different breed to most links, set in an urban landscape and lacking most of the distinguishing features of that type of course - no sandhills between the fairways and no dramatic landscapes. Neither is there any sign that the course, situated just south of the gaudy holiday town of Blackpool, is near the sea.

This confusing picture does not make it one of the favored Open Championship courses with amateurs, but it is still highly rated for the diversity of the holes, achieved on a rather unremarkable piece of land. Uniquely for an Open venue, Lytham starts with a 206-yard par-3 and a mighty tough one at that, the green being thoroughly protected by four bunkers on the left side with another trio of traps on the right. It is also liked for the difficulty of its finish, certainly on a level with that at Royal Troon - the back nine has, in the past, played four shots harder than the front nine in the same weather conditions for players in the Open.

The great golf writer Bernard Darwin once described some of the closing holes as 'unpleasantly difficult'. Jack Nicklaus was more straightforward, describing the 15th as one of the hardest holes he had ever played when, in the 1974 Open Championship, the average score for this 468-yard monster was an almost unprecedented stroke average of a full shot over par.

The 11 th is the only par-5 coming back, but at 542 yards, it is normally out of reach in two shots. Meanwhile, the lone par-3 on the back nine, the 12th, is equally uncompromising. With its shallow, narrow green, protected by six bunkers and unkempt grassy ridges (not forgetting the out-of-bounds perilously close down the right) and you have the most exacting shot of the whole round. Seve Ballesteros voted this hole the best par-3 in the British Isles in a Golf World survey, while Tom Watson was similarly full of praise.

The prevailing wind is from the north-west at Royal Lytham, which helps most of the way on the outward nine. It is here that the course has more of a links feel; the dunes are wild and owe nothing to any sculpting or moulding. The 8th green is a superb example, an exposed target from the fairway below, as is the 9th, a pure target nestling among bunkers.

The 18th is a short finishing hole and not exactly the climax you expect. The only problems come from the possibility of over clubbing, which might leave you hitting your recovery shot backhanded, like Gary Player, from the walls of the magnificent redbrick Victorian clubhouse.

 

Secretary: Mr R. Cochrane

Tel: 01253 724206 Fax: 01253780946

Professional: Mr E. Birchenough

Tel: 01253 720094 Fax: 01253 720094

Playing: Midweek: Prices on application. Weekend: Limited availability.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am-10pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Worth playing at least once. . . Good value for an Open course. So many memorable holes... Great atmosphere . . . Back nine is outstanding. . . Extremely trying on the patience...Apart from the course, very poor and disappointing...Great experience for the traditionalist . . . A must for links lovers... Never liked a par-3 start ­like it even less now...One of the worst Open courses. Lacks atmosphere... Worthy Open venue and the best attitude towards visitors.

 

Beacon Park Golf Club *

Beacon Lane, Up Holland, Dalton, WN8 7RU

Nearest main town: Dalton

 

Secretary: Mr T. Harris                

Tel: 01695 627500 Fax: 01695 633066

Professional: Mr R. Peters                  

Tel: 01695 622700

Playing: Midweek: round prices on application; day n/a. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch from 11.30am­2.30pm.

Comments: Outstanding practice facilities...Topography not ideal for beginners...Very hilly...Condition not great...Everything you need to practice with purpose.