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Formby, England |
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Formby Golf Club
Golf Road
Formby
Merseyside
L37 1LQ
England |  | Willie Park, James Braid, Harry Colt, Hawtree and Taylor, Donald Steel |  | Andrew Witherup |
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 | +44 (0) 1704 872164 |  | On A565, 7 miles N of Liverpool |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Contact in advance |  | Mark Betteridge |
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Formby Golf Club is the prettiest of the eight top-notch links courses located between the seaside town of St Annes and the city of Liverpool. It is bordered on three sides by pine trees, giving the links a decidedly softer, heathland feel than the others. Set in 470 acres on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Formby Golf Club is one of the few places left in England where you might catch a glimpse of the native Red Squirrel.
Founded in 1884, originally as a nine-hole course designed by Willie Park, and it was extended to 18 holes by the turn of the century. James Braid and Harry Colt remodelled the layout in the 1920s and Hawtree and Taylor added their changes in the 1930s. More recently, Donald Steel lengthened the course and it now measures 7,028 yards from the tips.
Formby is a unique course as the holes are routed in a huge anti-clockwise circle around the Formby Ladies’ Club which sits slap bang in the middle of the men’s course. The first three holes follow the railway line, the 4th turns and heads out towards the Irish Sea and at the turn, we meander back home, zigzagging up and down along the way.
Play Formby when you have been sufficiently beaten up by the other windy links courses around Liverpool and Southport, but don’t be fooled into thinking that this course is easy. It certainly is not. Bunkering is strategic, the undulating fairways are very much links-like, the rough is strewn with heather and the pines provide an element of park-like protection from the wind. Formby will suit both links lovers and the player who prefers the softness of inland golf; both these camps will arrive contentedly at the 19th watering hole.
Formby has hosted a number of important amateur events over the years and played host to the 2004 Curtis Cup. After an exciting finish, the United States successfully retained the trophy, winning 10-8. The Amateur Championship was played here on three occasions; José Maria Olazabal emerged as the 1984 winner and the event returned in 2009 to coincide with the 125th anniversary of the club. A certain sixteen-year-old Italian, Matteo Manassero, won the 2009 Amateur Championship, becoming the youngest ever winner of the event.
In Bernard Darwin’s book, The Golf Courses of the British Isles, he wrote: “The greens are beautifully green; they are likewise very true and keen enough, without ever being bare and hard. The lies, too, are excellent, and it is altogether one of those courses where the player’s fate is entirely in his own hands. If he plays well everything will conspire to help him on his way, but he has got to play really well – good, sterling, honest golf: there is no mistake about that at Formby.”
This is a relatively unknown course, primarily because many golfers head in droves towards the three big Royals in this area (Liverpool, Birkdale and Lytham St Annes). If you are planning a trip to the northwest and haven’t already played Formby, we thoroughly recommend that you do. You will get a warm welcome and a unique and exciting experience. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |  | | | A fabulous course. I had the assistant pro as a caddy and he did a fantastic job. The condition was great and some of the holes are fantastic. A friendly clubhouse and I am just jealous that I am not a member. |
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| 12 November 2012
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| | I enjoyed a memorable birthday treat at Formby on 23rd August 2012. Arriving at the clubhouse at 9am we were greeted by the lovely Julie who looked after us extremely well right through from booking to playing on the day. The club has an attractive old world colonial style and it was with great expectation that we looked out on the well manicured course.
The weather was kind to us with little wind or rain and we were welcomed by the amenable starter at 09.46 and advised that our round might take around four and a half hours. We were behind four Swiss golfers with local caddies doing a tour of North West golfing gems and indeed the round did take this long though that was not a problem as it allowed us to drink in the relaxing surrounds.
We played off the yellow tees and at 6,500 yards with a par and SSS of 72 the course was a good challenge though a pleasure to play. It is links style but with only one blind approach shot and fairways that are not too rolling it provided a fairer links challenge than more unusual layouts. In places the fairways are lined by tall pine trees that give a very elegant feel. The greens were very true hence I managed to sink several 20 foot putts and the rough was as expected pretty challenging so I left this mainly to my playing partner!
Though not cheap to play at £95 (per round OR per day) the club and surrounds have a lovely feel – don’t miss a quick gander at the houses by the 17th tee! We made it good value for money by playing both morning and afternoon rounds and enjoying some excellent bar food at lunchtime - do try the triple decker sandwich!
All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful including the catering manager who has lined up a good wine list (try the Franken Pinot Noir!) and who very kindly gave us a quick tour of the premises.
With a 9 handicap I was really pleased to come back in par on the back nine. We finished our 36th hole at 19.45 noticing John Parrot strolling past. We discovered that John is one of Formby’s members and an excellent golfer who plays in the club’s snooker team so beware the local competition!
All in all a very pleasurable experience and one to be recommended to others wishing to play the top quality courses of North West England. I look forward to returning again in the future. Jeff Robinson.
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| 26 August 2012
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| | Played here on Sunday 1st April for the 4th year running and I enjoy formby more each time. Yes the weather was superb and the course looked sublime in the Spring sunshine. The course starts fairly easily with holes 1 to 4 pretty straight forward but when you reach the 5th tee it gets tough. Usually into the wind the par 3 5th is really tricky with the green up on a hill with trouble either side. The 6th, again into the wind to a hidden green requires 2 really well hit shots. The 7th, probably the hardest tee shot on the course and the hardest green on the course. The 8th should be a good birdie opportunity but there is trouble if you dont get a good tee shot away, and the green has 2 tiers to it. The 9th is a really strong par 4. I could go on but go to formby and play it for yourself you won't be disappointed. |
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| 02 April 2012
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| | Solid golf course what needs to be said. Many good holes, a few excellent holes and a couple bland holes but the one advantage this course has over many other highly rated courses is its great terrain. You have to hit all the shots to get around here in a good number. |
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| 24 July 2011
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| | Played for the first time earlier this week. Enjoyed the course. Difficult scoring a course this time of year but the club is charging full rate £75 so I am going to score it on that basis. A little disappointed still to be playing off most of the winter tees which have been battered all winter so are now not great, but more frustrating to be off such a forward course. All the winter furniture of ropes directing traffic etc were still out and the whole course seemed to be still in winter mode. Greens had also just been top dressed. Quite sure I could return in June and score the course 6/6 as it is a superb layout and setting. |
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| 14 April 2011
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| | Played here for a third year running and have to say I enjoy it more every time. The course like previous reviews suggest has a real mixture of holes, some links, some through the pines etc but the run from the par 3 5th to the par 3 10th are superb. The course wasn't over tough from the tee as the rough wasn't grown that high but I imagine it could be in the summer months. Having played all the courses on the Lancashire coast, with the exception of RLSA, Formby rates very highly. A must play course and I'll be back again next year definatley. |
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| 28 March 2011
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| | Truly lovely place to play golf. Really pretty, with a mixture of pines and links. Very impressed the course, and loved the circular layout meaning you played shots with, against and across the wind. No blind shots of note. Loved it! |
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| 26 September 2009
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| | I played Formby a couple of weeks ago very early on a very windy morning.
Really enjoyed the course, nicely set up and great condition, but with the rough up it was super hard in the conditions. Once you are in the rough it is very hard to get out, and once you are on the fairway it is very difficult to stay there !
Highly recommended, and if you have the time park in the National Trust car park and ramble around the beach, forest and dunes - real Lawrence of Arabia stuff. Would love to come back and play and stay in the dormy at the top of the club house. |
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| 29 August 2009
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| | This past May I have played all top courses in the area, Hoylake, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham included, with Formby being the last one of the trip. I can support all great reviews regarding the unique character of this track, its quality and condition - its purely one of the best 'players' golf courses, period - demanding yet not overkill, beautiful with a great flow. My opinion has nothing to do with my score (in fact my best score was at Royal Lytham) and is purely based on experience of playing great courses around the World incl. majority of the Open courses and their qualifier "tracks". This is the one to NOT miss if you love golf. |
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| 27 July 2009
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| | Superb course, much lower than it should be in the rankings! The course is very tough, and like other courses in the area, you will be punished if you miss the fairways. The course is well bunkered and is a superb mix of links and heath, plus a day ticket is half of what it you pay to play Birkdale. Can't say enough good things about this course, one of the best in England. Beauty and a brute combined with fantastic practice facilities.
Every hole is interesting and the 9th is particularly tough into wind, a 450 yard par 4 with a tight fairway. Superb! |
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| 18 July 2009
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| | Played here in May - to echo others previous comments - you'll need to make the most of the relatively straightforward first few holes, but this doesn't mean they're easy, you'll need to be on your best game as the strongest holes are in the middle, with 6 though to 10 being the cream of the crop. The 7th definitely being my favourite, a straight shot through a pine forest onto the narrow fairway is required here, followed by a good second shot onto an elevated green.
I was pleased to bogey the 8th (par 5, SI-1). It was nice to eventually glimpse the sea in the distance when we got to the 9th. which is followed by the par 3 10th, 215 yards in a hideous cross-wind. Virtually every hole has danger lurking on both sides to punish wayward shots, whether it's glorious yellow gorse, or thick heather or the bunkering - I did have to smile as my friend went into a good proportion of the 83 bunkers, including 2 on the 18th!
As the course is arranged in a circle around Formby Ladies course, rather than just out and back, you will get the wind from every conceivable angle whatever the prevailing direction.
On the whole, the course has a lot to commend it, it's a nice mixture of links, heath and parkland. You wouldn't normally get this amount of pine trees (or often any substantial trees) on a links course, but it makes for a nice contrast and keeps it varied and interesting, you'll need to be on your mettle on this course, "straight and accurate" are words I repeated to myself more than once in the car park!
It's quite old school and formal here, but none the worse for that, the members are very aware and proud of the history of the club and their course, which was in great condition. I did see one old gentleman playing in plus fours, but it wasn't stuffy, and we played through two other four balls who were less fortunate with their drives than we were. Just remember you'll need a jacket for the dining room, but we found the bar snacks sufficient for our needs and everyone was very friendly and accommodating.
In retrospect I should have stayed at the dormy house for £135 B&B, and played twice, as this fee would have included a day ticket, which is incredibly good value for a course of this stature. Really enjoyed it, and will be back! |
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| 25 May 2009
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| | I was left a little disappointed by the course because it receives so many rave reviews. It certainly is a mix of style - some links (although I don't agree with some of the comments about it being a classic links at all!), some parkland and some heathland. I found the course therefore lacked flow, continuity and consistency. The opening four and closing few holes were flat and the weakest on the course and the 16th, a pitch and putt par 3, contributed to a limp closing set of holes. There is however a tremendous mix of holes running from the par 3 5th that make the most of some interesting terrain - the 7th, 8th and 9th are consecutively superb golf holes. A good to very good course but not, in my opinion, any better. |
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| 25 May 2009
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| | Simply fantastic, this is a highly enjoyable course from start to finish. Very good turf and greens, with varied and picturesque holes this is one of my favourite courses that I've played. Each hole feels quite distinct and requires a different approach. I already look forward to playing there again. |
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| 19 May 2009
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| | Formby is a magnicent golf course. We played the course in March and the condition was outstanding. The tees, fairways and greens were extremely well kept and all were flat with plenty of grass.
Having played S&A and Hoylake, I can say that this course looks twice as good and plays just as well as the Open Championship course.
I would greatly recommend this to any golfer, but be warned it is very tough throughout. And we chatted to John Parrott about the wonderful place for 10 minutes before the round!! |
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| 15 March 2009
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| | Played it just before christmas... WOW what a course. It was out of this world. We stood on nearly every hole and said "how good does this hole look!!" This course is a must play and up there with the best (Hillside, Birkdale, etc) I will certainly be back. |
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| 10 March 2009
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| | Excellent all round golf experience. Holes 2 to 12 are exceptional, with outstanding holes being 7&8 which are two of the most impressive holes I’ve ever played. Played all the west Lancashire coast courses with the exception of Royal Birkdale, and Formby is right up there. Hillside probably has the edge on the back nine but Formby certainly has the edge on the front 9. Excellent clubhouse and staff. Definitely a must play again. |
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| 05 March 2009
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| | A wonderful course - a classic links. You know the sea is somewhere close, yet it can't be seen. There are lots of trees and heather to add to the toughness of this gem. My abiding memory, however, is the friendliness of the staff. We had four local caddies who entertained us completely. You simply must play Formby, as a matter of urgency. Life is too short to delay! |
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| 06 October 2008
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| | Together with Hillside, I preferred both these courses to Royal Birkdale.
Much fairer and in magnificent condition.
WOuld love to play them both again. |
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| 26 September 2008
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| | Our small society enjoyed a great day's golf at Formby last Sunday. I'd echo all the positive comments already here. The course oozes class and it has a really good variety of holes, so you are kept thinking all the time. We were lucky with the weather in early March with the wind from the north east. Some of the yellow tees had been moved forward quite a long way, so these two facts together helped some of us to post a decent score. It would certainly pose a more difficult challenge off the back tees in a stiff south-westerly. The welcome we received from staff and members was friendly and I'm certain we will be back next winter to take advantage of their winter offer. |
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| 20 March 2008
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| | Excellent place to play and well worth every pound. Everyone at the club was welcoming. Good golfing atmosphere, the course speaks for itself, a bit heathland and bit links, some really good holes here. Highly recommended! |
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| 10 February 2008
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| | Another of the great courses in the Southport area. Formby is an attractive course, but the holes are championship quality through and through. The par 4 7th presents one of the tightest drives imaginable, and there are a number of holes winding through a pine forest. However, I think that the strength of the course are the open holes on the back nine which are pure links heaven.
This is a wonderful venue and not to be missed if you are in the Southport area.
Richard Smith, Knoxville Tennessee |
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| 13 December 2007
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| | Formby was a Superb course that we played in early November and what a deal. £140 for a 4 ball tee time was excellent value - the included sandwiches were pretty good too. The course itself was in good condition with the greens,even for November being fairly true and quick. The strength of Formby for me was the layout and that every hole was different.Whilst not massively long was a great challenge with bunkers placed in challenging places. I would like to hear of any other similar vallue for money courses to be played through the winter months. |
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| 10 November 2006
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| | Fantastic course and you wouldn't expect to find trees on that stretch of the coast. Much of an heathland feel to it. The best greens we played on too. A real beast from the back tees...Only disapppointment was the lack of organisation in the proshop and clubhouse with staff not as friendly as in other top venues in the area. |
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| 22 June 2006
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| | The fir tree emblem on ball markers, hole flags and such like tells you all you need to know about Formby – it is dominated by trees of the pine variety which are used to good effect throughout the course, whether it be to screen fairways from the railway line at the opening three holes or to flank the fairways at holes 7 to 9 (which were constructed in the 1970’s due to coastal erosion claiming holes elsewhere). The course has been used for many top amateur competitions and it is easy to see why, with marvellous conditioning and a heavenly hole routing in an anti clockwise circle around Formby Ladies golf course. I thought the aforementioned stretch of holes from 7 to 9 were particularly strong ,with hole 7 the pick of the trio – shades of Boat of Garten here too, I thought. As our three ball found at all local venues played during a long weekend stay in the area, the greens were such that your putting improved because their quality and pace demanded full concentration. Maybe we caught the couple of staff we dealt with in the clubhouse on a bad day but we did not receive the same friendly service we had been accustomed to at neighbouring courses which was something of a disappointment. That apart, Formby was a very fine place to play and a double bill of golf here and at Hillside would be a great day out. James McCann |
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| 21 June 2006
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| | No sea views to drink here at Formby, but the pines make up for it. It's also a tough monster - you really need to be on your game. It's a must play course if in the area. |
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| 22 August 2004
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| | A links course of high quality - as you walk around you can be transformed from classic links, to lush parkland that would not be out of place at Woburn, Wentworth or Gleneagles. Holes 7,8,and 9 are a great test and there is a big chance to ruin a good front 9 card here. Play well though and you'll deserve to feel good about your game. The middle of the back nine does become a little 'samey' but this is meant in the kindest way possible as the quality is always there. Formby recently staged the 2004 Curtis Cup ...
Great photos in the clubhouse including the 1984 amateur championship - Jose Maria and Monty looking very fresh.
Worthy inclusion in the British Isles top 50 ....
PS - Watch out for the hippo ! |
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| 19 August 2004
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| | An attractive links course but without the sea views. Fairly short in length but with numerous good and varied holes. Very friendly clubhouse and members. |
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| 14 June 2004
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