Golf in Southport
World-class golf courses near Southport
Southport is one of the best places to play golf in England, no exaggeration. Royal Birkdale is the headline act, one of the Open Championship venues and hosting The Open again in summer 2026. Getting on as a visitor requires forward planning and a handicap certificate, but it's possible.
Formby Golf Club is about 15 minutes south and considered one of the finest heathland links courses in the country, slightly more straightforward to book as a visitor than Royal Birkdale. Southport Old Links, Hillside Golf Club, and Southport & Ainsdale are all nearby and all serious courses.
If you're a golfer visiting the area, this stretch of the Sefton Coast is genuinely exceptional and underrated by most people outside the golfing community. Plan a few days and work your way around them.