Time to stimulate some debate. A recurring theme of my tour of the links courses of Great Britain was how there was almost always a hole or two out three that would grace the greatest of courses.
Whether it be a world-class links where that might be expected, or one entirely unheard of, links land is special. A hole by the water over the bustling, sandy ground is enough to get any excited.
These are my favourite holes from the courses around Liverpool revealed in the first volume of Links From the Road…
Golf in Liverpool: What are the best holes on the coastline?
Royal Liverpool: 12th Hole | 454 yards | Par 4
There is a stretch of holes along the coast that is worthy of any course in the world. With so many contenders, picking a single favourite is a challenge.
It is a hole that combines both design features in one. The drive here is challenging but options are available, you must perfectly marry accuracy and distance.
It was the hardest hole at the Open but one that challenges in an intelligent and engaging manner. You’ll never tire of attempting to master it.
West Lancashire: 12th Hole | 176 yards | Par 3
There is a run of holes on the back nine at West Lancs that can make or break your round.
Difficult, but in great land and with holes that make you think. My vote goes to the long par-3 12th.
It’s a classic combination of holding your nerve and perhaps taking an extra club off the tee. A large green in a beautiful setting, banked into a large dune – with more going on than might first appear.
Formby: 8th Hole | 481 yards | Par 5
Eight is similar, a long par 5 where the fairway sits atop a flattened dune – not unlike the 4th hole at Rye. If you can navigate the angled carry and find the left side of it, you’ve got a chance of going for the green in two. Make the easy mistake of missing the fairway right and you’re up against it.
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No bunkers required, just great land.
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Leasowe: 1st Hole | 249 yards | Par 4
This opening hole is not long, certainly short enough to tempt enough of us who should know better to reach for their driver, however, it has a unique hazard in play.
Leasowe’s first is protected by the ancient stone walls of the adjacent Castle. A high draw around the curved wall feels like the play.
Southport & Ainsdale: 16th Hole | 576 yards | Par 5
S&A’s contribution to this list was immediate. Some will hate this hole due to its inherent quirk and clear eccentricity; I love it. Playing along the railway track, Hillside on the other side, Gumbleys is otherwise conventional on the drive.
An enormous bunker sits at the base of a large dune, clad with railway sleepers to add to the intimidation factor. So worried about clipping the sleepers with a 3-wood for a long second shot, most play a mid-iron to make sure they comfortably clear this extraordinary hazard.
With a long 17th to follow, how well you navigate Gumbleys can make or break your round.
Hillside: 11th Hole | 490 yards | Par 5
The par-5 11th is widely considered to be Hillside’s best.
The fairway meanders around the towering dunes that flank the hole. If your drive is left, it may well be blocked out by the dune that cuts down into the fairway. From the right, another dune cutting into the fairway is brought into your eyeline, but there is a chance of finding the raised putting surface.
The views from the tee are quite spectacular across the course and sea to the Lake District beyond – it’s a stunning spot.
Wallasey: 11th Hole | 376 yards | Par 4
Playing from tees set in one dune ridge to a green set in another, the hole is a rollercoaster.
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The fall is dramatic, playing from high to the fairway gently curving away below. Most will stand on the tee and take square aim at the distant green – the ‘Line of Instinct’, as architect and writer Max Bohr would have called it.
Formby Ladies: 4th Hole | 290 yards | Par 4
This is a course where stand-out holes immediately jumped out at me.
Like most holes here, it’s not long at 290 yards, but of course it is designed to be played as a two-shot hole.
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Flanked by pine trees and masses of heather, it is just one of a handful of risk-reward, half-par holes that you’d never tire of playing.
The Warren: 5th Hole | 285 yards | Par 4
There may only be nine holes at this little municipal gem, but it possesses a fabulous run of holes.
Five plays up and over a towering sand hill – a sense of drama and adventure normally lacking from a sanitised municipal course.
Enjoy the panoramic view to Liverpool’s docks beyond, and a stretch of holes rarely found in municipal golf.
Hesketh: 2nd Hole | 149 yards | Par 3
It is hard to create an elevated par-3 green that works for all classes of golfer.
When the wind blows, it can be a skill beyond the average golfer to land the ball atop a volcano green. This hole works and works beautifully.
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The trick is in the size of the putting surface. It’s large, twice the width at the front before tapering away to the narrow back section.
Royal Birkdale: 16th Hole | 438 yards | Par 4
The 16th would be long on any other scorecard, it is one of the shorter holes on this brutal run in.
It is challenged by its topography and bunkering rather than overall distance though. The drive has a pair of bunkers sat on the right side of this rippling fairway.
Out left there is plenty of room, but the way the green sits along a slight ridge, bunkered down the left side, it is a tricky line to approach from.
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This is an excerpt from Volume 1 of Sam Cooper’s Links from the Road journals.
This 18-volume series covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: The Wirral, Liverpool and Southport is available to purchase now from www.linksfromtheroad.com for £17 with subscription offers also available.
Now have your say on the best golf in Liverpool
Golf in Liverpool: What are the best golf holes on the Liverpool coastline? How many of Sam’s picks would be on your list? Let us know your favourites by leaving us a comment on X.
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