Southport And Ainsdale Golf Club
| HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Golfshake Review
Southport And Ainsdale Golf Club, Merseyside is an 18 hole, par 72 (6836 yard), private, links golf course designed by James Braid in 1906.
Contact Information
Bradshaws Lane, Ainsdale, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 3LG United Kingdom
Tel: 01704 578000Golf Pro: J Payne
Website: http://www.sandagolfclub.co.uk
Tee Time Information
* Any prices shown are guide prices, please confirm with the course prior to booking.
Course Information:
18 holes | Par 72 | 6836 yards | Private | Links
View more Merseyside Golf Clubs
- Societies Accepted to Play
- 5 Day Membership Available
Restrictions: Maximum Handicap No Restriction
Southport And Ainsdale Golf Club Reviews & Information
Golfshake Rating
4.68
from 51
4.68
from 51
Average Ratings
4.88 ... Overall Rating
4.86 ... The Course
4.70 ... Course Cond.
4.76 ... Facilities/Serv.
4.49 ... VFM
4.88 ... Overall Rating
4.86 ... The Course
4.70 ... Course Cond.
4.76 ... Facilities/Serv.
4.49 ... VFM
Addtional Ratings
4.20 ... Pace of play
4.70 ... Hospitality.
4.20 ... Prac. Facil.
4.60 ... Food + Drink
4.20 ... Pace of play
4.70 ... Hospitality.
4.20 ... Prac. Facil.
4.60 ... Food + Drink
Reviews
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51 ratings & 32 reviews on Golfshake. Ranked 146 out of 2170.
HIGHLY RATED - 100% would play again or recommend
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What the club says: Set amongst the sand dunes and heathland of the north west coastline, this two-time host of The Ryder Cup was designed by James Braid - one of the great figures that dominated British professional golf in the early part of the 20th century. The course is not incredibly long but the narrow fairways, bordered by sandy dunes and channels require application and accuracy off the tee.
Read our full reviewGolf Course Reviews for Southport And Ainsdale Golf Club
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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com
Reviewed Oct 10 2019 by Andy C - rated 5 out of 5 Beautiful course
Great links course, very tough for an average golfer especially in the wind which was 30mph +. Enjoyed the round and great company with two members . Definitely a day to remember, if not for the golf!(Round played: Oct 2019 - Score: 104 Handicap: 17.7)
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Reviewed Sep 28 2019 by Richard N - rated 5 out of 5 Every hole’s a beauty!
Absolutely outstanding golf course, beautifully presented. Heavy rain in prior days didn’t spoil it at all, green staff sponging the greens thru the morning to keep it. If I have to find a fault, it’s that the bunkers are a little lacking in decent sand.....but honestly if you get a chance to play this course,do it(Round played: Sep 2019 - Score: 96 Handicap: 15.1)
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Reviewed May 18 2019 by Paul W - rated 5 out of 5 Magnificent
A course that has held two Ryder Cups, albeit back in the day, does not disappoint. From the very tricky opening par three, "Trial" to the weird and wonderful "Gumbleys", this is a place that begs you to go hit a golf ball round it.Magnificent fairways and brilliantly maintained greens.
(Round played: May 2019 - Score: 103 Handicap: 14.9)
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Reviewed Aug 23 2018 by Gordon N - rated 5 out of 5 Incredibly brilliant
What a fabulous links course with so many challenges and so many interesting holes in perfect condition. Absolutely loved it and can?t wait for someone to invite me againCourse (layout/challlenge)
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Reviewed Apr 9 2018 by Andy H - rated 5 out of 5 Superb Southport and Ainsdale
Played in early April after prolonged poor weather, but the course played superbly. 4th hole is undergoing work, so the tee is well forward, but a really minor point. The greens were quick and rolled beautifully, Fairways in excellent condition given the weather and will definitely go back.(Round played: Apr 2018 - Score: 79 Handicap: 9.2)
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Reviewed Nov 18 2017 by Ron H - rated 4 out of 5 Bit wet on back 9 but overall good for November
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Reviewed Sep 27 2017 by Marek L - rated 4 out of 5 Home of the Ryder Cup -Great Course
Long drive to get there but definitely worth the visit. Well Maintained and best bunkers played this year and proper bunkers - deep!! Greens looked fast but played a lot slower than they seemed esecially and borrows!! Almost a links type feel but plenty of goorse to remind you not to stray too far off the beaten track. Would love to visit again one day.(Round played: Sep 2017 - Score: 90 Handicap: 14.7)
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Reviewed Aug 24 2017 by Chris N - rated 5 out of 5 Up there in my top 5 ever experiences.
Played with a member for an extremely good rate midweek. The full green fee is quite a pricey one but as a one off i'd recommend it. Teed off late so didn't come across anyone in front the whole round.Fantastic setting, great condition, interesting holes with amazingly positioned bunkers............where the stroke saver came to good use! Only used driver on 5 holes, so more of a plotter's course..........which is my preference.
Thankfully didn't visit the rough much, but when did, it's actually quite easy to find the ball. The whole course is playable for higher handicappers too.
Always helps sway your view of a course when you shoot a good score (79, HC11) however loved every minute of this, helped greatly by the amazing levels of friendliness and welcome. Often hard to find at exclusive, historical clubs such as this, so congratulations S&A.
Hillside has one of the best back 9's ever, so tricky to compare the two, but S&A is consistently good on all fronts, except one........the on course signage isn't great and it was a relief I was playing with a member. Would be a little awkward for a group of all visitors.
No real wind or rain always helps the score too, but this place is one of my favourites of all time, with the OC, Gullane, Belle Dune and Hillside.
Get it on your list.
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Reviewed Jul 26 2017 by Mike H - rated 5 out of 5 A Bucket List Venue
A challenging links in great condition. Is a tough but fair test requiring you to keep it straight off the tee and out of the heather as well as numerous bunkers. Greens were quick and true but with subtle borrows. Top quality catering and well trained staff provide high levels of service and a very welcoming atmosphere. Bar very well stocked and run. Definitely one for the "Must Play" list.Course (layout/challlenge)
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Reviewed Jun 14 2017 by Michael H - rated 5 out of 5 Top drawer course
Fantastic traditional coastal links course, twice former Ryder cup venue!Course (layout/challlenge)
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Reviewed May 22 2017 by Mike F - rated 4 out of 5 Brilliant course and very challenging. I'm not a big fan of Links courses as I find them dry and a bit dull but S
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Reviewed Mar 12 2017 by Paul K - rated 4 out of 5 (Round played: Mar 2017 - Score: 91 Handicap: 11.5)
Great course in great condition. Green were getting treated but still played well.
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Reviewed Jan 24 2017 by Dave A - rated 5 out of 5 We usually play at S&A twice a year – once in the summer and once in the winter. Aside from Birkdale, I think it’s the best course of the four “top” courses in the immediate area – Hillside, West Lancs and Formby being the others. The others all have many weak holes, but S&A in my opinion only has one weak hole – 13th. They have made changes to the greens on other holes recently (2, 4, 10, 16) which I don’t actually like – I don’t think they have improved the holes (apart from 2nd) and the greens are very severe and perhaps not in keeping with the rest of the course – but that’s just personal opinion – others in my group thought they were fine.
As is always the case here, we were made to feel very welcome by both members in the clubhouse and staff that we dealt with – the pro and the starter were really helpful. A member even gave us a few buckets of practice balls off his allowance on the range. The clubhouse has been upgraded sometime in the last couple of years and it’s really impressive inside now and the food was excellent.
When we play in June/July I can honestly say that at times, I have never played on greens that are better and truer than S&A greens (I’ve played around 150 courses in the UK). Could perhaps be a bit faster, but in summer they are fantastic. One of the reasons that we come in winter for a round is that the course is still in fantastic, dry condition even at this time of year. I have to say that this year, we were a bit disappointed – tees & fairways were great, but greens and bunkers were not. The greens were softer than we have ever seen them and fairly uneven – still quite quick though. Several greenside bunkers had hardly any sand in them and on a few holes, there wasn’t even a rake available. I was told that the head greenkeeper of many years had retired, so I just hope this was a one-off and that we just caught it at a bad time. There was quite a lot of work going on around the course, on lots of holes, but you would expect that in the winter and it didn’t spoil our round at all.
None of the above would stop me going back to S&A again and I would still choose to play it before the others on that stretch. Open comps there are great value for money in the summer, but we got a good price for a tee time in winter too. I’ve just been offered a job in Liverpool and if I go, S&A will be the one course I will be trying to become a member of.
View moreAs is always the case here, we were made to feel very welcome by both members in the clubhouse and staff that we dealt with – the pro and the starter were really helpful. A member even gave us a few buckets of practice balls off his allowance on the range. The clubhouse has been upgraded sometime in the last couple of years and it’s really impressive inside now and the food was excellent.
When we play in June/July I can honestly say that at times, I have never played on greens that are better and truer than S&A greens (I’ve played around 150 courses in the UK). Could perhaps be a bit faster, but in summer they are fantastic. One of the reasons that we come in winter for a round is that the course is still in fantastic, dry condition even at this time of year. I have to say that this year, we were a bit disappointed – tees & fairways were great, but greens and bunkers were not. The greens were softer than we have ever seen them and fairly uneven – still quite quick though. Several greenside bunkers had hardly any sand in them and on a few holes, there wasn’t even a rake available. I was told that the head greenkeeper of many years had retired, so I just hope this was a one-off and that we just caught it at a bad time. There was quite a lot of work going on around the course, on lots of holes, but you would expect that in the winter and it didn’t spoil our round at all.
None of the above would stop me going back to S&A again and I would still choose to play it before the others on that stretch. Open comps there are great value for money in the summer, but we got a good price for a tee time in winter too. I’ve just been offered a job in Liverpool and if I go, S&A will be the one course I will be trying to become a member of.
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Reviewed Nov 1 2016 by Stephen M - rated 5 out of 5 Stunning course , expensive for what I would normally pay but not everyday you play a course like S
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Reviewed Sep 29 2016 by David P - rated 5 out of 5 A wonderful golf course and club house. We received a warm welcome and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
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Reviewed Sep 12 2016 by Ryan B - rated 5 out of 5 TERRIBLE FRONT 9 BUT RECOVERED WELL BACK 9. COURSE IN FABULOUS CONDITION.
(Round played: Sep 2016 - Score: 86 Handicap: 14.3)
View more(Round played: Sep 2016 - Score: 86 Handicap: 14.3)
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Reviewed Aug 15 2016 by Tim M - rated 5 out of 5 Course in excellent condition - general style is links with some additional hazards. Narrow tight fairways and small green's make it a challenge. Back 9 feels more difficult than the front.
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Reviewed Jul 25 2016 by Peter T - rated 5 out of 5 View more
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Reviewed Jul 11 2016 by Stephen S - rated 5 out of 5 View more
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Reviewed May 3 2016 by Duncan S - rated 5 out of 5 A wonderful links course set amongst the dunes although you are not near the sea. Classic clubhouse and a warm welcome from theme,bets.
(Round played: May 2016 - Score: 83 Handicap: )
View more(Round played: May 2016 - Score: 83 Handicap: )
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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com
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 | Hillside Golf Club from 40 reviews Distance 1.06 miles |
 | Royal Birkdale Golf Club from 39 reviews Distance 1.16 miles |
 | Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa from 211 reviews Distance 1.64 miles |
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