Photo: Sue Adair · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lancashire & Merseyside Coast, England
Formby Golf Club
A dune-and-pine links on the Sefton Coast, distinct for its wooded inland stretch between the sea and open fairways.
Course overview
Formby Golf Club was founded in 1884, with the current layout designed by Willie Park Jr. in 1912. James Braid, Harry Colt, and later Donald Steel made further changes over the following decades, including rerouting parts of the course further inland in the 1970s due to coastal erosion. The club welcomes visiting golfers via online booking or by contacting the office directly, with Saturday and Sunday generally reserved for member competitions.
The essentials
- Architect
- Willie Park Jr. (1912); James Braid, Harry Colt, and Donald Steel (later redesigns)
- Established
- 1912
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,303 m
- Location
- Merseyside, England
Character & atmosphere
A links unusual for its wooded, pine-lined inland stretch alongside more traditional open dune holes — a result of erosion-driven rerouting rather than original design intent. The mix gives Formby a distinctive character among Sefton Coast links, demanding both shot-shaping in the open holes and precision through the trees.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by Willie Park Jr. (1912); James Braid, Harry Colt, and Donald Steel (later redesigns), opened in 1912.
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is the closest airport, with Formby roughly midway between Southport and Liverpool — under 30 minutes' drive from either. Visitor tee times can be booked online or by contacting the club office directly; Saturdays and Sundays are generally reserved for member competitions.
Where to stay
Southport is the obvious base for a Royal Birkdale trip — the course sits at the southern edge of the town, and the wider Sefton coast is one of England's most concentrated links golf regions. The town itself retains a traditional English seaside character, with Lord Street's Victorian architecture and a genuine pier adding some non-golf interest for a short stay.
Location
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England
Explore Lancashire & Merseyside Coast
England's premier Open Championship coastline, spanning Royal Birkdale on the Sefton dunes, Royal Liverpool across the Dee Estuary on the Wirral, and Royal Lytham & St Annes on the Fylde coast.