Eighteen Holes

Well the excitement of the Ricoh British Womens Open is getting close – I’ve just been on a run through Southport and then past Royal Birkdale and the big sign boards are going up!

All of the fun of the Ricoh British Womens Open starts in a few weeks so no doubt the stands, TV cranes and the odd tent will start to appear around Royal Birkdale, and no doubt one day I’ll be on a long run from the Coast Road to home only to find the footpath between Royal Birkdale and Hillside Golf Course is blocked with official vehicles. It happen just before the men’s Open! Luckily I was able to persuade people to let me run through else a 2 mile run back home could easily become 5 miles with a few of those through the sand dunes!

We haven’t, as parents, been told that the school is affected in any way, so I suppose being a smaller competition the set-up for it all is smaller, more compact and less of a disturbance. But during late July I’ll be wandering down that way to take a look at what is going on – and I already have my sand dune picked from which the panoramic view is amazing and looks over some of the holes!

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If you are venturing to the Merseyside area for the Ricoh Women’s Open Golf competition later this year, you might also be considering a game or two yourself at one of the many golf courses that fill the area. The Royal Birkdale course itself is neighboured by Hillside and Southport and Ainsdale golf clubs and within a few miles you have two more Southport clubs, four courses at two clubs in nearby Formby, a couple of clubs in Ormskirk and that is without looking further away to Preston, Kirkby, Crosby and so on.

But if you maybe do not want to venture to one of these main high class clubs, what are the pay and play options on offer? We will look at a few of the options here!

Not too far away from Birkdale, easily accessible by car, is the famous Aintree race course. Within the ‘country’ half of the course as it is known (that is the area over the Melling Road furthest away from the grandstands) lies a motor racing track and within that a truly excellent 9-hole golf course. It is a course I have played several times and am hoping to play again in the next couple of weeks. Turn up and play or if you are travelling, check their website for the telephone number and book in advance, just in case they are closed due to a horse or motor racing event!

The course, when first built, held the record for the longest holes in a 9-hole course in the UK. No one seems to known whether this is still the case, but at around 550 yards plus, the first and the ninth holes are long and excellent fun! Not all of the holes are this long and there are a few par three holes to ease the game.

But out of the memorable holes, this course has a few, but what could be more so than playing the ninth hole towards the grandstands of the race course? An excellent distraction as you are playing.

Nearer to the action in Royal Birkdale is the Southport Links, which is the Southport municipal course. Do not be put off by the municipal tag, it is an excellent course, in good standing and a trial to play with the third hole another long Merseyside hole of longer than 550 yards. The blind shot over the bunker on the fourth hole is a challenge and a half, you will see what I mean when you approach a bunker that must be 20 feet high! The rest of the first 9 are interesting holes, although the back 9 are a little up and down in places, over some very long par 4s.

For the not so serious there are a few other courses that are par 3s in the area, including Tarleton and the Formby Driving Centre, as well as a pitch and putt at Ocean Plaza in Southport. If you feel like hitting a ball or two, there are plenty of option.

If you need to know more about golfing equipment, golf talk or are trying to find hotels for the Ricoh Open Golf, then do pop along to the site for some unbiased views on what is on hand in Southport and the general area.

By Keith Lunt, for eighteen-holes.co.uk, where you will discover a wealth of information about golf, golf equipment and a whole lot more!

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As a local, for me venturing down to Royal Birkdale to watch the Women’s British Open will be no big hassle. If I’m taking the family we’ll drive, if I’m on my own I’ll walk. But if you are venturing to the Southport area to experience the delights of the Ricoh Women’s British Open in July and August, where are you going to stay? Based on my local knowledge, here are a few places worthy of consideration.

If you are interested in any of these hotels they are all bookable via this link. It is a site I have used before and with the majority of hotels you do not pay until arrival and nearly all will allow you to cancel your reservation right up to the day of arrival. So if the summer weather turns bad and you change your travel plans, you are not losing out on hotel costs.

The Royal Clifton, a member of the Best Western chain of hotels, is a large hotel overlooking the gardens. This large hotel is not too far from the action down at Royal Birkdale, being situated at the Birkdale end of the centre. It is out of the way of the main shops, but not too far to walk into the centre for plenty of shopping! Over the road are the popular Kings Gardens, allowing for an evening walk around the gardens and the Marine Lake. There is plenty of parking on site and more pay and display outside. An excellent base if you are wanting to drive the short distance to Royal Birkdale.

Another good choice of hotel at that end of Southport is the Prince of Wales hotel. This hotel with Victorian features is located on Lord Street, where a lot of the shops are. It is at the quieter end, but easily walkable to all of the main shops.

Again this hotel has plenty of on and off street parking and if you want to drive to Royal Birkdale, or if you are as keen to walk as I am and you want to walk it, just turn left onto Lord Street out of the hotel gates, keep following the road as it becomes Waterloo Road through Birkdale and about 2 miles from your hotel is the golf club. Easy by car or by taxi.

Another impressive and long standing hotel is the Scarisbrick Hotel. Right in the middle of the shops along with its own bar, restaurant and night club, it can be a busy place. The hotel details do mention parking, but I would not know where this is. Possibly around the back of the hotel. But if you are traveling by public transport and would like a lively hotel, here is the one for you!

Although we don’t know yet where the official public parking will be, there is an area by the golf course that is used for parking for Southport’s famous flower show, and I expect that this might be called into action for this event. I do not think they are expecting the visitor levels experienced when the men take their turn to play in Birkdale. But assuming car parking is close by, driving from any of the Southport hotels will only take minutes.

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The Ricoh Women’s Open is coming to Royal Birkdale this year, following in the footsteps of the British Open a couple of years ago. For those who attended last year’s Women’s Open just down the road in Royal Lytham, you might already know the area. But for those who don’t, and those that maybe do but aren’t sure where to stay, here is a selection of hotels nearby.

All of these hotels are bookable through this link. Best of all, by using that site you don’t have to pay yet. A credit card number secures your booking and with a lot of the the hotels you only pay on arrival. Excellent if you decide not to bother.

First, there is the Premier Inn down at Ocean Plaza. Around its car park there are several restaurants, catering for Oriental, Italian, American and more tastes. There is also a cinema for the evenings and a large sports shop and gym. It is well worth a look at this hotel if you are visiting the area. A short taxi ride will get you to Royal Birkdale or it isn’t too far from the local bus routes. If you are as stupid as me, I’d walk it. But not advised unless you are very fit!

There is also another Premier Inn on the road into Ormskirk, but it is further from the course and I wouldn’t advise this one for anyone using public transport. Driving to Royal Birkdale would be a must from here!

Another choice for accommodation for the Ricoh Women’s  Open when it returns to Birkdale is the Formby Hall Golf Resort. Again out of the way a little, but just a short drive down the Coastal Road to the course. Plus, for real golf fans, the chance of a round or two themselves at the Formby Hall course.

Getting back into Southport centre, another top choice for accommodation must be the brand new Ramada Plaza Southport. Easily walkable to the same eating venues as the first Premier Inn and also very close to the main shopping area of Southport. This hotel is right next door to the newly refurbished Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and should have excellent views over the Marine Lake and maybe even towards Blackpool, if you face the sea.

If you are looking for a truly classy hotel then look at Southport’s Vincent Hotel. Right in the centre of the town, this hotel occupies the spot of one of the town’s old cinemas, the last of the small cinemas to close in the town. This stylish 4* hotel has a gym and plenty to offer visitors to the area intent on visiting the Golf. Getting to Royal Birkdale to enjoy the Womens Open would be a simple taxi ride, effectively just down the one road (impossible to get lost if driving yourself???). This hotel should be something of an experience if you are in the area!

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