Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club

Royal Lytham and St Annes makes up for what it lacks in scenic views with an epic golf course that is one of the best and most challenging you are likely to play. 

Royal Lytham and St Annes, a stellar and regular host of The Open, often polarises opinion as a result of its surroundings.

Some cannot see past, literally as well as metaphorically, the red-brick houses which envelope the course. For them, it spoils the experience.

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It is a view which we find impossible to agree with. Spectacular scenery is never not welcome, but if tackling the course itself is sufficiently fascinating, nice views are not required.

What’s more, unless the scenery genuinely adds something to the course – like an Old Head, a Turnberry or a Dornoch – we may as well have a housing estate rather than bland countryside, which surrounds many courses whose location isn’t criticised.

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While that is undeniably subjective, what can surely be stated without fear of contradiction is that Royal Lytham and St Annes is a truly magnificent challenge.

When the wind blows, there is arguably no more exacting course in Britain and Ireland. Its bunkers make those at 95 per cent of this country’s courses appear utterly feeble.

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Find sand with a mis-directed drive or an approach and it is a shot gone. Indeed, you are often glad to lose just one. Sometimes, even accomplished bunker players find it difficult to merely escape backwards.

In addition, George Lowe (with later advice from Harry Colt) has designed it with devil and cunning; the land around many of the 206 bunkers gathers inexorably towards the pits as balls are drawn towards the sand like metal to a magnet.

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That said, the sand itself is delightful for good players to splash through and enormous satisfaction can be gleaned from extricating yourself skilfully from these pot bunkers.

The closing stretch is every bit as epic as that at Carnoustie and its conditioning has few peers in this country.

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• Course has: Bar
• Course does not have: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course does not have: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 5 out of 5 Outstanding no 17 March 2014

  By Gary Whiting

  Nothing I can say can do this course justice. You must play this before you die. Awesome. The biggest challenge and home of the greats.

• 5 out of 5 A Royal Must!! 06 July 2007

  By bren2709

  Played & stayed at Royal Lytham this is a must. Stopped in the Dormy House which was Great, played the course which was also Great. As you can see on my ratings top marks across the board. Service on and off the course was superb, if you stay and play you must stop in tha Dormy this is value for money. This is a true test of Golf as it sould be, Greens are the best i have played on true and fast. 10/10 thank you.