Formby Golf Club

Formby Golf Club is one of the classic courses of the Lancashire coastline. Although somewhat protected from the elements by pine trees that line several of the holes, the course is a tough one, particularly when the wind does break through. Such is the profusion of wildlife and plants at Formby that it has been declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest with the magnificent, fragile dunes a designated conservation area.

The club is unique in Britain for within the boundary of its own course is the completely independent Formby Ladies Golf Club, which was founded in 1896. Formby Golf Club, founded twelve years earlier in 1884, are proud to have an outstanding amateur championship course with par 3’s amongst the most challenging to be found anywhere. Visitors are most welcome throughout the year on non-competition days.

Formby has hosted many important national and regional amateur golf events, particularly four Amateur Championships. It was on this course that Jose-Maria Olazabal beat Colin Montgomerie to win the final of The Amateur Championship in 1984. The excellence of the course was underlined once again in 2004, when the Club had the honour of hosting the Curtis Cup - the world's greatest team event in Ladies Amateur Golf, a match between Great Britain and Ireland against the USA. Formby is at the forefront of amateur championship golf in the U.K. and acted as one of the three final qualifying courses for The Open in 2006. Modelled by three of golf's greatest architects, the course measures from the members' tees 6,496 and championship tees a tremendous 7,024.

The course is in good condition all year round, the greens are firm and the undulating fairways excellent. However, accuracy and concentration are prerequisites for every hole, with the heather and rough forming a natural boundary together with bunkers and sand hills; it does not serve the golfer to be unfocused.

The lovely surroundings tempt many golfers to delay their departure, spending time in the clubhouse, where they are guaranteed a warm welcome. The current clubhouse was opened in 1901, replacing its predecessor which was destroyed by a fire. It offers dormy house accommodation for members and visitors, ideal for those early morning tee-offs.

Uniquely visitors can access both the men’s championship course and the Formby Ladies Golf Club on the same golf trip and over a weekend as well.