West Lancashire Golf Club sits on one of England's finest stretches of links land, a natural and testing course that has somehow escaped the fame lavished on its illustrious neighbors. Founded in 1873 by members of Royal Liverpool seeking to expand the game across the Mersey, this club is among the ten oldest in England and boasts an original architect lost to time—putting it in the company of St. Andrews. The current layout, redesigned by C.K. Cotton in 1961, sprawls across 200 acres of the largest dune complex in England, arranged in two loops of nine holes with both finishing greens visible from the modern clubhouse.
What makes West Lancs so special is its supreme naturalness. The course undulates with characteristic links humps and hollows, featuring cleverly bunkered greens sitting on plateaux and in dells that demand precision over power. The par-3s and par-4s offer genuine variety, while the signature par-5 11th runs alongside the historic Liverpool-Southport railway line, adding to the course's distinctive character. On summer evenings, as the sun sets over the dunes, shipping slips silently down the Mersey estuary while distant Welsh hills frame the horizon.
West Lancashire has hosted Final Qualifying for The Open Championship since 1976, and regularly stages R&A and England Golf competitions. The welcome here is genuinely warm—both members and staff take pride in their course. With excellent facilities including a full driving range, chipping area, and putting green, plus a modern clubhouse with great views and fine dining, groups find everything they need for a memorable golf trip. This is the real deal: old-fashioned, high-quality links golf that proves you don't need a "Royal" in front of your name to be truly great.
A championship links redesigned by C.K. Cotton in 1961, laid out on 200 acres in two loops of nine with classic bunkers, plateau greens, and views of the Mersey estuary.