From
£357
Per Person
Golfer Favourite
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*
- 1 Round at Formby Hall Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
Hillside Golf Club
Squeezed between Royal Birkdale and Southport and Ainsdale, Hillside Golf Club is cut through the towering sand dunes that define England's Golf Coast, and many visitors will tell you it's every bit as good as its Open Championship neighbours. It's a big claim, but it doesn't take long to see what they mean.
The course runs through classic Southport linksland, with dune corridors, firm turf and plenty of shots where flighting the ball and controlling your misses really matters. When the wind gets up, it becomes a proper thinking person's test, the kind of place where course management beats brute force. The layout rewards accuracy over distance, and you'll find yourself working the ball both ways to find the right angles into greens that can be tricky to hold when the breeze is blowing. If you're building a multi-course trip, it's a brilliant contrast to the big-name neighbours because it still feels like a pure, traditional links without any gimmicks.
Hillside's championship credentials were underlined when it hosted the 2019 Betfred British Masters. Tommy Fleetwood brought tour golf back to his home patch, and Sweden's Marcus Kinhult claimed the title at 16 under par, holding off Robert MacIntyre, Eddie Pepperell and Matt Wallace by a single shot. Watching the pros navigate the same dune-lined fairways and exposed greens you'll play gives you a real sense of what the course demands at every level.
Sitting right in the heart of Southport's cluster of world-class links, Hillside is an essential tick for any Lancashire golf break. If you're planning a trip to Southport, this is one you'll want on the itinerary.
Who is this for?
Golfers looking for a true championship links experience in Southport, with the chance to play a course that has hosted professional tour golf alongside Royal Birkdale and Southport and Ainsdale.
Who is it best for?
Mid to low handicap golfers who want to test themselves on a demanding, dune-lined links that rewards accuracy and course management, particularly in the wind. Also ideal for groups and societies building a multi-course itinerary around England's Golf Coast.
Top Offers
From
£357
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*
- 1 Round at Formby Hall Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
From
£408
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Bed and Breakfast at Waterfront Hotel Southport
- 1 Round at Formby Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
From
£460
Per Person
2 Nights, 2 Rounds
- 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*
- 1 Round at Formby Hall Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
From
£657
Per Person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
- 1 Night Room Only at The Vincent Hotel
- 1 Round at Formby Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
From
£988
Per Person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
- 2 Nights Room Only at The Vincent Hotel
- 1 Round at Formby Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
- 1 Round at Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club
From
£1183
Per Person
3 Nights, 4 Rounds
- 3 Nights Bed and Breakfast at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*
- 1 Round at Formby Hall Golf Club
- 1 Round at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
- 1 Round at Formby Golf Club
- 1 Round at Hillside Golf Club
Hillside Golf Club
The course has been endorsed by Major Championship winning golfing legends Tom Watson and Greg Norman, both fine exponents of seaside golf, and their recommendation should be enough to convince you to visit Hillside during your Southport tour. As one of a number of stunning golf courses in the North West of England, this stretch of coastal links is up there with the very best golf tours anywhere in the world.
The course is also populated by some towering pine trees, uncharacteristic for a seaside course, which add definition to the landscape and create a backdrop for some of the superb greens. With memorable views across the Irish Sea from many points, golfers will enjoy what is a spectacular place to play golf. There is little shelter to be had as you cut through the sandhills, but the rugged, pure links experience is arguably the finest form of the game.
Hillside Golf Club is ranked as one of the best courses in North West England
Past Open Championship winner and Australian golfing legend, Greg Norman wrote to Hillside after playing the course, saying that "the back nine were the best in Britain". Praise indeed for this illustrious golf course in Southport, especially considering it's well-known golfing neighbours, it is just a footpath which separates Hillside from Royal Birkdale and a train line from Southport and Ainsdale. Those visiting the area on a golf trip are sure to enjoy an experience that would hold it's own against the world's best golf tour destinations.
Past winners at Hillside include Tony Jacklin who defeated 2-time Masters winner, Bernhard Langer, in a playoff to claim the 1982 Sun Alliance PGA Championship. This victory would be Jacklin's last professional victory, perhaps a fitting place to claim a win given one of his most iconic moments just metres away at Royal Birkdale with the famous concession with Jack Nicklaus in The Ryder Cup.
In 2014, Hillside hosted Final Qualifying for The Open Championship which saw 3 players progress after 4 tied on a 2 round total of -6. Chris Hanson, John Singleton and Oscar Floren claimed their spots after Nick Marsh made a bogey on the 2nd playoff hole.
The par-72 layout is considered home to many great golf holes but it is the 11th which garners most praise. The 509-yard par-5 might only have a stroke index of 8 but offers a view far and wide as far as The Lake District on a fine day as well as the surrounding holes and golf courses which make this area so special for a golfing tour.
Other popular golf courses in Southport include Royal Birkdale Golf Club (next door, 2 minutes drive), Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club (6 minutes drive), Formby Golf Club (14 minutes drive) and West Lancs Golf Club (27 minutes drive).
How to get to Hillside Golf Club
Hillside Golf Club is located 2 miles south of Southport Town Centre off the A565 and just half a mile from Hillside train station.
Address: Hastings Road, Southport, Merseyside, England, PR8 2LU
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Fred W. Hawtree |
| Opened for play | 1911 |
| Previously hosted | The Open Qualifying (2014-present) | British Masters (2019) |
| Black | 7,029 yards | SSS 74 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,849 yards | SSS 74 |
| Blue | 6,558 yards | SSS 73 |
| Yellow | 6,160 yards | SSS 71 |
| Red | 5,888 yards | SSS 75 |
What Our Golfers Say
9.6
Excellent
22 reviews
Condition overall
9.6
Condition of greens
9.2
Speed of round
About right
Value for money
8.0
Facilities
9.6
Difficulty
Hard
These reviews are from verified Your Golf Travel customers.
Kevin
✓2 Aug 2025
Excellent
10.0
Again, we received a very friendly welcome and a bag tag and tees from the starter. This was the highlight of our trip and we could understand why it gets such good reviews. The back nine in particular was stunning. The course was in great condition throughout and represented a good challenge of the Blue tees we played. The bar staff were extremely friendly as we enjoyed a pint to finish of our Southport tour.
Steven
✓7 Jun 2025
Excellent
10.0
Mark
✓10 May 2025
Excellent
10.0
A great course with fantastic back nine holes - greens could have been slightly better
Alex
✓1 Apr 2025
Excellent
10.0
Always wanted to play this course and it did not dissapoint a wonderful experience
Sam
✓28 Mar 2025
Excellent
10.0
What an unbelievable course...without a doubt the best course I have ever played, beating The Old Course, Sunningdale and more!
Kevin
✓15 Aug 2024
Excellent
10.0
Very very good but a stiff test Once again super helpful staff and other members. Thanks to Flynn and his team at Your golf travel for a well organised tour
David
✓4 Aug 2024
Excellent
10.0
excellent all round
William
✓24 Apr 2023
Excellent
10.0
Incredible course. It should be a lot higher in terms of Top 100 rating compared to others played. It is up there as one of the best. The staff were so helpful and welcoming.
Pádraic
✓21 Mar 2023
Excellent
10.0
Despite the weather the course was a good challenge and we enjoyed it .
Myungwon
✓16 Sep 2022
Very Good
8.0
Showing 10 of 22 reviews
