Fairhaven
J H Steer and James Braid laid out Fairhaven in Lytham Hall Park in 1924, and Dave Thomas and others later refined it into the long, heavily bunkered test it is today. A par 72 of 6,961 yards, it rests on sandy soil that gives it the turf of a links inside a frame of trees and farmland, and it has long served as an Open final qualifying venue alongside Royal Lytham next door.
Photo: Fairhaven Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Fairhaven is the strong supporting act on the Fylde coast, a course good enough to host Open qualifying yet quiet enough to play without fuss. It sits a short drive inland from the dunes, but the sandy ground beneath it means the turf runs firm and true like a links, while mature trees and the park setting give it a softer, more sheltered character than the seaside giants nearby.
The defining feature is the bunkering, more than a hundred traps that demand position off the tee and a careful eye on the approach. At nearly seven thousand yards from the back it is a genuine test of long iron play, and its place on the Open final qualifying rota tells you all you need to know about the standard. For a Fylde golf trip built around Royal Lytham and the championship links, Fairhaven is the ideal, less heralded second round.
Fairhaven at a glance
- Opened
- 1924
- Designer
- Steer & James Braid
- Type
- Links and parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,961 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Fairhaven Golf Club and leading course databases. The course was laid out by J H Steer and James Braid and opened in 1924, a par 72 of 6,961 yards, later refined by Dave Thomas and others. Fairhaven welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round asks for accuracy from the first swing. The fairways are generous in width but the bunkering is so plentiful and so well placed that the line off the tee matters on almost every hole, and the long par 4s into the prevailing wind are where qualifying scores are made or lost.
The greens are quietly excellent, firm and subtly contoured, rewarding the player who flights the ball and controls the spin. Braid's strategic instincts are still visible in the way the trouble guards the better angles, and the later refinements added length and bite without losing the rhythm of the original.
It is a course that grows on you. There is no single signature view in the manner of a coastal links, but the sustained quality of the holes and the firmness of the turf make Fairhaven a thoroughly satisfying championship test, and a fine complement to the more famous names on the Fylde.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Members club that welcomes visiting golfers and societies on most days; advance booking is recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 50 to 90 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Fairhaven golf office; the course is busier in Open and qualifying years |
| On the day | Smart golf dress; a flat, walkable course with trolleys available and good drainage year round |
| Getting there | Lytham Hall Park near Lytham St Annes on the Fylde coast, a short drive from Blackpool and the M55 |
| Best months | Playable year round on the sandy base; April to October for the firmest conditions |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Lytham St Annes is a genteel seaside town with a good range of hotels and guest houses, all within a short drive of Fairhaven and the championship links, while Blackpool offers a livelier and more budget friendly base just up the coast. This is one of the densest stretches of quality golf in England, ideal for a buddies trip that never strays far from the tee.
Fairhaven pairs naturally with the great Fylde links for a full coastal itinerary, and the wider region offers inland variety too, from the heathland of Cheshire to the championship parkland at the Mere a little to the south.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Fairhaven.
Build a Lancashire golf trip
We arrange tee times at Fairhaven, pair it with the great links of the Fylde coast and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Fairhaven questions
Who designed Fairhaven Golf Club and when?
The current course at Lytham Hall Park was laid out by J H Steer and James Braid and opened in 1924, with later refinements by Dave Thomas, Donald Steel and Jonathan Gaunt.
What is the par and length of Fairhaven?
Fairhaven plays as a par 72 of 6,961 yards from the championship tees, a long and well bunkered test on sandy soil.
Is Fairhaven a links or parkland course?
It is an unusual blend. Fairhaven sits inland of the dunes, framed by trees and farmland, yet rests on sandy subsoil that gives it links turf and year round playability.
Can visitors play Fairhaven Golf Club?
Yes. Fairhaven welcomes visiting golfers and societies; book a tee time in advance and confirm the current green fee before you travel.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.