Southport & Ainsdale
Southport and Ainsdale, known to everyone as S&A, is one of the gems of England's golf coast. This stretch of Lancashire and Merseyside dune land holds Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Royal Lytham and S&A within a few miles of one another. Redesigned by James Braid in 1924, S&A hosted the Ryder Cups of 1933 and 1937 and still serves as Final Qualifying for The Open, a true championship links that travelling golfers too often overlook.
Photo: Oliver Kears via Google.
The verdict
S&A is proper links golf with real history. The course opened in 1907 to a George Lowe layout, but it is James Braid's 1924 redesign that gives it its character, fairways that thread through valleys and over ridges of dune, with firm, raised greens that ask for a controlled, running approach. It is a stern but fair test in the wind, and the par four third is named in honour of Braid himself.
It suits the travelling golfer building a tour of the English golf coast, where you can play several Open rota and Final Qualifying courses in a single trip without long drives between them. S&A more than holds its own in that company, and its Ryder Cup pedigree, the 1937 match was the first United States win on British soil, gives the round a sense of occasion. Play it in a sea breeze, keep the ball low and run it into the greens, and you see why the championship circus keeps coming back.
Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club at a glance
- Founded
- 1907
- Design
- James Braid (1924)
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- 6,800 yds
- Green fee
- From £175
Designer, history and championship record verified June 2026 from the club and golf course archives. S&A opened in 1907 to a George Lowe layout and was redesigned by James Braid in 1924, a par 72 links of around 6,800 yards from the back tees that hosted the 1933 and 1937 Ryder Cups and is now an Open Final Qualifying venue. Green fees are indicative, from around 175 pounds on weekdays and 190 pounds at weekends for a 2025 visitor round; rates change by season and year. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
S&A is a classic of the links genre, where the routing uses the natural folds of the dunes rather than fighting them. Braid set fairways through valleys and over shoulders of ground, so the player who finds the right side of the short grass is left with a clear sight of the green, while the wayward drive is swallowed by dune, rough and the occasional blind angle. Position off the tee is everything.
The greens are firm and often raised on plateaus, which means the approach has to be judged for run as much as carry, especially when the wind is up off the Irish Sea. There is little artifice here, the defence is the ground, the breeze and Braid's clever use of the sandhills, and the course can play very differently from one day to the next.
The par four third, named for James Braid, is a fine early statement, and the closing stretch through the bigger dunes asks the firmest questions when the wind freshens. It is a course that rewards a thoughtful, low ball striker rather than a one dimensional bomber, which is exactly why The Open's qualifiers still test themselves here.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members links that welcomes visitors, most easily on weekdays |
| Green fee | From around 175 pounds on weekdays and 190 pounds at weekends for a 2025 visitor round (indicative); seasonal rates vary |
| Booking | Contact the club to arrange a tee time; weekday visits are easiest and the golf coast fills early in summer |
| On the day | A walking links with a welcoming clubhouse; caddies and buggies by prior arrangement |
| Getting there | At Ainsdale between Southport and Formby, around 45 minutes from Liverpool and Manchester airports |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest links turf, though the course plays well in any settled spell |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Southport is the natural base, a handsome Victorian seaside town with hotels of every standard and the famous Lord Street on its doorstep. From here Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Hesketh and S&A are all within a short drive, which makes for one of the most efficient links itineraries in the country.
Formby and the wider Sefton coast offer further courses and quieter stays, while Liverpool sits close enough for a city evening. Pair S&A with its neighbours for a three or four day golf coast trip that rivals anything in the British Isles for the density of great links.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Southport and the golf coast.
An England golf coast week
We build links trips around Southport and Ainsdale and its neighbours on the English golf coast, arrange the tee times and a comfortable base with transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club questions
Who designed Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club?
S&A opened in 1907 to a layout by George Lowe, but the course is best known for the 1924 redesign by James Braid, one of the great five times Open champions and prolific course architects. Much of Braid's work survives, and the par four third is named in his honour.
Has Southport & Ainsdale hosted the Ryder Cup?
Yes. S&A hosted the Ryder Cup in 1933 and again in 1937. The 1937 match was the first time the United States won the Ryder Cup on British soil. The club also stages Final Qualifying for The Open Championship.
What is the par and length of S&A?
Southport and Ainsdale plays to a par of 72 and measures around 6,800 yards from the championship tees, with shorter options from the everyday markers. It is a genuine links where the wind can change the test from day to day.
How much does it cost to play Southport & Ainsdale?
Indicative 2025 visitor green fees are from around 175 pounds on weekdays and 190 pounds at weekends. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking with the club.
Can visitors play Southport & Ainsdale?
Yes. S&A is a private members links that welcomes visitors, most easily on weekdays. It is best to contact the club in advance, particularly in summer when the English golf coast is busy.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.