There's something magical to me about playing golf with trains rattling along in close proximity and the bright yellow Merseyrail coaches provide a fast moving splash of colour. Things really get going at the 15th hole, a short but tight par 4 that plays to a small green that sits at an angle to the fairway and has the train line directly behind it. The finish here is especially strong, both in terms of the test it presents and also in the attractive nature of the holes. It makes for a really sporty test which, depending on the wind direction, can make a number of shorter holes driveable and/or make long par 4s play as par fives for all but the biggest hitters. The two things I enjoy most about Southport & Ainsdale are the frequent changes in the direction of play which don't allow you to settle into a rhythm, and secondly the excellent variety of length of the par 4s that range from 352 yards up to 457 yards. Several waste areas have been added which further increases the visual appeal. There has been much great work undertaken at S&A in recent years from big projects, like new greens and tees, to the introduction of many grass paths throughout the course, which really add to the journey around this delightful links. If you get a decent one away that misses the bunkers, then the green sits in a a bowl that helps collect shots, so you’ll have a chance of par. It's a strong start here with a lengthy par 3 played in front of the clubhouse and often a busy terrace, which can make the first shot of the day a knee-knocking experience. S&A, as it's more widely known, has hosted not one but two Ryder Cups (19) and has been the scene of many notable tournaments, most recently jointly hosting The 2023 Amateur Championship with Hillside.Ī post shared by Michael Harris photo posted by on When combined with a very stiff breeze, as we had for the first day of our tour, it exposes your ball striking prowess. While you do not see the water, you do play on marvellous tight, sandy playing surfaces. Such has been the rate at which land has been reclaimed from the sea on this coastline, that moment passed many moons ago. At some point in history you would've been able to see water from this piece of land. However, it is no less an enjoyable place to play golf because the course has a wonderful inner beauty. It's quite incredible that these three golf courses that share boundary lines with each other can be quite so different in character.Īs noted, Southport & Ainsdale has no views of the Irish Sea that you get glimpses of at Hillside and Birkdale. At the heart of this magnificent run, three absolute classics sit side-by-side - from north to south, Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale. However, for me, nothing quite matches England's Golf Coast that stretches from the Wirral in the south, where you'll find Royal Liverpool and Wallasey, right up to the Lancashire town of Lytham & St Annes in the north. Is it East Lothian, Fife, The West Coast of Scotland from Troon to Turnberry, or north east Scotland around Aberdeenshire?Īll make strong cases. One of golf's great debates is around which stretch of coastline boasts the finest collection of links golf courses. There's so much room in both the front and rear seats with those in the back able to watch their own entertainment on screens in the headrests if they don't want to listen to the main Lexicon Audio Sound system, which is absolutely superb. There's tons of technology in the GV80 to help you drive safely with lane assist and all round cameras ensuring you know exactly where you are on the road and what's around you as you manoeuvre the car in and out of parking spaces and tight spots. There’s plenty of power on tap thanks to the 2.5 litre turbo charged engine to ensure smooth overtaking when there was the opportunity, but economy was very respectable too - we managed just shy of 30mpg over the course of the trip. Motorways and dual carriageways are where the Genesis really excels offering supreme comfort for the driver and passengers, but for a big car it also handled well on the drive from the M90 across to St Andrews on some quite wiggly roads. The GV80 doesn't quite drive itself but on the long stretches of the M6 and M74 it felt as though it did, with the brilliant adaptive cruise control keeping a set distance to the car in front. It seems that the type of car that you drive can stop any squabbling of this nature. Normally on long road trips, there's a fair bit of pretending to be asleep to avoid an extended stint at the wheel, but not on this occasion.
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