Minutes from Formby Beach on England's rugged north-west coast, Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is a smart choice for a UK golf break if you want a full resort set-up without being miles from the proper links stuff. It might sit in the shadow of the big hitters around Southport, but the on-site course more than holds its own, and it has hosted events on the European Challenge Tour, so there's genuine pedigree here.
Formby Hall is for groups and couples who want golf, a strong spa and leisure club, and an easy base for a multi-course long weekend. You can play here, then branch out to the championship links nearby, with Liverpool less than 30 minutes away for a change of scene after the round. The resort course is a proper test when the wind picks up off the coast, rewarding solid driving and tidy approach play and if you're planning a Southport-heavy itinerary it's worth building your tee times early as the marquee links can be in high demand.
Who is this for?
Golfers, couples and societies looking for a well-rounded north-west resort with golf on-site and plenty to do off the course.
Who is it best for?
Players who enjoy a testing round on a modern resort layout, plus anyone keen to combine Formby Hall with the famous links around Southport and a city night in Liverpool.
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From£150
per person
1 Night, 1 Round
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
1 round at Formby Hall Golf Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
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From£150
per person
1 Night, 1 Round
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
1 round at Formby Hall Golf Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
From£193
per person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
2 rounds at Formby Hall Golf Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
From£303
per person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
3 rounds at Formby Hall Golf Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
Measuring over 7,000 from the championship markers, Formby Hall is a considerable test, and is regarded as a welcome addition to the seemingly endless list of excellent courses in the North-West.
Formby Hall has staged PGA Challenge Tour events, and it's now a regular stop on the PGA Europro Tour. The flood lit driving range has recently been re-furbished with now state of the art toptracer equipment in each of the 20 bays.
Formby Hall prides itself in its superb putting surfaces, and the parkland resort style provides good variety alongside the numerous links courses dotted along the coastline. The 18 hole golf course sits in a tranquil setting with wooded areas and water features providing definition and character.
Signature Hole: Hole 16, Par 3, 187 yards, SI 15
The 16th at Formby is a beautiful Par 3 played over a lake to a well-protected green. With bunkers short left, short right and long there is little alternative but to hit the green.
Course Information
Par
72
Designed by
Alex Higgins
Opened in
1996
Previoulsy hosted
European Challenge Tour (1999-2001), European Seniors Tour, PGA EuroPro Tour
Tees
Blue
7,081 yards
SSS 74
White
6,833 yards
SSS 71
Yellow
6,462 yards
SSS 71
Red
5,584 yards
SSS 73
Woodhey Dunes Course
Formby also contains an excellent par 3 course, which has often been described as the best in the UK. The course captures the true challenge of links golf with strategically placed riveted pot bunkers and large fast undulating greens. While still being a enjoyable challenge, it is great for honing your short game before tackling the main course (par 27)
Tees
White
1,395 yards
SSS 27
Yellow
1,246 yards
SSS 27
Red
1,059 yards
SSS 27
Accommodation at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4*
Formby Hall is a 4-star hotel and golf resort with 76 bedrooms, and it leans more boutique than big-chain. The feel is contemporary and comfortable, with a touch of luxury that works well for golf groups and couples alike.
In-room facilities include plasma-screen satellite TV, direct-dial telephone, fridge, internet access, hairdryer and a safe. Rooms are finished in a smart, modern style, and it's a good base-camp set-up if you're playing multiple courses across the area. Service is attentive and personal throughout, which makes a real difference when you're planning rounds or simply looking for local course recommendations.
What really elevates a stay here is the leisure offering. Guests can use the health club facilities, including the swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, which is exactly what you want after 18 holes in a north-west breeze. The spa treatment rooms offer a full range of health and beauty therapies, including facials, manicures, pedicures and a choice of massages. If you're travelling as a mixed group, it's a strong option because non-golfers are properly looked after too.
There's on-site dining and a bar for post-round drinks, so you're not forced to head out every evening, and the whole atmosphere is sociable without being rowdy, which suits both groups and couples.
Location is another big tick. You're well placed for the wider region, with the links courses around Southport within easy reach and England's north-west golf trail on the doorstep. Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and Formby Golf Club are all a short drive away, and Liverpool city centre is under 30 minutes by car, handy if you want to add restaurants, nightlife or a bit of culture to the trip. It's an ideal base for a golf tour, with the flexibility to play the resort course and cherry-pick the region's championship links.
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4* Reviews
Overall rating:8.2 / 10
Hotel reviews
8.88.8 / 10
Bar / Restaurant
8.2 / 10
Facilities
8 / 10
Location
8.6 / 10
Room comfort
9.8 / 10
Staff
7.8 / 10
Value for money
8 / 10
8 / 10
I love this place for Every aspect, Trudy resort golf course
6 / 10
Accommodation was very good except there was no hair drier in the room.
Evening meal times were not good - only 6pm or 9pm - neither being appropriate.
Quantity of meals quite meagre.
10 / 10
Lovely modern hotel Great rooms,food and facilities
8 / 10
Rooms were comfortable standard. Dining experience was not good. Having reserved dinner for 7.30 we went to the dining room and were told that the Lady Captain of the Club had taken our slot and we would be called at 8.30. 30 minutes later we were called but some of our party had been advised of the 8.30 time earlier in the day and were not ready so we had to start without them. After the meal in the bar area a waiter spilled drinks and broke some glasses where we were sitting, the drinks going over one of our members and some shards of glass hitting some members. The way in which they set about clearing the spillage and breakage was most unprofessional - mopping around us instead of clearing the area whilst they did it!
Breakfast the following morning was poorly arranged to cope with the numbers in the hotel. There were several issues regarding supply of food and quality/cooking which were unacceptable.
8 / 10
Staff were fantastic, hotel very nice.
8 / 10
8 / 10
10 / 10
Formby Hall was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed
by all.
We couldn't fault the hotel which, although very busy, was
very efficiently run and the members of staff could not have been more helpful.
We had upgraded rooms overlooking course which were spacious and very
comfortable.
The food was excellent too and obviously freshly cooked,
with a good choice on the menu and plentiful portions.
We all found the golf course to be pretty challenging, even
for some of the lower handicappers. This did not spoil our enjoyment though,
despite loss of quite a few golf balls in the many water hazards!
Altogether Formby Hall offers a very good experience.
10 / 10
My first comment after I had finished my call with you was
to my wife. I said that was probably the easiest hotel and golf booking I have
ever made, yourgolftravel’s service was exceptional.
Everything about the trip was first class. We have never
been to a hotel where everybody was so genuinely friendly. The hotel and its
facilities, as well as the food, the golf course and everything we experienced
was simply superb.
We have already recommended Formby Hall to all our friends
and would score everything as 10 out of 10.
We are off to Celtic Manor next week and I only hope it’s as
good as Formby Hall.
10 / 10
I would love to give you my feedback on our golf break to
Formby Hall as it was an absolute blast!
After sorting all payments and bookings out with
YGT months prior it was a case of just turning up and enjoying because there
was nothing else we had to do apart from play golf, get key to room and
eat...as simple as that!
We played the par 3 course followed by the 18 hole
championship course on both days and it worked perfectly for us (six of us), as
the par 3 course was a fantastic little warm up before the main event. The
championship course was in fantastic condition and really challenging.
After the golf each day we all had a relaxing swim and sauna
in the spa which was beautifully clean and so relaxing followed by a quick trip
back to the rooms which were also beautiful, clean and up to date.
After a quick change we were down to the restaurants for yet
again beautiful delicious food. Then after the meal back to the bar for a well
deserved couple of pints of ICE cold beer. Then the breakfast in the
morning was also lovely, and you can help yourself to whatever you want – full
english, yoghurt, fruit, pastries, etc, etc – and as much as you want! We
even made a sausage toastie to take out for the golf!
All in all we had 4 games of golf, a three course evening
meal, an “eat as much as you want” breakfast, swim, sauna and an overnight stay
in lovely accommodation and much, much more for an incredible £130!
So YGT...you get a HUGE thumbs up from me and my mates,
as does Formby Hall.
10 / 10
We thoroughly enjoyed our short golf break at Formby Hall Golf
and Spa Resort. It's located just a few miles from the coastal town of
Southport, which is styled as the capital of England's Golf Coast.
The hotel is quite modern in design and is exceptionally
comfortable with a wide range of facilities including spa treatment, golf
academy, pro shop and restaurant. The rooms are modern in design and well
furnished. We upgraded to a deluxe room which gave a wonderful sunlit view
of the 18th green and approaching golfers.
The clubhouse, which forms part of the hotel complex, is
modern and spacious, serving a range of food and drink, with picture
windows and a spacious patio overlooking the 9th and 18th greens. All the staff
were very friendly and helpful.
The golf course itself is a parkland layout, which is quite
flat with no severe slopes or gradients, making for an easy walk in pleasant
surroundings. This makes it very suitable for golfers of all age ranges.
The course is quite long and relies heavily on water for its defence. In fact,
water features on some 14 of the 18 holes so it's probably wise to bring a good
supply of balls! The greens are well kept and have interesting undulations to
keep you on your toes when putting, but not so severe as to be beyond the
average player.
The course is very popular and well used and was showing signs
of winter repair work. Our visit was in early April, so I fully
expect a few weeks growth will make these areas indistinguishable from the rest
of the course which is perfectly well
kept.
You should be aware that as the hotel and course are
conveniently located they are very popular, especially with golf societies
which, unfortunately, can have an effect on the pace of play; something to bear
in mind when choosing when to play this delightful venue.
I was very impressed with the team at Your Golf Travel who
were professional, friendly and courteous. A couple of emails and phone calls
and all the arrangements were made and everything on the golf break itself
went smoothly. I shall certainly use you guys again.
Overall I'd highly recommend Formby Hall and
Your Golf Travel to anyone who is looking for a good-value short golf-break in
the North-West of England.
10 / 10
On behalf of Silverdale Golf Club ladies I would like to
thank you for booking our annual trip with such efficiency and patience as
usual.
Formby Hall provided us with the best golf holiday
we’ve been on so far.
The weather was superb and the golf course was
in good condition for this time of year. We enjoyed watching the herons,
hearing the woodpeckers and the swans that were nesting just before the 18th green.
We got some great photos!
The hotel had very clean and well kept rooms, and the surrounding
areas, as well as the food, were excellent, both in the dining room and the 19th
hole. It was just so comfortable. The flower arrangements finished off the
public areas perfectly. Prices in the bar were reasonable with a good choice of
drinks.
We all agreed that Formby Hall is blessed
with excellent staff throughout who were happy to please us in every way; great
value for money! This venue gets a ten out of ten from us and we hope to return
next year.