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.
