2 Nights, 3 Rounds
Stepping onto the first tee at St Annes Old Links feels like a handshake with golfing history. With Blackpool's skyline glinting in the distance and the occasional light aircraft lifting off nearby, the ground underfoot is still pure, undisturbed linksland.
This is golf in its most honest form. There are no towering dunes to hide behind, just an open, silver-green landscape that asks you to pick a line, trust it and strike your ball cleanly from the start. The salty air is a constant reminder that the Irish Sea is close enough to reshape a round in a heartbeat.
St Annes is built for golfers who enjoy thinking their way round. Firm, fast-running fairways and subtle contours reward control and imagination, while anything slightly offline tends to feed into run-offs and collection areas that put your short game under the spotlight. And like any Lancashire links, the wind does the real defending, switching strength and direction and forcing you to adjust club and flight shot by shot.
It's a genuine championship test that doesn't shout about itself. Play it once and you'll respect it, play it again and you'll start spotting the smarter angles, the safer misses and where the ground game is your best friend. Ideal if you're building a Lancashire coast tour and want a links round that will sharpen everyone up.
Who is this for?
The purist golfer who values strategic ball-striking over flashy aesthetics and loves authentic links conditions.
Who is it best for?
Competitive groups and low handicappers after a stern, fair test where course management and wind play matter.
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
The course is a formidable test that rewards the "cerebral" player who can keep the ball below the wind. The fairways are tight and crumpled, ensuring a level lie is a luxury rather than a right, while deep, revetted pot bunkers stand like sentinels guarding every corner.
The inward half is particularly punishing, with the par-5 18th providing a dramatic finish back toward the clubhouse. However, it is the 9th hole, "The Cannon," that steals every conversation. This 173-yard par-3 is encased by eight treacherous bunkers and features a green so long and narrow it feels more like a bowling alley than a putting surface. Find the middle and you’ll breathe a sigh of relief, miss it and you’re at the mercy of the sand.
| Par | 72 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Alex (Sandy) Herd, George Lowe |
| Opened for play | 1901 |
| Blue | 6,907 yards | SSS 74.0 |
|---|---|---|
| White | 6,646 yards | SSS 72.8 |
| Yellow | 6,346 yards | SSS 71.5 |
| Green | 5,984 yards | SSS 69.6 (M) 76.0 (L) |
| Red | 5,638 yards | SSS 68.3 (M) 73.4 (L) |
Aran
✓3 Aug 2026
Craig
✓2 Aug 2026
Great golf course. Well worth a visit.
Allan
✓8 Jun 2026
Absolutely wonderful course! Immaculate condition from tees to greens. Some of the paths were better than fairways I’ve played on this year! Golf outing with golfers on handicaps from 5 to 19. Everyone rated as one of the best courses they had played in years! Weather on the day bright and sunny with a light breeze. As a true links course I’m sure the difficulty level would rise considerably if the wind gets up.
Darren
✓16 Aug 2025
Too hard for in the wind. Beautifully presented and staff were very helpful. Great links. But bring your A game.
Ben
✓4 Apr 2025
What a lovely golf course. Great condition and some really great holes.
John
✓5 Sep 2024
Very busy on the Tuesday we played but we never had to wait typical links.
Julie
✓13 Jul 2022
Beautiful links course. Challenging if you were not straight and ball went into the rough. lovely location.
