Golf Courses in Lytham St Annes: Welcome to Lancashire's Greatest Golfing Town
If you're searching for golf courses in Lytham St Annes, you've landed on one of the best golfing destinations in England. Few towns anywhere can match this stretch of the Fylde Coast for quality and concentration, a world-famous Open Championship venue, a James Braid design that regularly ranks among the best golf courses in Lancashire, a characterful traditional links, and a friendly parkland course that welcomes golfers of every ability. Whether you're planning a dedicated golf break near Blackpool or fitting a round into a wider Lancashire holiday, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
The headline act among the golf courses in Lytham St. Annes, and rightly so. Royal Lytham & St Annes is one of the premier links courses in the world, host to eleven Open Championships, two Ryder Cups and numerous major tournaments, including the Women's and Seniors Open Championships. Founded in 1886, with the present course constructed in 1897, the club received its Royal title from George V shortly before hosting its first Open in 1926.
This is where Seve Ballesteros won his first Open in 1979, and the course remains a serious examination of anyone's game. There are 167 bunkers lining the fairways and surrounding the greens, demanding real shot accuracy from every player. It's an unusual championship links in some respects, set half a mile back from the sea with no coastal views, but what it lacks in scenery it more than makes up for in pedigree. Visitors can play on selected days, and for the full experience, the on-site Dormy House offers sixteen en-suite bedrooms just steps from the first tee.
Fairhaven Golf Club
If Royal Lytham is the famous name, Fairhaven is the local favourite, and arguably the best value golf in Lytham St Annes. The current layout was designed by the prolific James Braid when the club moved inland from its original seaside location in 1924, and even in very strong company in this part of the world, Fairhaven usually features on most lists of the best golf courses in Lancashire.
It's far more accessible for visiting golfers than its illustrious neighbour, regularly serves as a final qualifying venue when the Open comes to the region, and remains a proper test in its own right. For golfers planning a Fylde Coast golf break on a sensible budget, Fairhaven should be near the top of the list.
St Annes Old Links Golf Club
For golfers who love the traditional side of the game, St Annes Old Links is a treat. With fast-running fairways and quick, tricky greens, this is a traditional seaside course full of character, even the hole names conjure the past, with the likes of Sailor's Locker, Granny Fisher's and Keepers Trap recalling characters gone but not forgotten.
The history here feels baked into the turf, and it offers an authentic Lancashire links experience without the formality or price tag of a championship venue. Any golf trip to the Fylde Coast should make room for it.
Lytham Green Drive Golf Club
Not every round needs to be a battle with the wind. Founded in 1913, Lytham Green Drive is an easy-walking, pleasant parkland course with a reputation as probably the friendliest and most sociable golf club on the Fylde. It's the ideal counterpoint to the area's links courses, gentler on the legs, welcoming to visitors of all abilities, and a lovely way to round off a golf break in Lytham St Annes.
Adventure Golf for the Non-Golfers
If anyone in your group would rather skip the full eighteen, Fairhaven Adventure Golf offers a fun eighteen-hole journey around miniature versions of Fylde landmarks, including Lytham Hall, St Annes Pier and Lytham Windmill. Combined with a walk around Fairhaven Lake itself, it makes for an easy family afternoon between rounds.
Planning a Golf Break in Lytham St Annes
A few practical pointers for visiting golfers. Each club has its own dress code, rules and visitor policies, so contact courses in advance to ask about bookings, dress codes and buggy hire. Demand at Royal Lytham in particular is high, so book well ahead if it's on your list, and remember that all four courses sit within a few minutes of each other, making a multi-course itinerary genuinely easy to arrange.
Where to Stay for a Golf Break in Lytham St Annes
For accommodation, Clifton Park Hotel in Lytham St Annes makes an excellent base for a golf break near Blackpool. All four golf courses are within a short drive, and after a day on the links, you can unwind with the hotel's adults-only facilities, pool, spa, and evening entertainment included. Add a beach hut day on St Annes seafront, a wander around Lytham Hall or a show at Lowther Pavilion and the non-golfing side of the trip takes care of itself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Courses in Lytham St Annes
How many golf courses are in Lytham St Annes? There are four main courses, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Fairhaven, St Annes Old Links and Lytham Green Drive, plus adventure golf at Fairhaven Lake.
Can visitors play at Royal Lytham & St Annes? Yes, visitors can play on selected days. Booking well in advance is essential, and the club has its own dress code and visitor policies.
What is the best golf course in Lytham St Annes? Royal Lytham & St Annes is the most prestigious, having hosted eleven Open Championships. Fairhaven is widely considered the pick of the area's other courses.
Is Lytham St Annes good for a golf break? Yes, four quality courses within minutes of each other, plus hotels, restaurants and seaside attractions, make it one of the best golf break destinations in the north of England.
Who designed the golf courses in Lytham St Annes? Royal Lytham was laid out by George Lowe and redesigned by Harry Colt, while Fairhaven's current layout is a James Braid design from 1924.