Hillside Golf Club
Overview
Greg Norman wrote: "The back nine holes are the Best in Britain."
Jack Nicklaus also described the back nine as 'a wild-looking links' and included some of his 'favourite holes'.
The esteemed golf course architecture savant, Ran Morrisett, puts it on par with it northerly neighbour, Royal Birkdale...
Some have commented this is the best course never to have hosted an Open.
Golf Course Review
Hillside Golf Club shares a northern border with Royal Birkdale Golf Club and southern border with Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club.
All three share the Birkdale Dunes and Hillside may just have the best set of 9 holes between the three courses on offer. Hillside Golf Club is a tale of two contrasting nines. The opening nine holes are on flat ground. The second nine are amongst some of the wildest dunes you'll find anywhere. From the Black Tees, the course can be stretched to just over the magic number of 7000 yards...
Hillside Golf Club
Despite being established in 1911, the current layout is largely by Fred Hawtree who overhauled the course in the 1960s. It is also well respected and used by the R&A for both Final Open Qualifying, The Amateur Championship and the Ladies Amateur Championship. Most recently it played host to the 2019 British Masters.
Curious Case of Hillside Golf Club
England's Golf Coast doesn't get the recognition it deserves. From Hoylake to Birkdale, English links golf is often overlooked, including the Open venues on the current rota! Hillside is amongst that category of courses but without The Open beside its name, it remains largely off the radar of many - including the English!
Hillside Golf Club Photography
Purchase Kevin Murray's Hillside photography.
Hillside Golf Club - Videos
WATCH THE HILLSIDE GOLF CLUB PROMO VIDEO
Featured Architect: MacKenzie, Alister
As taken from his book, Golf Architecture, Alister MacKenzie felt the following were essential: The course, where possible, should be arranged in two loops of nine holes. There should be a large proportion of good two-shot holes and at least four one-shot holes. There should be little walking between...
