Jeremy Ellwood heads up to Tommy Fleetwood’s home patch to find out what’s on offer at this popular north-west resort
Formby Hall Stay And Play Review
Championship: par 72, 6,775 yards; Woodhey Dunes: par 27, 1,395 yards
Greenfee: £25-£55 weekdays, £30-£70 weekends (varies with season)
The Championship course has hosted both the European Senior and Challenge Tours, with Formby Hall’s favourite son securing his maiden professional win here in 2011 on the EuroPro Tour.
The course can stretch to over 7,000 yards (if so desired!), but it is predominantly flat so a relatively gentle walk.
There is much water to contend with, and despite being some way from the coast, many tricky revetted bunkers, too.
Water cuts in tight to the 3rd and 4th greens heading out, and coming home poses the greatest threat on the demanding par-4 15th and the par-3 16th, which is all carry.
The par-3 Woodhey Dunes course is the perfect place to fine-tune your iron play, with holes ranging from 123 to 182 yards.
Also play… The superb links at Formby (formbygolfclub.co.uk) is ranked 39th in Golf Monthly’s current UK & Ireland Top 100.
Accommodation
There are now 76 bedrooms in this four-star hotel set alongside the 18th hole, all refurbished in 2017.
They range from Classic rooms to spacious new Deluxe Loft rooms.
The contemporary Fairway Grill restaurant looks out over the golf course and offers restaurant, light lunch and Sunday lunch menus.
The Spa and Health Club have something for everyone, from therapy rooms, steam rooms and a 20m pool to a MyGym fitness studio featuring 40+ stations of the latest Technogym equipment.
If golf remains the focus even away from the course, there’s an impressive PGA Academy on site, complete with the Harold Swash Putting School of Excellence.
Where else… Check out Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’, an art installation featuring 100 life-size figures on Crosby Beach.
Best Deal
Winter Golf Getaways start from £89pppn from Monday to Thursday until the end of March 2018, based on two sharing.
Offer includes one night’s dinner, bed and breakfast with unlimited golf, £10 bar credit and complimentary use of the pool and leisure suite.
Where
Formby Hall is well signposted from the A565 Southport Old Road just north of Formby and six miles south of Southport.
Checklist
Buggy hire: £35 per round Trolley hire: £5 per round Power trolley hire: £12.50 per round Club hire: £30 per round Driving range: Yes Putting green: Yes Short-game area: Yes Pro shop: Yes Changing rooms: Yes Sky TV: Yes Price of a pint: From £4
Expand 46 – Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Formby Hall
46 – Top 50 UK & Ireland Stay and Play Formby Hall
Stay and Play Formby Hall. Golf Monthly takes…
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