Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club, known as S&A, was founded in 1906 and is a championship links course designed by James Braid.

Southport and Ainsdale

Set amongst the dunes on the North West coastline to the south of Southport, S&A is a typical links course. It is covered in heather and gorse, which provides splashes of colour in Spring and Autumn, but which also makes the course quite challenging, especially when the sea breeze comes into play. The sixteenth hole, with its hill and bunkers lined with railway sleepers, is probably the best known. It is called ‘Gumbleys’, after one gentleman who spent a lot of time in there. Players need to beware here because the hole can trap a poor second shot.

The course ensures that both experienced players and beginners get pleasure from an immensely enjoyable experience.

S&A Clubhouse

The club has hosted two Ryder Cup matches and has been voted by one golf magazine as among the top 50 courses in Great Britain.

The clubhouse has been refurbished to coincide with S&A’s centenary in 2006

The main lounge and patio area at the front provide stunning views across the course including the 18th green and 1st tee.
You can take a course of lessons with S&A’s experienced professional Jim Payne. Jim and his assistants offer first class coaching to experienced players and beginners alike. The Pro Shop sells golf fashion wear and golfing accessories, and provides a club repair service

S&A has been named as the Local Final Qualifying Course for the 2012 Open which will be held at Royal Lytham St. Annes.

3-5 February: Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend

12-14 April: John Smith’s Grand National

11-13 May: Southport International Jazz Festival

8-10 June: Southport Food and Drink Festival

9-10 June: Southport Fun Fest

19-22 July: 2012 British Open Golf Championship

4-5 August: Woodvale Rally

16-19 August: Southport Flower Show

8-9 September: Southport Air Show

15-16 September: 24 Hour Yacht Race

28-30 September: British Musical Fireworks Championships

November TBC: Hesketh Round Table Fireworks Display

18 November: Southport Christmas Lights Switch On

Visit the British seaside at family friendly Southport.

Whether strolling along the historic pier, visiting the Splash-World water park, the New Pleasureland or shopping on the famous Lord Street there’s plenty to do here for all the family.

Southport has a miniature railway running around the public Marine Lake, and also boasts a Model Railway Village.

For those seeking something more off the wall, why not visit the unique British Lawnmower Museum?

Also nearby is Farmer Ted’s farm park, ideal for introducing young children to rural life.

Should rain strike there are also plenty of indoors amusements including a Cinema and Bowling alley on the waterfront along with plenty of restaurants, bars and traditional pubs.

Find out more details on the Visit Southport website.

Famous for “the Angel of the North”, Anthony Gormley is well known for his stunning sculptures on a grand scale. We are lucky to have one of his masterpieces only a few miles away, easily accessible by road, bus and train.

The piece “Another Place” on nearby Crosby beach consists of around one hundred cast-iron figures. These are spread along 3km of the waterfront from Crosby to Waterloo.

Find out more here.

Why not visit Formby Sand Dunes, on the North west coast between Liverpool and Southport, and explore the stunning coastline. With so much to see and do, make the most of what is on offer.

Red squirrel at Formby Nature Reserve

Stroll through the pine woods and look out for the red squirrels. Formby is well known as a special place to see them. The tiny feisty animals feed on the ripe pine cones, but recently their numbers have fallen due to squirrel pox virus. Luckily now the recovery is well on the way, and in this protected environment, it is hoped that their long term survival can be ensured.

Wander through the sand dunes. These dunes provide an excellent home for many rare and endangered species such as the Natterjack Toad and the Northern Dune Tiger Beetle.

Formby Beach

Spend time on the beach – walk, build sand castles, play ball games, fly your kite – whatever you want to do there is plenty of space for everyone. You might even see people horse riding or sailing, and occasionally kite surfing. Erosion of the sand has revealed 5,000-year-old red deer footprints on the beach, so you may be lucky enough to find them. You can even swim in the sea here because Formby’s water quality is “good to excellent” according to the EU. But beware the water will be very cold!

Walk along the Sefton Coastal Footpath or cycle along Cheshire Lines.

Asparagus has been grown at Formby for many years. An ‘asparagus trail’ will open shortly.

For further information please call the National Trust Formby office on 01704 878591 or e-mail formby@nationaltrust.org.uk

OK, so everyone knows about Royal Birkdale Golf Club, but what about Birkdale Village itself?

Did you know that our traditional village centre shops include a dedicated cheese centre, an award winning butchers, fresh fishmongers, a hairdresser and a day spa.

We also have several cafes and bars so after a little shopping you can have your hair or nails done then stop for a coffee!

Bistrot Verite

The Retreat Cafe

Michael's

By the centre of the village is the railway station which links us to Liverpool, Southport and Manchester and makes many of the region’s attractions easy to reach.

However, in the evening you won’t have to travel far because we have a good selection of wine bars, The Park Pub and some great restaurants for you to enjoy – including three rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Trip Advisor!

Butcher's shop

Flower shop

Tea Rooms

So why not give Birkdale a visit and make our guesthouse your base whether you are in the area for business or pleasure.

Lighting up Kings Gardens, over three nights, seven competitors all battle it out with their firework displays set to music to amaze the audience and the judges and be crowned the champion of the competition.

The winner of the 2011 competition was PYROTEX FIREWORX (1st display on Friday), 2nd place was VULCAN FIREWORKS (3rd display on Saturday) and 3rd place was STAR FIREWORKS (final display of the competition on Sunday).

Find out more here.

The Southport Air Show is back in September for its 21st birthday! Come and enjoy a family day out at the biggest event of its kind in the North West. Witness pure magic in the sky as skilled pilots demonstrate some truly stunning aerobatics. As well as these thrilling aerial displays, there’s a fun-packed show village on the ground where people of all ages can enjoy the displays and attractions from a vareity of exhibitors and traders.

Visit the show site for more information, or read reviews here.

Southport Flower Show has a reputation as one of the largest, most diverse and friendliest shows in the country. Whether you are a gifted amateur, professional or just starting out, there is something of interest for everyone of all ages.

Southport Flower Show 2010

It provides a horticultural hotbed of activity for the beautiful seaside resort and held in 34 acres of beautiful Victoria Park is transformed into a haven for those wanting a memorable day out.

Visit the offical flower show site by clicking here.

Rally up for an action-packed weekend at Woodvale air base. This two day outdoor event offers visitors a spectacle of events and activities. There’s something for everyone whether you’re an enthusiast, a collector or just looking for an excellent day out!

See more details here.