Where to Play

Royal Birkdale
Address: Waterloo Road, Southport, PR8 2LX
Green Fees: £165 (Mon-Fri), £195 (Sun), Members & members’ guests only (Sat)
Contact: www.royalbirkdale.com 01704 552020

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)
Address: Meols Drive, Hoylake, Merseyside, CH47 4AL
Green Fees: £135 (Mon-Fri)
Contact: www.royal-liverpool-golf.com 01516 323101 

Royal Lytham & St Anne’s
Address: Club Links Gate, Lytham, FY8 3LQ
Green Fees: £120 (including meal)
Contact: www.royallytham.org 01253 724206 

Southport & Ainsdale
Address: Bradshaws Lane, Southport, PR8 3LG
Green Fees: £65 (Mon-Fri), £90 (Sat-Sun)
Contact: www.sandagolfclub.co.uk 01704 578000 

Hillside
Address: Hastings Road, Southport, PR8 2LU
Green Fees: £85 (Mon-Fri), £100 (Sun), Members & members’ guests only (Sat)
Contact: www.hillside-golfclub.co.uk 01704 567169

West Lancashire
Address: Hall Road, Blundellsands, Liverpool, L23 8SZ
Green Fees: £65 (Mon-Fri), £85 (Sat-Sun)
Contact: www.westlancashiregolf.co.uk 01519 241076

Formby
Address: Golf Road, Formby, Liverpool, L37 1YH
Green Fees: £100 (Mon-Fri), £120 (Sat-Sun)
Contact: www.formbygolfclub.co.uk 01704 872164

Where to Stay

We stayed at the delightful Ramada Plaza hotel, located on the town’s waterfront development. Boasting 133 stylish rooms, the 4* complex is perfect for leisure, business and, of course, golf. Between now and September 2011, the hotel are offering a two-course dinner, overnight stay and breakfast from as little as £64.50pppn.

Address:  Marine Lake, The Promenade, Southport, PR9 0DZ
Contact: http://www.ramadaplazasouthport.co.uk 01704 516220

Where to Eat

On our first night, we went for style at the Steven Gerrard and Paul Adams co-owned brasserie Warehouse Kitchen and Bar. The uber-cool establishment has received many accolades in its 15 years, including a Michelin AA Good Food Guide recommendation and being voted in The Independent’s 50 best restaurants in the UK. It has also received two AA rosettes and a Bib Gourmand.

Address: 30 West Street, Southport, PR8 1QN
Contact: http://www.warehousekitchenandbar.com 01704 544662

On the second night, we went a bit more chic at the family-run Tyndalls Restaurant. There’s something very homely about Tyndalls – it is, after all, based in a renovated townhouse – and the locally-sourced food is sublime. Recommended five years in succession by the Which Good Food Guide, and it’s easy to tell why. I’d go back in an instance.

Address: 23 Houghton Street, Southport, PR9 0NS
Contact: www.tyndalls.co.uk 01704 500002

What to Do

Southport is a vibrant town with plenty of pubs, clubs, shopping, attractions and golf. Visit www.visitsouthport.com for more on what to do in this great seaside town.

And if you fancy a flutter, get yourself down to Aintree. Visit www.aintree.co.uk for more information.