Formby Golf Club Stay and Play Review

Situated right in the centre of England’s golf coast, Formby is perfectly located for other top courses as well as a destination in its own right.

The final green is overlooked by the historic clubhouse
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
Rob Smith
By Rob Smith
published

Situated right in the centre of England’s golf coast, Formby is perfectly located for other top courses as well as a destination in its own right. Rob Smith explains...

Formby Golf Club Stay and Play Review

Par 72, 6,489 yards

Formby is a historic club with a wonderful course that sits proudly in 41st place in the Golf Monthly Top 100. Coastal erosion over many years has led to changes, and a few more are being carefully planned already by the forward-thinking members to safeguard the future and quality of this beautiful and varied links.

Looking back to the clubhouse from the 2nd fairway

The course is kept in tip-top order and runs in an anti-clockwise direction around the lovely and very enjoyable Formby Ladies course, itself also very much recommended. Guests are rightly encouraged to play both during their stay.

The view back up the sweeping par-5 8th

The first three holes hug the railway line before you change direction and head into the dunes. The holes are then very distinctive with a superb par 4 at 7 and an excellent, meandering par 5 at 8.

The 9th hole heads out towards the coast

The 10th is a fine short hole and the 11th plays up to a green that is surrounded by dunes.

The 11th green is beautifully framed by humps and bumps

Strong holes take you all the way home - particularly two very tough par 4s at 14 and 15.

The approach up the 18th fairway towards the welcoming clubhouse

There is some light relief at the short 16th, before a par 5 and another very strong par 4 lead you home to sanctuary.

Formby Ladies - The picturesque par-3 5th

Formby Ladies has its own course, but despite its modest 5,356 yardage, it is still a genuine test with heather a regular hazard. It is also enormous fun and has some terrific holes including two cracking par 3s, the 5th and 12th.

One of the twin rooms in the clubhouse

The Dormy House sleeps up to 10 in 4 twin and two single rooms, and is right in the heart of the very impressive clubhouse. Guests are also able to enjoy a frame or two in the 1st-floor snooker room.

Breakfast is included in the spacious Dining Room which offers terrific views out over the course, and Formby Golf Club is an ideal base for a journey round a treasure chest of top-class golf.

Rob Smith
Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.

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