Nick Bayly pays a visit to Formby Hall Hotel & Golf Resort in Lancashire, which is celebrating three decades of providing championship parkland golf and top-class hospitality, while at the same time laying the foundation for future improvements and expansion
For golfers visiting ‘England’s Golf Coast’ – the self-styled name given to the region that takes in Liverpool and the greater Merseyside area – the great links to be found around Southport and the Wirral have long dominated the discourse of places to play in the northwest of England.
And quite rightly so given that you have a trio of Royally appointed courses in Birkdale, Lytham and Liverpool that have hosted 34 Open Championship between them, along with at least a half-a-dozen further courses that boast ‘Top 100’ pedigrees, long waiting lists and high-end green fees.
But while these hallowed and exalted venues should be on every serious golfer’s bucket list, the fact that they are seen as bucket list options makes them all but unaffordable save for a milestone birthday outing or you happen to be friends with a member.
Thankfully, at least for golfers without a membership or very deep pockets, the Merseyside golf beat extends far beyond these iconic venues, with the region blessed with a wide range of excellent courses that serve their market well, offering good quality golf at good value prices that haven’t been inflated by the tourist dollar.
One such destination is Formby Hall, a four-star resort located right in the heart of England’s Golf Coast hotspot, which has been quietly and efficiently hosting local and visiting golfers for the past 30 years.
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
One of the few places in the region that can offer stay-and-play breaks where the accommodation is well beyond a back-to-basics dormy house, Formby Hall is not only a golf destination in its own right, thanks to its 18-hole Dave Thomas-designed Old Course and its more approachable 9-hole course, but it’s well-appointed hotel and first-class F&B offering also makes it a great base for exploring the area’s golfing treasures.
Although I’m not much of a fan of clubs that name their primary course the ‘Old Course’ – that one was nabbed by St Andrews in 1895 following the building of the New Course next to what was the town’s only other course at the time – Formby Hall’s championship layout also isn’t all that old, having first opened in 1996. It’s not even middle aged, and, in pure demographic terms, could certainty be classed as a ‘Gen Z’ course.
Name aside, Dave Thomas’s design is certainly one for grown-ups off the 7,100-yard back tees, with its requirement for both distance and accuracy making it a true championship test, and one that has proved a worthy challenge for Europe’s second and third-tier men’s professional tours in years gone by.
Water comes into play on in some shape or form on the Old Course on all but one hole placing an emphasis on accuracy off the tee and with your approach play
With water coming into play on 17 holes – sometimes running alongside a fairway and at other times close to the green – tee shots must be shaped and approaches carefully judged in order to avoid racking up reloads by the hundreds of red stakes that guard the hazards, while internal out-of-bounds markers also ensure that your radar can’t be too off target at any point if you’re keeping score.
For me, the course’s strongest stretch of holes comes from the 11th to the 16th, where it opens into more open countryside away from the hotel. The dogleg-left 11th is particularly clever: the tee shot invites you towards the right, where heavy rough can leave a difficult approach over a pond that cuts in front of the green.
The par-three 16th, played across water to a green guarded by bunkers front and back, is a compact test of nerve and club selection. The finish brings you back towards the hotel, with the outdoor terrace overlooking the 18th providing an appealing place for post-round refreshments.
A view of the 18th green on Formby Hall’s Old Course from a hotel bedroom window, showing just how close guests are to the golf course
Despite the long and extremely hot summer, which burnt off many fairways around the country, the Old Course was in great nick for my visit thanks to the arrival of some much-needed autumn rain. The greens rolled true, without being excessively quick, while the bunkers were well maintained and the fairways and rough showed clear definition. There is pleasure here beyond the scorecard, too: wildfowl around the water and wildflowers growing along parts of the course remind you that you’re very much among nature.
The 9-hole Woodhey Dunes is a delightful par-3 course
STRONG SUPPORT ACTS
Formby Hall’s other course, the 9-hole Woodhey Dunes, gives the venue a valuable second golfing identity. The par-three course has rolling contours, riveted pot bunkers and a links-style character that contrasts with the trees and water corridors of the Old Course. Ideal for new golfers, younger players and those looking to sharpen their scoring shots, its serves as a welcome addition for those looking to gain confidence before tackling its tougher neighbour, as well as a fun challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
The Woodhey also forms part of a wider facilities aimed at improving your game, with the resort also featuring a Toptracer driving range, putting and short game areas, and a PGA Academy offering tuition across different ages and abilities. The academy gained PGA National Residential Golf Academy status in 2008, becoming the first in the UK, and its ability to combine lessons, practice, course play and accommodation remains one of Formby Hall’s distinguishing strengths.
The driving range is kitted out with Toptracer Range technology
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
The hotel’s present accommodation offering includes a mix of 76 classic rooms, larger rooms and suites, many of which directly over the golf course. From your room it’s just a short walk to the venue’s wide range of dining and off-course activities.
The Fairway restaurant, bar and terrace cover the post-round drink, an informal lunch and a more leisurely evening meal. Popular with travelling golf groups and and local golfers, you can decide to eat in the bar or out on the terrace, if weather permits, while the main restaurant area, which also doubles up as the breakfast room, also looks out over the golf course.
An example of a superior double room overlooking the golf course
The spa broadens the appeal considerably, particularly for couples or groups whose plans do not revolve entirely around golf. Alongside treatments and relaxation areas, Formby Hall offers an indoor pool, thermal facilities and a high-spec gym.
Formby Hall now enters its fourth decade under new ownership. The Portugal-based Harland & Poston Group bought the resort in 2024 and has outlined a phased programme of renovations and developments covering accommodation, food and beverage, fitness, events and leisure spaces. Its plans include expansion towards 106 rooms, as well as the construction of a separate wedding venue with 24 guest lodges. The group says the work will be delivered in stages, with the lodges among the later elements.
With its focus on good value golf and relaxed hospitality, and its enviable location in the heart of one of England’s most popular golfing destinations, Formby Hall’s future looks rosy indeed.
GOLF BREAK PACKAGES
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa offers a wide range of golf packages, starting from £240 for a one-night stay for two people with dinner (£25 voucher per person), bed, breakfast, and a round on the Old Course, plus complimentary access to the health club, indoor pool, gym, sauna, and steam room.
For more details, visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk.
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