Wirral Golf


THE WIRRAL PENINSULA IS WELL SERVED WITH GOLF COURSES BOTH LINKS AND PARKLAND. IN ADDITION TO ROYAL LIVERPOOL WHERE ELSE MIGHT YOU ENJOY PLAYING? JOE PINNINGTON CHOOSES SOME OF HIS LOCAL FAVOURITES.


WALLASEY GOLF CLUB Just four miles from Royal Liverpool, but built on much more pronounced dunes than Hoylake. There are spectacular views across Liverpool Bay to North Wales. I remember the Wow! feeling I had


when I played there for the first time and walked from the third green to the


I knew I was playing links golf at its best


Above and below: The clubhouse and sunrise at Wallasey


elevated fourth tee. What I saw when I reached it was quite a sight, particularly because I’d been unaware of the elevation I was scaling. There you are, gazing across the expanse of Liverpool Bay and the Irish Sea to the Welsh mountains. Walking down the dune onto the


fairway I knew I was playing links golf at its best. Despite natural hazards, hillocks, dips and undulating ground, I have occasionally heard criticism like: “Oh, Wallasey, they have three or four weak holes.” My only retort to such a disingenuous remark is that the Club has many magnificent holes to remember and the last four holes are a joy to behold. Arriving on the 15th fairway the


elevated 15th green towers above you. A positive approach is required, no sloppy


shots as you won’t make it, and it’s not much fun being short or wide. The short but deceptive 16th of 200


yards hugging the dune on its right, is really longer than you think. The 17th is as good a par four as you


could wish to play. The drive must be played to the right of the fairway for you to have a chance of making the green with your second. And the final hole rolls through the dunes, up and down and finishing beside the Victorian clubhouse - the oldest purpose built clubhouse in the area. But Wallasey offers much more than


just a fine course. I recently played with last year’s Captain Paul Waters who pointed out the many treasures in the clubhouse, among them the portrait of Dr Frank Stableford. Wallasey was the venue for the first Stableford Golf event in 1932, staged by the man himself. Many times he had tried to sell the idea to the Clubs of which he was a member, but they proved hard to convince. After 30 years of persistence his scoring system was at last given its chance, and what a legacy he has left to the world of golf. The only time I am happy with a pencil in my hand whilst playing golf is during a Stableford competition, so all praise to the good Doctor. Another must-see picture is that of


Bobby Jones, not only painted by the great J.A.A. Berrie, but also signed by R. T. Jones himself.


BROMBOROUGH GOLF CLUB May well be the next stop on your tour. It is a fine parkland course with lovely rolling contours, a great variety of trees


54 ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB MAGAZINE 2018–2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64