Hesketh Golf Club

About

Hesketh is the oldest golf club in Southport, established in 1885.

Part links and part parkland, it is set among the Victorian villas of a residential area at the northern end of South West Lancashire's sand dune system. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Hesketh sits beside a nationally renowned nature reserve and the seabirds and other wildlife provide an added attraction for visitors.

In addition to being regularly chosen as a Qualifying venue when The Open is played at nearby Royal Birkdale, Hesketh has hosted County Championships, National Championships and top events in women's golf. These include the Lancashire Amateur Open, the Lancashire Ladies' Amateur Open and the British Senior Amateur Championship.

In 2008, Hesketh hosted the R&A Junior Open Championship with 110 children from over 70 different countries taking part and more recently, the Club hosted the Centenary Lancashire Amateur Championship and the English under 14 Championship in 2010 and co-hosted the Amateur Championship in 2011 with Hillside Golf Club.

Hesketh is well established in the history of golf - the English Golf Union has its roots here, the initiative came from a former Hesketh Captain who went on to become the Union's first President. Among the famous names to play at Hesketh is Henry Cotton (set a course record of 68 in 1932) and no history of Hesketh would be complete without referring to the Bentley brothers, Harry and Arnold, who are often described as the most illustrious pair of brothers in the history of the amateur game. Arnold also deserves special mention for being one of the two-man team that triumphed for Britain at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, leaving Hitler decidedly unimpressed that the Germans could not demonstrate their superiority. The so-called 'Hitler Trophy' now resides in Hesketh's clubhouse after many years without a permanent home and another part of Hesketh's folklore is the fir tree that was unusually presented to Arnold as part of his prize and which now sits on a sand dune outside the clubhouse.

Mike Kanski of Hesketh recorded the Amateur Course Record of 67 on the 6th July 2002 and although not everyone can emulate this score, the course sets a testing yet fair challenge for golfers of all abilities. It is distinctive by virtue of the fact that half of the holes nestle between sand dunes, while the others border the Ribble estuary. The closing holes, from the 14th to the 18th meander between the sand hills and the clubhouse and provide a tremendous finish.

The Club offers visiting golfers a series of open competitions including the week long golfing festival and a competitive range of golfing packages are available to visitors and societies alike.

The clubhouse, sitting on the crest of a sand hill overlooking the course and surrounding areas, always offers a warm welcome and the famous Bentley Room, full of unique memorabilia of the brothers' achievements, is not to be missed.