West Lancs Golf Club #10
Highlights of West Lancs Golf Club
- They had The Open Qualifying there 2 weeks prior, so the course was immaculate
- We got classic Top 100 in 10 weather – warm and sunny
- The welcome at the club was FANTASTIC
- Tough but fair course, that will test all of your golf
- The green complexes are worth noting, they’re pretty unique in that they stand proud above the surrounding terrain
Read More About West Lancs Golf Club
Playing an Open competition at West Lancs Golf Club brought a mix of excitement, challenge, and ultimately, humility. As part of our quest to play the UK’s top 100 golf courses, West Lancs represented our 10th course and our first experience in an Open competition format. Located on England’s Golf Coast, West Lancs is highly regarded in golfing circles, serving as a final qualifying venue for The Open Championship.
Arriving at the club, we were immediately struck by the warm, genuine welcome. Despite its prestigious status, there’s a refreshing lack of pretension at West Lancs. The clubhouse offered a relaxed atmosphere, and the pro shop staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Brian, the starter, deserves special mention for providing invaluable insights about the course before we teed off. This kind of hospitality sets the tone for visitors and makes a significant difference to the overall experience.
The course itself was in immaculate condition. Having hosted Open Qualifying just weeks before our visit, the greens were absolutely pristine – running true and fast, comparable to some of the best we’ve experienced on our journey. The preparation and maintenance were evident throughout, from tee boxes to fairways. Weather-wise, we were blessed with glorious sunshine, perhaps too much so, as we found ourselves overdressed and sweltering in the unexpected heat!
West Lancs presents a genuine test of golf that demands strategic thinking and precise execution. The course is characterized by numerous dog-leg holes that require you to position your ball accurately to have the best angle of approach. What stood out most were the green complexes – raised and often plateau-style, with severe runoffs that punish errant approaches. This design feature was consistent throughout much of the course, particularly on the back nine, creating a distinctive challenge that requires careful planning.
The bunkering at West Lancs merits special attention. While not particularly deep or visually intimidating, the bunkers are strategically placed and often small, increasing the likelihood of awkward stances. Their positioning forces you to think carefully about your tee shots and approaches. Several of us found ourselves in bunkers that required multiple shots to escape – a humbling experience for even the more competent sand players among us.
The back nine at West Lancs is where the course truly comes into its own. From the beautiful par-3 12th onwards, there’s a stretch of holes (12-16) that offer the most memorable and challenging golf on the property. This section features more elevation changes, blind shots, and strategic decisions that elevate the experience. The signature 13th hole, played from an elevated tee with views across the Irish Sea, is particularly striking.
In terms of the competition itself, our performance was decidedly underwhelming! The format required the two best scores from our four-ball to count on each hole, and we managed a meager 70 points, placing us near the bottom of the leaderboard. The winning team amassed an astonishing 98 points – a score that raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about handicap integrity in amateur competitions.
What made this visit particularly interesting was how our poor play affected our perception of the course. When playing poorly on a visually spectacular course, it’s easier to separate your performance from your appreciation of the design. However, on a strategic, technical course like West Lancs, playing badly can mean you miss the point entirely. You simply don’t experience the course as intended when you’re constantly out of position.
West Lancs represents an honest, challenging test of golf without gimmicks or excessive visual drama. It’s a course that rewards good golf and punishes poor play – exactly what a top-ranked course should do. While it may not deliver the jaw-dropping vistas of some coastal courses, it offers something equally valuable: a pure, traditional links experience that examines every aspect of your game.
The Scorecard
Chris got 29 points and was +9 on strokeplay
Nish got 24 points and was +15 on strokeplay
The NISH Invitational – What A Day
Highlights of the day
- Or hosts Worsley Park Golf Club were fantastic and the course was in magnificent condition
- Everyone had a really good fun day, and we made sure everyone was involved throughout
- Our sponsors Squabbit golf made that a reality with the live leaderboard and tracking
- This dayis as much about the social as he golf, and getting everyone involved and knowing each other is a massive part of the day for us, we really felt this year was THE BEST!
The Winners
Our winners are;
Individual stableford: Paul
Team Total: Team THE – Lee, Paul, Steve
Team Average: Team THE – Lee, Paul, Steve
Best Front 9 net: Lee
Best Back 9 net: Mike
Longest Drive: Matt
Nearest to Pin: Chris
The NISH Invitational Ball Prize: Chris, Mike
Read More About The Day
The fifth annual Nish Invitational was recently held at Worsley Park Golf Club, a Marriott (now Delta) hotel venue that has become the perfect home for this special golf event. This year’s tournament brought together twelve players, the largest field in the event’s history, for a day of friendly competition, memorable moments, and plenty of laughs under unusually challenging weather conditions.
The day began with participants receiving personalised welcome packs containing Nish Invitational tees, a custom ball marker, a Top 100 in 10 divot tool, and a personalised Titleist Pro V1 golf ball with each player’s initials. These thoughtful touches immediately set the tone for what would be more than just a casual round of golf, but a proper event with attention to detail that participants would remember long after the final putt dropped.
Weather conditions proved to be one of the day’s biggest talking points, with players experiencing what they described as “Singapore hot” conditions – muggy, wet heat that had everyone sweating profusely. The conditions were so extreme they even prompted one traditionally conservative player to wear shorts for the first time, breaking one of his longstanding personal rules of golf. This combination of heat interspersed with occasional rain showers created a challenging environment that tested everyone’s endurance as much as their golfing abilities.
What makes the Nish Invitational special is how it balances serious competition with fun. The tournament used the Squabbit app to track scores and provide live leaderboards, though with a twist – the leaderboard was hidden after the 15th hole to maintain suspense until the formal announcement of results. Competitions within the competition included nearest to the pin, which generated perhaps the day’s most memorable moment when one player’s celebration of what he thought was a winning shot was shortly outdone by another player whose ball stopped just six inches closer to the pin.
Worsley Park Golf Club proved once again why it’s an ideal venue for such events. The course offers the perfect balance of challenge and playability for golfers of all abilities, extensive practice facilities including a grass driving range, and ample space around the 18th green for groups to gather and watch the final players come in. The setting fosters an atmosphere of camaraderie that aligns perfectly with the spirit of the Nish Invitational.
Perhaps most telling about the success of the day were the comments from participants. Despite the intense heat and occasional competitive controversies (including debates about gimme putts and competition formats), players universally expressed their enjoyment. From the player who “had a great time” despite wishing they’d “played better,” to another who found their game improved after “a shot of something” from another player’s hip flask, the personal connections and shared experiences clearly overshadowed the importance of the final scores.
The day concluded with drinks, some good-natured debate about the competition format, and already looking ahead to next year’s event which promises to be “bigger” with “more people involved.” What began five years ago as a simple golf outing among friends has evolved into a cherished annual tradition that combines high-quality golf with personal touches that make participants feel valued and part of something special.
For anyone considering organising their own golf day, the Nish Invitational offers valuable lessons: attention to detail matters, the right venue is crucial, technology can enhance the experience, and most importantly, creating opportunities for shared moments and stories is what transforms a simple round of golf into a day that players eagerly anticipate year after year.
