West Lancs Golf Club #10

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.