Royal Lytham is considered one of the finest links courses in England, if not the world, despite having little in common with its prestigious cousins on the Open Championship rota. Unlike the romantic vision of a links layout on the sea, Lytham golf course lies more than a mile from the sea and is surrounded by red brick housing, with a live train track down one side.
The course defenses are also atypical of a links course, with many bunkers and mostly man made sand dunes that are not natural to the landscape.
Royal Lytham St Annes Golf Club is truly one of the crown jewels of English golf, along with Royal Birkdale and Royal Liverpool. Royal Lytham is the only Open rota course that starts with a par 3, albeit a long one at 206 yards.
Having hosted every prestigious golf championship in both amateur and professional circuits, including eleven Open Championships and two Ryder Cup matches, it is not a course to miss off your England golf tour.
Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club was founded in 1886 and played on leased land near where St Annes Old Links is today, until moving to the present site in 1897 when the Club’s first pro, George Lowe, laid out the original course. Harry Colt carried out major renovations in 1919 and 1935. It has only been slightly tweaked since then, primarily by adding length and adjusting bunkers, most recently by the world-renowned team of Mackenzie & Ebert.
As distinctive as the course is, Royal Lytham is known for its iconic and easily recognizable colorful Victorian clubhouse built in 1888 and the matching Dormy House added in 1911. You can stay in the recently refurbished Dormy House that features 16 comfortably appointed rooms and is literally located on the practice putting green.
Royal Lytham & St Annes is famed for its bunkers – 174 in total – making it one of the most demanding tests in championship golf. Set on England’s north-west coast, the course has built its reputation on these traps, which aren’t just scattered hazards but the defining feature of play. Every bunker is placed with purpose, shaping the ideal lines of attack and punishing even the slightest lapse in accuracy.
The philosophy behind the bunkering was cemented during Harry Colt’s revisions in 1919 and 1935. Rather than acting as simple obstacles, his designs force golfers to make choices: take the bold line and flirt with trouble, or play conservatively and face a longer, more exacting shot. It’s this risk-and-reward character that makes Lytham such a strategic masterpiece.
Adding to the challenge is the variety of bunker styles across the course. Some are shallow enough to allow a recovery, while others are deep, unforgiving pot bunkers where the only option is to escape sideways. Each demands precision, creativity, and adaptability.
oyal Lytham & St Annes is a course of fascinating contrasts: a true championship links set over a mile inland from the sea. This unusual position creates a blend rarely found in golf: firm, running fairways and sandy soils that embody links tradition, paired with wind patterns that are less chaotic than those on exposed coastal courses. The result is a strategic test unlike anywhere else on The Open rota.
Here, players must still master the classic ground game of links golf: low shots, imaginative recoveries, and precise control over bounce and roll. Yet the more predictable breezes allow for greater course management, placing decision-making at the forefront. Local knowledge comes into play too, as the surrounding houses and streets funnel the wind into shifting corridors that can confound the unprepared.
Adding to its character is the railway line that skirts one side of the property. Far from detracting, it has become part of Lytham’s identity: a distinctive boundary and a reminder that great golf doesn’t always need sweeping dunes or remote landscapes. Instead, Lytham shows that a world-class championship test can thrive in harmony with its urban surroundings, all while maintaining the highest standards of links golf.
Although easily accessible from central Liverpool, the traditional English beach towns of the north west coast are a popular choice for golf travelers. Southport and Lytham St Annes offer ample traditional B&B’s with the unique charm of the region.
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It is recommended you have a copy of your handicap certificate available when playing at any exclusive golf course, which includes Royal Lytham & St Annes. This ensures that your experience on the course isn’t overly easy or excessively difficult.
Green fees are always included within a Premier Golf Package and these vary depending on the seasonality.
The course has remained faithful to its original layout since its establishment in 1897, with only minor improvements over the years. Notably, the course features 174 strategically positioned pot bunkers that challenge golfers of all levels.
Visitors are generally required to provide a valid handicap certificate when playing at Royal Lytham & St Annes. While specific limits may vary, a maximum handicap of 21 for men and 24 for women is typically enforced at top championship courses.
Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted The Open Championship eleven times, with the first in 1926 and the most recent in 2012.
The biggest major golf tournament held at the Royal Lytham & St Annes is the Open Championship, which it has hosted on 11 occasions.
You can book a golf tour that includes Royal Lytham & St Annes with Premier Golf and we recommend including this course on any tour of England’s golf coast.
Lytham and St Annes are two adjoining towns in Lancashire, collectively known as Lytham St Annes. The Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club is situated between these towns. While the course is inland and does not have direct sea views, it is influenced by coastal winds, adding to its challenging nature.
Royal Lytham & St Annes offers a driving range, short game area, and putting green for players to warm up before their round.
The Slope Rating varies depending on the chosen tees. For instance, the Blue Course has a Slope Rating of 152, while the Red Course is rated at 147.
