The Sefton coast between Southport and Formby contains the highest concentration of championship golf in England. Three courses within 15 minutes of each other, all Open Championship standard or Open qualifying venues. A retained Mercedes V-Class makes the multi-course day effortless.
The Three Courses
Royal Birkdale — 10-time Open Championship host. The highest-rated course on the coast. Severe dune ridges, Championship character, and the clubhouse that has hosted every major name in golf. Green fees reflect the status.
Hillside — adjacent to Royal Birkdale (literally next door). Open qualifying venue, consistently rated in England's top 30. The less famous neighbour with arguably equally dramatic holes. Significantly lower green fees than Birkdale.
Formby Golf Club — pine-lined links through Corsican pine dunes. No other course in the world looks like Formby. Red squirrels between the trees. Open qualifying. The most visually distinctive round on the coast.
The Multi-Course Day
Morning round at Formby (07:30 tee). Your driver transfers you to Hillside (10 minutes). Lunch at the Hillside clubhouse. Afternoon round at Hillside (13:00 tee). Or: morning at Birkdale, afternoon at Formby. Any combination, your driver transfers between courses with bags handled — four bags upright in the V-Class boot, covers protected, trolleys folded, wet kit isolated.
From Liverpool or Manchester
Liverpool: 40 minutes to the Sefton coast via M57/A570. Manchester: 55 minutes via M6/M58. Manchester Airport: 60 minutes — fly in for golf, bags in the Mercedes, direct to the course.
The V-Class Advantage
Four bags standing upright — never stacked, never scratched, covers protected. Trolleys folded separately. Wet kit (waterproofs, towels, shoes) isolated from dry clothing. After 36 holes in Sefton coast weather, the boot organisation matters. Your driver handles it while you walk off the 18th.