Story of a Golf Club: Formby Ladies Golf Club

In our latest episode of our ‘Story of a Golf Club’ series, we are back on England’s Golf Coast to visit the lesser known of the two Formby courses, Formby Ladies. We wanted to spend time at Formby Ladies given its unique standing in the game. The only Ladies only golf club in the UK with its own 18 hole course (the nearest example would perhaps be the Himalaya’s putting course at St Andrews), the fact that it has only one set of tee’s and plays over a short distance at approx.. 5,300 yards. 

Formby Ladies was formed back in 1896 when a flourishing and forward thinking ladies section decided they wanted their own course, to run their competitions and formed their own club. Considering the era, this was a bold and brave decision and testament to the foresight of those initial founding lady members. 

Whilst a clubhouse fire at Formby means many records from those early years are lost, the initial architect credited with the first 9-hole routing is given to club professional Willian McEwan, however the large block of heathland ground that sits within the perimeter of the men’s course has evolved significantly over time with the benefit of further involvement of course architects to the 18 hole course we enjoy today. In 1907 it was extended to 18, and years later Harry Colt was commissioned to further improve the shape of the course. Whilst Colt’s design attributes are varied, making it hard to distinguish his own individual contribution, the green sites in particular the 4th and 5th are both believed to be a product of his work.

At the short distance of 5,356 yards from the only tee markers (the reds), and playing as a par 71, Formby Ladies does not defend itself with its distance, however the modern long hitter will be fooled into thinking he or she can take on more off the tee than is required. Everything at Formby ladies is scaled down by 20%, the fairways are more narrow and lined with thick heather which acts as the perfect penalty for an errant drive, and the intricate and small green complexes are not only visually stunning but again reinforce the importance of accuracy in your round. 

The par 3 holes at FLGC are the true wonder. These stunning short holes all playing less than 150 yards are anything but simple, with forced carries and requiring a sure and committed stroke to successfully find the putting surface and make certain of par. 

We love Formby Ladies, and whilst there is so much fantastic golf to be enjoyed on the North West coast of England, with its bigger neighbors like Birkdale, West Lancs, S&A, Hillside and of course Formby men’s, sometimes its nice to enjoy a shorter course that doesn’t require the golfer to whale on driver throughout the round, making it accessible to players of all ages and abilities, around a layout that isn’t either taxing on your legs or onerous on your time. This is the perfect compliment to a long morning round, when 18 holes isn’t enough and 36 holes at championship length is too much, or indeed worthy of a visit purely on its own merit. At a peak green fee rate of £65 in the summer momth,s roughly one third the price of some of its bigger neighbours, we can’t guarantee you’ll score low, but you will have twice as much fun as you might on a longer layout.