St Anne's Old Links
The land spreads between the genteel suburbs of Lytham St Anne’s and the thrill seekers of the Blackpool Tower and the adjacent roller coaster. A long duney ridge protects the course and ‘a cramp’ of new houses from the Irish Sea. Inland lies the airfield and what I assume to be a flying school. All very jolly until the pupil cuts his engine at the top of your back swing. The pupil finds their stall speed and the golfer stalls their swing and looks nervously upwards for the descending plane.
The land is a crumpled blanket of golfing comfort below an impressive headboard of a clubhouse. Gentle undulations maximised with smart routing and design. There are several short holes, on paper, but few in the wind. There are two ponds, at least one of which was tested by your correspondent, and they are indeed wet. The greens are generally flat and receptive which makes for a very enjoyable round but if your attention wanders the course will catch you out. The signature hole is probably the short 9th; 154 yards into a long narrow green; banked and overhung with dunes. But my favourite was the par 4 15th which at 359 yards maximises it’s length with a raised, and heavily protected green. I was surprised to find I was given a couple of extra shots against my club slope handicap but I wasn’t complaining. The new system might take a little time to bed in.
We were joined on our round by a distinguished and well fed fox who was not impressed by our shot making but had profited from the link between golfers and grub. The moorhens were not flustered by his presence as he is obviously not the predatory type. Clubhouse rumours suggest that pizzas have been delivered to the Pro shop door addressed to Mr Basil Fox. It would not surprise me.
The clubhouse is a statement in bulk and comfort. A comfort to those allowed within and a bulwark against the wind and those without. Looking at Lytham St Anne’s clubhouse the Victorian’s had competitive instincts and bricks were clearly cheap. It is as impressive as the golf course.
