Fairhaven Golf Club

Fairhaven Golf Club — championship golf at Lytham St Annes

Set among the pines and heather of the Fylde coast, Fairhaven is the course the professionals play when the Open comes to Lytham. Long, honest and beautifully conditioned, it is a stern examination dressed as a peaceful heathland round.

Fairhaven Golf Club, at Lytham St Annes in Lancashire, is a championship inland links-and-heathland course designed by Jack Steer and the great James Braid. It plays to a par of 72 over around 6,961 yards, and its quality is proven by its long service as an Open Championship Final Qualifying venue whenever the Open is staged at neighbouring Royal Lytham & St Annes. It is one of the finest tests in the North West.

Key Details

• Location: Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 4JU
• Length: approximately 6,961 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 72
• Designers: Jack Steer and James Braid
• Established: founded 1895; moved to the present site in 1924
• Notable: Open Championship Final Qualifying venue when The Open is played at Royal Lytham & St Annes

History and significance

Fairhaven was founded in 1895 and settled on its present site at Lytham St Annes in 1924, where a championship course was laid out with the involvement of Jack Steer and the five-time Open champion James Braid. Over the following century it built a reputation as one of Lancashire’s premier courses.

Its standing is best measured by the company it keeps: when the Open Championship visits Royal Lytham & St Annes just along the coast, Fairhaven has served as a Final Qualifying venue since the 1950s, testing aspiring Open golfers against a genuine championship layout. That role has long marked it out as far more than a club course.

The course and how it plays

Fairhaven mixes the feel of a links with the framing of a heathland course — flattish, well-drained ground lined with pines, silver birch and heather, and greens that are firm, quick and true. There is little hiding place: the fairways are defined, the bunkering is strategic, and the wind off the nearby coast is a constant presence.

At close to 7,000 yards from the back tees it has real length, but it is the accuracy and control it demands, rather than raw power, that make it such a fair championship test. Drive it straight, respect the wind and manage your misses, and Fairhaven gives a hugely satisfying round.

Signature holes

Fairhaven is admired as a consistent, honest championship test rather than a course of tricks, and it is best described by its overall character rather than a single nominated hole.

What defines a round is the relentless quality of the challenge: tree- and heather-lined driving holes where position off the tee is everything, well-bunkered approaches to firm greens, and a finish that has decided many a qualifying place when the Open is in town. It is the fairness and the sustained difficulty across all eighteen holes — the reason the professionals are sent here to qualify — that make Fairhaven memorable.

Why play Fairhaven Golf Club

You play Fairhaven to test your game on a genuine championship course, on the same turf the Open qualifiers walk. It is beautifully kept, welcoming to visitors, and offers the rare chance to measure yourself against a layout good enough to help decide who plays in the Open.

With Royal Lytham & St Annes and a cluster of fine courses on the doorstep, it is also a cornerstone of one of England’s great golfing coasts.

Clubhouse and facilities

Fairhaven has a large, welcoming clubhouse with dining and lounges overlooking the course, a well-stocked professional’s shop and a professional offering tuition. Practice facilities help you prepare for the test ahead, and the club is well set up for visitors and societies alike.

Green fees and booking

Visitors are welcome, with tee times booked online or through the professional’s shop; as a championship members’ club, booking ahead is advised and some times are reserved for members. Green fees vary by season and day of the week.

Because rates are reviewed regularly, it is best not to rely on a fixed figure. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

The club is at Lytham St Annes on the Fylde coast, easily reached from the M55.

• By car: leave the M55 for Lytham St Annes and follow local signs; the club is on the edge of the town.
• By public transport: Ansdell & Fairhaven railway station is close to the course on the Blackpool South line, with onward walk or taxi; Blackpool and Preston offer wider connections.
• Address & parking: Fairhaven Golf Club, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 4JU. On-site parking is available.

Where to stay

The natural base is Lytham St Annes itself, with Blackpool close by for a wider range of accommodation.

Lytham St Annes offers a good choice of hotels and guesthouses within easy reach of the course and the coast, while nearby Blackpool adds plenty more options and attractions for a longer stay. The whole Fylde coast is well set up for golfing trips, with several championship courses close together.

What to pack

This is coastal championship golf, so pack for wind and changeable weather with warm, windproof and waterproof layers. Bring the clubs you drive most reliably, well-gripped shoes for firm ground, and a few spare balls for the tree- and heather-lined holes. Smart golf attire is expected in the clubhouse.

Nearby attractions

The Fylde coast combines classic seaside resorts with golf heritage.

Conclusion

Long, fair and quietly demanding, Fairhaven is a championship course in the truest sense — the venue that helps decide the Open field whenever the great championship comes to Lytham. Framed by pines and heather on England’s finest golfing coast, it is a genuine test that every serious golfer should experience.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can visitors play Fairhaven Golf Club?

Yes. Fairhaven welcomes visiting golfers, with tee times booked online or through the professional’s shop. As a championship members’ club, booking ahead is recommended and some times are reserved for members, especially at weekends and in the busy summer season. A smart golf dress code applies both on the course and in the clubhouse, and societies are catered for by arrangement. Given its role as an Open Championship Final Qualifying venue, it is a popular round, so early booking is wise. For current visitor information, availability and tee times, check the official website, which carries the up-to-date details.

Why is Fairhaven Golf Club important?

Fairhaven is one of Lancashire’s premier courses and a genuine championship test, best known for its role in the Open Championship. When the Open is staged at neighbouring Royal Lytham & St Annes, Fairhaven has served since the 1950s as a Final Qualifying venue, where golfers compete for the last places in the field. That responsibility reflects the quality and fairness of the course, designed by Jack Steer and the five-time Open champion James Braid. For visitors, it offers the rare chance to play a layout good enough to help decide who tees it up in golf’s oldest major.

What kind of course is Fairhaven Golf Club?

Fairhaven is a championship course that blends the feel of a links with heathland framing. Laid out on flattish, well-drained coastal ground at Lytham St Annes, it is lined with pines, silver birch and heather, and plays to a par of 72 over close to 6,961 yards from the back tees. The greens are firm, quick and true, the bunkering is strategic, and the wind off the coast is a constant factor. Rather than relying on tricks or blind shots, it demands accurate driving, controlled approaches and clever course management — a fair but exacting test throughout.

How do I get to Fairhaven Golf Club?

The club is at Lytham St Annes on the Fylde coast in Lancashire. By car, leave the M55 for Lytham St Annes and follow the local signs; the course sits on the edge of the town and the postcode for sat-navs is FY8 4JU, with parking on site. By train, Ansdell & Fairhaven station is close to the course on the Blackpool South line, with a short walk or taxi to the club, while Blackpool and Preston provide wider rail connections for those travelling from further afield.