Visit Southport paid partnership
Golf fans visiting Southport during The Open weekend are being encouraged to explore a destination where the game extends far beyond the championship course – with the chance to win a four-ball at Royal Birkdale.
As the eyes of the sporting world turn to Southport and Royal Birkdale for The Open, Visit Southport is inviting visitors to discover the wider golf culture found across the destination.
From golf simulators and specialist coaching to family attractions, independent retailers, golf-inspired art and even handmade chocolate golf balls, Southport is showcasing why the game is part of the destination’s culture – not simply a major sporting event.
Visitors can also take part in a special challenge during The Open for the chance to win a four-ball on The Open Championship course at Royal Birkdale.
Find the Golden Golf Balls
Golf fans are being challenged to visit five locations and seek out the Golden Golf Balls during The Open. By visiting all five locations and scanning the QR code at each, participants can enter a prize draw for the chance to win a four-ball at Royal Birkdale.
The competition encourages visitors to explore more of the destination while experiencing the atmosphere surrounding one of golf’s greatest championships.
Charlotte Buckingham, Destination Marketing Manager Tourism, Sefton MBC said:
“Royal Birkdale and The Open put Southport on a global sporting stage, but golf here has always been about much more than one week or one golf course.
“It is part of the personality of the destination. You can play it, practise it, shop for it and discover it through our attractions, food and art.
“The Golden Golf Ball challenge gives visitors another reason to explore during The Open, and the opportunity to win a four-ball at Royal Birkdale is an incredible prize for any golf fan.
“We want people to enjoy the championship but also venture beyond the fairways and experience just how deeply connected Southport is to the game.”
Golf does not stop at the 18th
Every golfer knows the feeling. The round is over. The final putt has dropped. The scorecard has been signed. And yet, golf is still on your mind.
In Southport, there are plenty of ways to continue playing long after the final group has walked up the 18th. At Platform X in Birkdale, cutting-edge golf simulators allow players to experience some of the world’s greatest courses indoors, making it ideal for evening competitions, groups and golfers looking to keep their swing sharp.
In Southport town centre, The Golf Lock Up combines TrackMan technology with a relaxed social atmosphere, allowing visitors to analyse every shot while enjoying food and drinks with friends. At Formby Hall Golf Resort, Toptracer technology brings another dimension to the driving range and offers an accessible golfing experience for experienced players, beginners and families.
Learn where golfing talent is developed
Southport and England’s Golf Coast have also established a reputation for coaching and player development. Renowned putting coach Phil Kenyon has worked with many of the world’s leading professional players, reinforcing the area’s reputation as a centre of golfing excellence. Junior golfers can develop their skills at the Tommy Fleetwood Academy in Southport, delivered by Head Professional Norman Marshall, who was Fleetwood’s first coach. Tommy Fleetwood himself has even been known to join academy challenges while passing by.
At Hillside Golf Club, Performance offers professional coaching and lessons in a state-of-the-art environment for players looking to take their game to the next level. It is a reminder that on England’s Golf Coast, golfing excellence is not reserved for championship week.
Shop like a golfer
No golfing trip is complete without browsing the latest clubs, clothing and accessories.
Hole in One Golf has served golfers for decades, offering equipment, apparel and expert advice to players of different abilities. The destination and surrounding Golf Coast are also home to numerous golf club pro shops, while Southport’s wider shopping offer gives visitors plenty of opportunities to find a reminder of their trip.
Sometimes the best souvenir is not a scorecard. It is the club you have spent all week talking yourself into buying.
Golf for everyone
Visitors do not need a single-figure handicap to become part of Southport’s golf story.
At Masters Crazy Golf, families can enjoy a round where laughter is more important than the final score. Viking Golf offers adventure golf with challenging putts, Viking-inspired surroundings and plenty of longboats. The Churchtown Family Golf Trail also brings golf into the historic surroundings of Botanic Gardens. For many visitors, these experiences offer a first introduction to the game. Because golf in Southport is not only about elite competition. It is about giving everyone the opportunity to pick up a club and have a go.
The sweetest round in golf
Some of Southport’s most unusual golf experiences take place away from the course entirely. At RS Fine Chocolate in Churchtown, visitors can discover handmade chocolate golf balls – the perfect gift for a golf fan or a well-earned reward after a day exploring the coast. The Ainsdale Village Pie & Pint Trail offers another distinctly local experience, combining pubs, food and a light-hearted golfing challenge through one of the area’s villages. It is proof that golf does not always have to happen on the greens.
Inspired by the fairways
Southport’s connection to golf can even be found in its art. Golf-inspired work by Ooshka captures the humour, nostalgia and character of the game, giving visitors the chance to take a piece of golfing culture home. Artist Paul Curtis’ Tommy Fleetwood mural celebrates one of the modern game’s leading players and the area’s connection with homegrown golfing talent. These are reminders that golf leaves its mark on the destination long after the galleries and grandstands have disappeared.
More than a championship
The Open may bring the world’s best golfers to Southport for one week. Golf remains all year. Visitors can play it. Practise it. Shop for it. Eat it. Talk about it. Laugh about it. And even frame it on their wall. That is why Southport is inviting golf fans to look beyond the 18th hole and experience a destination where the game is part of everyday life.
The Southport golf checklist
Golf fans can make the most of a visit by:
- Finding all five Golden Golf Balls and entering the draw to win a four-ball at Royal Birkdale
- Experiencing Royal Birkdale and the atmosphere of The Open
- Playing the simulators at Platform X
- Testing their game at The Golf Lock Up
- Browsing Hole in One Golf
- Taking on Viking Golf
- Trying Toptracer at Formby Hall Golf Resort
- Developing their game through specialist coaching
- Playing Masters Crazy Golf
- Discovering the Churchtown Family Golf Trail
- Sampling the Ainsdale Village Pie & Pint Trail
- Buying handmade chocolate golf balls
- Discovering golf-inspired artwork
- Finding the Tommy Fleetwood mural
Southport does not simply host golf. It lives it.
Four Ball What3Words locations:
Ainsdale Village
Birkdale Village
Churchtown
Hillside
Southport
Southport – England’s Golf Coast Capital
Southport sits at the heart of England’s Golf Coast and is internationally recognised for its championship links courses and golfing heritage.
Royal Birkdale hosts The Open from 12–19 July 2026.
Visitors taking part in the Golden Golf Ball challenge must visit all five participating locations and scan the QR code at each to enter the prize draw for the chance to win a four-ball at Royal Birkdale.
For more information please visit:
URL: https://www.visitsouthport.com/golf/the-open/
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown or email: [email protected]
