Course
Just 4 miles from the city centre, West Derby Golf Club enjoys a secluded location in a leafy suburb of Liverpool. At 6,275 yards, it is a mature parkland course with immaculate fairways and excellent greens. It is a challenging test of golf for low and high handicap players, alike. To score well you need to be straight and accurate.
Hole 1
1st Hole: Persimmon Bridge
300 yards, Stroke Index 10
A slightly left of centre drive over the brook will keep you safe from the fairway bunker and open up your second shot to the green, leaving you a short iron for your second. The green is quite large and undulating, with deep trouble over the back.
Hole 2
2nd Hole: Beware the Burn
319 yards, Stroke Index 16
A straight shot will find you with a short iron hop over the Deysbrook, but beware its dangers are costly, should you misjudge and drop in.
Hole 3
3rd Hole: Silver Birches
347 yards, Stroke Index 8
The second dog-leg hole, with a brook, a drainage dyke, trees down the left and bunkers out to the right. A straight drive to the middle of the fairway will pay dividends here for your second to the green.
Hole 4
4th Hole: Deysbrook Far
379 yards, Stroke Index 2
With trees on either side, a long straight drive is essential to give you an easier second over the Deysbrook again. A good hit is required to miss the large bunkers at the right and left of the green.
Hole 5
5th Hole: Bulrush Pool
285 yards, Stroke Index 14
Over the brook with the drive this time, keeping slightly left to avoid the trees on the right, the fairway bunker and the pollarded tree just short of the green. Too long a second will find trouble at the back.
Hole 6
6th Hole: Mallard’s Rest
543 yards, Stroke Index 4
Returning back over the brook with your tee shot, a long straight drive is required. The ideal shot should be right of centre to ease you away from line of fire with the pond and give you sight of the green. Anything past the pond will be greeted with satisfaction as long as you avoid the numerous bunkers. A long green is receptive to the well hit approach shot.
Hole 7
7th Hole: Short and Sandy
131 yards, Stroke Index 18
The first par 3 is a short easy looking hole, but is guarded by a large bunker at the front and a pond at the back left portion, to which the land slopes gradually away.
Hole 8
8th Hole: Water’s End
480 yards, Stroke Index 6
A long right hand dog-leg requiring good positioning with the drive and second shots to set up a shot over the brook again. Once again straight play will be rewarded.
Hole 9
9th Hole: Midpoint
161 yards, Stroke Index 12
A slightly longer testing hole, with dire trouble on both sides. Out of bounds to the right and a thick tree line to the left. Bunkers adequately guard the green, so a true shot to the green will be a winner.
Hole 10
10th Hole: Humps ‘n’ Hollows
548 yards, Stoke Index 9
Long and tough requiring three good shots to set up par or birdie chances. Out of bounds along the left. This requires nerves of steel.
Hole 11
11th Hole: St Mary’s View
438 yards, Stroke Index 1
The 11th runs back alongside the 10th and is the toughest par 4, especially when the prevelant wind blows from the west. A drive left of centre will avoid the cross fairway bunker and a well hit second will avoid bunkers short and adjacent to the green.
Hole 12
12th Hole: Long Short
191 yards, Stroke Index 15
The longest par 3, with a well guarded green, with bunkers short and surrounding the green. Also an undulating dip, short of the green, will swallow up and hamper and poorly hit shots.
Hole 13
13th Hole: Three Sisters
423 yards, Stroke Index 3
A dog leg to the right requiring a well hit drive, avoiding trees at the back of the 12th and to the right, will open up your second to the green. A good mid-iron or short fairway wood will need to be long enough to avoid the bunkers short and those surrounding the green as well as the tall trees (The Three Sisters) guarding the left of the approach.
Hole 14
14th Hole: Yew Tree Pond
132 yards, Stroke Index 17
A short par 3 guarded by large ponds and bunkers. Good iron play will prevent your score climbing steadily.
Hole 15
15th Hole: Rudd’s Bend
499 yards, Stroke Index 7
The last of the dog-legs. A well hit drive, right of centre, should set up a view around the corner to the green. Then two more good shots and an elevated green awaits you. Trees abound on this hole, as well as the Out of boungs on the left. So the advice is keep it in the fairway.
Hole 16
16th Hole: Fir Ways
397 yards, Stroke Index 5
A long straight hit down the centre of the fairway will avoid trees on either side, the fairway bunker and the Out of bounds. Too long with your second and you may run into trouble over the back, costly!
Hole 17
17th Hole: In Sight
324 yards, Stroke Index 13
A short par 4, with the green well guarded by trees and bunkers short and right. A long elevated green awaits you.
Hole 18
18th Hole: Safely Home
378 yards, Stroke Index 11
Home and dry. Well almost. The pleasures of the clubhouse await, but first the card wrecker. Many players have arrived at the 18th tee only to have their score dashed, by going Out of bounds on the right, or carving it left into the trees trying to avoid the OOB. A good drive down the middle will avoid all the trouble and set you up for a good second shot with a short to mid iron to an elevated green. Bunkers guard the front left and right. Too long though will catch the OOB on the other side of the green.