Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club

What Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club does

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club is a private members' championship links golf club founded in 1906 and located on Bradshaws Lane, Ainsdale, Southport, on England's Golf Coast in Merseyside, United Kingdom. The club's core asset is an 18-hole links course designed by James Braid, weaving between protected coastal dunes, gorse, and heathland on a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation, and maintained to tournament standard. It operates with a headcount of 11–50 employees and generates revenue from five streams: green fees (demand-based dynamic pricing via a BRS Golf online portal, with international visitors booking years in advance for the May–September peak), annual membership subscriptions across Gentlemen, Ladies, Junior, International/Overseas, and Country/House categories (some closed with waiting lists), an on-site catering and bar operation housed in a historic clubhouse featuring the Ryder Cup Room, a Pro Shop led by former European Tour winner Jim Payne offering retail, coaching, and equipment hire, and bespoke event hosting including VIP Experience Packages and group bookings for 12+ players managed directly by Golf Operations Manager Charlotte Pilkington.

The club's commercial model is event-driven and diversified, combining recurring membership income with high-yield visitor and corporate revenue. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the club website, BRS Golf booking portal, telephone, and on-site visitor welcome, supplemented by partnerships with Hesketh Golf Club and the Waterfront Hotel for the multi-venue Sunday Driver package. The marketing mix spans earned media (Golf Monthly, Top 100 Golf Courses editorial features), owned channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and referral relationships with The R&A, England Golf, and the Rose Ladies Series. Pricing is demand-based for green fees, subscription-based for memberships, and bespoke for corporate/VIP packages, with group bookings requiring 50% non-refundable deposits and full payment 60 days in advance. Strategic positioning rests on three pillars: the 1933 and 1937 Ryder Cup heritage, ongoing R&A and tour-event selection (R&A Amateur Championship 2023, Rose Ladies Series 2023–2025, England Golf County Finals 2023), and environmental stewardship on protected SSSI land with Natural England 'favourable condition' status.

Name

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club

Legal name

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club

Website

https://sandagolfclub.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club is a private members' championship links golf club in Ainsdale, UK, founded 1906, operating a James Braid-designed 18-hole course, serving members, visitors, and corporate groups with green fees, memberships, F&B, and tournament hosting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Southport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Fees: Visitor green fees charged based on demand, time of day, and time of year. Premium pricing during peak season (May, June, July, September). International visitors book years in advance for prime times.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership subscriptions across multiple categories including Gentlemen, Ladies, Junior, International/Overseas, and Country/House Membership. Waiting lists in operation for certain categories.
3. Catering and Bar Services: Full catering and bar operation with multiple dining options including the Ryder Cup Room, main lounge, patio, and formal dining room. Fresh food and beverage options plus bespoke catering for events and VIP experiences.
4. Pro Shop Sales: Golf fashion, accessories, equipment sales from leading manufacturers. Services include demo days, club fitting, coaching, trolley and buggy hire, gift vouchers, trophies and prizes for clubs and societies.
5. Event and Package Hosting: Bespoke VIP experience packages including Champagne arrival, breakfast, golf clinic, 18 or 36 holes, four-course dinner with fine wines. Sunday Driver packages combining multiple courses with accommodation. Open competitions and group bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club operates a championship 18-hole links golf course on the Sefton Coast in Ainsdale, Southport, selling visitor green fees, multi-tier memberships (Gentlemen, Ladies, Junior, International/Overseas, Country/House), PGA professional coaching, pro shop retail, clubhouse catering and bar services, and bespoke event/VIP golf packages. The club also hosts annual open competitions and major championships including R&A Amateur Championship and Rose Ladies Series events.

Product overview

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club offers a comprehensive golf and hospitality experience built around its championship 18-hole links golf course established in 1906. The club provides green fee and tee time bookings, membership programs, professional coaching services through the Pro Shop, and equipment hire including buggies and caddies. Hospitality facilities include the historic clubhouse with the Ryder Cup Room dining venue, full catering services, and bar operations. The club also hosts open competitions throughout the year and offers premium VIP Experience Packages and Sunday Driver golf trip packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Championship Golf Course 18-hole championship links course (Par 72, 6,797 yards from white tees) on England's Golf Coast featuring original James Braid design elements, coastal dunes, gorse, heathland terrain, strategic bunkers, undulating fairways, and rolling greens. Open to members and visitors year-round with multiple tee positions for all skill levels.
• Clubhouse Historic clubhouse overlooking the 18th green and first tee, featuring traditional decor with modern facilities including main lounge, Casual Bar, air-conditioned dining room, locker rooms, and billiards/snooker room. Open to visitors with no members-only restrictions.
• Ryder Cup Room dining venue

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved 'favourable condition' status from Natural England for SSSI features
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The R&AcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The R&A selected Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club to be a host venue for The Amateur Championship in 2023. This represents a prestigious partnership with golf's governing body for amateur competition, with the club being chosen for its championship-caliber course and ability to host major events.
• Justin and Kate Rose (Rose Ladies Series)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The club was selected by Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose and his wife Kate to host the Rose Ladies Series Professional Golf Tour for three consecutive years (2023, 2024, 2025). This ongoing partnership supports ladies golf and welcomes amateur, competitive, and professional golfers from far and wide.
• England GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023England Golf selected the club to host the 2023 England Golf Men's County Finals. The club has a long history with England Golf and its predecessor organizations, hosting Lancashire Amateur Championships and other regional qualifying events.
• SafeGolf PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthport & Ainsdale Golf Club has met the standards set by England Golf and participates in the SafeGolf partnership to safeguard the welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk, ensuring all people have a fun, safe, and positive experience in golf.
• Natural EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural England, the government's adviser for the natural environment, works closely with the Sefton Coast golf courses via a dedicated Coastal Lead Adviser. The club's course is located on the Sefton Coast SSSI and SAC, achieving 'favourable condition' status through partnership management. The course is protected for its mosaic of dune heath and dune grassland features.
• Hesketh Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with Hesketh Golf Club (established 1885, longest established golf club in Southport) for the Sunday Driver golf package. This combined package offers visitors two rounds across both championship courses with accommodation at the 4-star Waterfront Hotel.
• Waterfront HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with the 4-star Waterfront Hotel overlooking Southport Marine Lake for the Sunday Driver golf package. Includes bed and breakfast accommodation combined with golf at S&A and Hesketh Golf Club.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal Birkdale Golf Club: Adjacent championship links course in Southport, host venue of multiple Open Championships and fellow Ryder Cup 1933/1937 co-host. Competes directly for the same international visitors and tournament routing.
• Hillside Golf Club: Championship links course located immediately next to S&A in Southport. Featured in Top 100 UK rankings and competes for the same visitors on England's Golf Coast.
• Hesketh Golf Club: Established 1885, oldest golf club in Southport. Already a commercial partner of S&A through the Sunday Driver package and serves the same visitor and membership base.
• Formby Golf Club: Top-ranked championship links course in Northwest England, regularly featured in UK/World Top 100 lists. Competes for premium golf tourists visiting England's Golf Coast.
• Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club: Adjacent Northwest England championship links course, host of multiple Open Championships. Comparable membership economics and tournament-grade operation.
• West Lancashire Golf Club: Championship links course in the same Merseyside/Northwest corridor as S&A, comparable course character (links/dune) and visitor-guest business model.
• Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) Golf Club: Championship links venue on England's northwest coast, recurring Open Championship host. Comparable heritage, member structure, and championship rota positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Troon Golf Club: Open Championship rota links venue in Scotland. Comparable James Braid/kings-of-links heritage and inbound championship tourism demand, though located in Scotland.
• Carnoustie Golf Links: Scottish Open Championship links venue operated as a public links facility alongside championship play. Comparable links tourism scale and tournament hosting profile.

Others

• The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews): Governing body that selected S&A to host The Amateur Championship in 2023. Functions as a partner/customer rather than competitor, but is the key gatekeeper for elite amateur championship routing that drives S&A's profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SandAGolfClub
• Facebookfacebook.com/SandAGolfClub
• Instagraminstagram.com/Southport_And_Ainsdale_Golf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club