Situated on the country’s largest dune complex, West Lancs is listed in the top ten oldest golf clubs in England and is second only in the Society to Royal Liverpool. This position of eminence ensures that the reigning Captains of both clubs have a busy year in office with the lion’s share of the speaking engagements. The Hoylake connection started with the formation of the club when seven members of Royal Liverpool met at the Seaforth Hotel on 17 June 1873. The 9 hole course that they laid out to the east of the railway line was on land owned by Colonel Blundell who accepted office as the first President. Mr Alexander Whytt, one of many Scotsmen who joined as founder members, was elected as the first Captain.

By 1880 a clubhouse had been built at a cost of £361 and the course extended to 18 holes. The clubhouse was expanded and refurbished over two storeys in 1893. David Lowe was appointed as the first professional to be followed in later years by two winners of the Open Championship, Sandy Herd and Arthur Havers. In 1894 the club took over the Warren on the seaward side of the railway and built 9 holes on each side of the track, linked by a bridge. Hall Road station had been built for the benefit of the club and neighbouring houses and the electri fication of the railway in 1904 provided good access from Liverpool and the Wirral. Apart from some reconstruction in 1921 the course remained unchanged for over 50 years.

The West Lancashire (Ladies) Golf Club was formed on 26 October 1891 playing on their own course on the seaward side of the railway, adjacent to the mens’ course. They had their own clubhouse and enjoyed a thriving membership including gentlemen as Associate members. The two courses co-existed happily until 1947 by which time they had both been ravaged by military occupation during the second World War and the effects of sand erosion. The ladies agreed to disband and amalgamate with the men which resulted in an 18 hole course for the mixed club operating entirely to the west of the railway.

Maintaining two clubhouses was proving to be expensive and plans were drawn up for a new concept style clubhouse to serve the mixed membership. Funded partly by the sale of unwanted sand, the construction started in March 1961 and the clubhouse was opened on 14 May 1962. Simultaneously, a new course was designed by G K Cotton to fully integrate the 18 holes on the seaward side of the railway and on 12 June 1961 the present course was opened. The land to the east of the railway was given back to the Blundell Estate in exchange for land to the west and the two former clubhouses were sold. A new 99 year lease was agreed thus securing the future of the course. The members now enjoy a course of Championship standards, regularly used as a qualifying venue when the Open is played at Royal Birkdale.

The history of golf at Blundellsands is commemorated in an excellent book written by Barry Coyne and dedicated to the City of Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008. As befits its long history and founder membership of the Society, West Lancs has produced many men who have achieved high office. G P Young (1954/55), Walter Nelson (1967/68) and Derek Vaux (1996/97) have all served as Society Captains and F Stanley Morris (1951/52) died in office having been Captain of West Lancs and of Formby. F C Marsh and Michael Taggart have served as President of the Lancashire Golf Union.