Posted on July 9th, 2012 by James

The fantastic venue of Royal Lytham and St Annes was a must for this month's course review. This ten time Open Championship, and two tme Ryder cup venue shall once again open its fairways to the top players from all over the world. The most northerly of all the Open venues, Royal Lytham and St Annes was established in 1886 as a links course, although it now lays half a mile inland, and is enclosed by housing, and a railway line to the west.

The course itself is regarded as one of the hardest of all open venues, only second to Carnoustie, and has remained untouched for nearly 100 years, seeing its only significant changes taking place in 1919. Although relatively short in length to modern day courses, it is difficult to scramble a good score on the links, with a total of 206 fairways on the course, requiring accurate and thoughtful play at all times.  

Holes to Watch:

1. The 1st is a very challenging par 3, which is never a easy start to a course. The green is thoroughly protected by seven pot-hole bunkers, and a sloping green provides a stern test for even the most competent of iron players.
2. The 10th although short in length requires and immensely accurate tee shot to a very narrow fairway. You are then left with a mid iron shot into a green that slopes back towards the fairway.
3. The 18th is a fantastic finishing hole, with two lines of bunkers crossing the fairways. The green is the largest on the course and requires careful club selection for your second shot.  

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