The History of the Golf Coast

Join local historian Keith Hick here at the Engine Room on Wednesday, July 31st, from 5 - 6pm, to learn all about Southport's historical relationship to golf in his talk "How Golf Put Southport & The Golf Coast on the World Map." Acknowledged as the golfing capital of the world, the story of Southport’s ‘Golf Coast’ chronicles the rise of the area
into golf’s Pantheon, including the Ryder Cup, Open Championship, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Amateur Championships
etc, all played on local world class courses. The achievements of the Bentley brothers, Dr David Marsh, Ronnie White,
Frances ‘Bunty’ Stephens, Dixie Rawlinson, Sam Robinson and Ted Jarman remind us of Southport & district golfing
Titans. Golf Coaches and Caddies to the stars explains how these men guided and assisted multiple major
championship winners Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Paul McGinley Tom
Watson, Greg Norman and Sir Nick Faldo during their rise to golfing greatness. The socio/economic impact and
benefits upon the North West regional and local economies is also explained.
Personal reflections upon the emergence of Southport’s Tommy Fleetwood, now one of the world’s top golfers, is
shared by Keith.