St Annes Old Links Golf Club sits on the Lancashire coast as one of England's most respected links courses, drawing golfers from across the UK and internationally. Staying close means early tee time access without the stress of a long drive, but the accommodation landscape between Lytham St Annes and Blackpool varies enormously in style, price, and proximity. This guide cuts through the noise and focuses on the nine most practical options for anyone teeing up at Old Links.
What It's Like Staying Near St Annes Old Links Golf Club
St Annes Old Links Golf Club is positioned on the western edge of Lytham St Annes, flanked by sand dunes and the Irish Sea coastline - a distinctly quiet, residential setting far removed from Blackpool's entertainment strip. The area around the course is low-density, dominated by Victorian and Edwardian townhouses, meaning foot traffic is minimal even on busy summer weekends. Most hotels require a short drive to reach the clubhouse directly, as walkable accommodation within half a mile is extremely limited. Transport links are moderate - St Annes-on-Sea train station connects to Blackpool South and Preston, but services run infrequently, making a hire car or taxi the realistic default for golfers travelling with clubs. Blackpool properties can appear cheaper on the surface, but factor in around 20 minutes of additional travel each way and the convenience calculation shifts quickly. The Fylde coast atmosphere is calm and unhurried, which suits golfers who want rest between rounds rather than proximity to nightlife.
Pros:
- Quiet coastal setting supports genuine rest and recovery between rounds
- Lytham St Annes properties place you within easy reach of multiple championship courses including Royal Lytham
- Less seasonal noise and disruption compared to central Blackpool accommodation
Cons:
- Very few hotels sit within true walking distance of the clubhouse
- Restaurant and evening dining options in St Annes town centre are limited after 9pm
- Blackpool-based hotels add daily travel time that accumulates across a multi-night golf stay
Why Choose These Hotels Near St Annes Old Links Golf Club
The accommodation options within reach of St Annes Old Links span from no-frills Blackpool guesthouses to a full seafront spa hotel in Lytham St Annes itself - a spread that reflects the dual nature of the Fylde coast as both a budget seaside resort and a serious golf destination. Properties in Lytham St Annes command a noticeable premium over comparable Blackpool rooms, but they deliver meaningfully different experiences: quieter streets, proximity to the course, and in the case of The Grand Hotel, genuine spa and wellness facilities suited to multi-day golf visits. Blackpool guesthouses typically offer room-only or B&B formats at lower nightly rates, but they trade convenience for cost - useful if you're supplementing a golf trip with Blackpool sightseeing, less useful if Old Links is the sole focus. Self-catering options like holiday lodges near Blackpool suit groups of golfers wanting communal kitchen and lounge space without paying for individual hotel rooms. The range here covers solo golfers, groups, and those travelling with non-golfing partners who want spa or leisure access alongside.
Pros:
- The Grand Hotel offers spa, pool, and restaurant - rare in this immediate coastal stretch
- Self-catering lodge options accommodate golf groups of 3 or more cost-effectively
- Blackpool B&Bs provide the lowest nightly rates within around 30 minutes of the course
Cons:
- True luxury options close to the clubhouse are limited to one or two properties
- Budget Blackpool hotels require transport to the course, adding logistics for early morning tee times
- Holiday parks are further from Old Links and better suited to leisure stays than pure golf itineraries
Practical Booking & Area Strategy Near St Annes Old Links Golf Club
For direct access to St Annes Old Links Golf Club, properties along South Promenade and within St Annes town centre - particularly around St Annes Road West and Wood Street - offer the most practical base, placing you within a short taxi ride of the clubhouse. The Grand Hotel on South Promenade is the closest full-service hotel to the course and is genuinely walkable to St Annes-on-Sea station for onward connections. Blackpool properties north of the Pleasure Beach sit around 7 to 10 miles from Old Links; manageable by car but not by foot or public transport with clubs. Book at least 6 weeks ahead for summer tee times - July and August see the Fylde coast fill with leisure visitors, which drives accommodation prices up sharply even in properties not catering specifically to golfers. The Open Championship rota regularly includes Royal Lytham & St Annes, just over a mile from Old Links, meaning R&A event years trigger area-wide booking surges. Beyond golf, St Annes town centre offers the pier, beach, and a compact high street; nearby Lytham village has stronger dining options including independent restaurants around Clifton Street. Taxi fares from central Blackpool to the Old Links clubhouse run approximately £12-15 each way, a cost that adds up quickly across a three-round itinerary.
Best Value Stays
These properties offer the lowest nightly rates within reach of St Annes Old Links, suited to golfers prioritising budget or those combining a golf round with broader Blackpool sightseeing. All require transport to the course.
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1. Edenfield Lodge
Show on mapJust a few rooms left at the best rate!
fromUS$ 74
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2. Adelaide Lodge - Town Centre - Opposite Winter Gardens
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fromUS$ 67
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3. The Stone House Hotel
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fromUS$ 37
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4. Cherry Tree House
Show on mapHurry – almost gone at this price!
fromUS$ 1704
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5. Mccanns Caravan Marton Mere
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fromUS$ 187
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6. Ream Hills Holiday Park
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fromUS$ 449
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7. The Roman By Bet Stays - Contactless Hotel
Show on mapRooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 46
Best Premium Stays
These two properties offer significantly higher comfort levels, on-site dining, and in one case direct proximity to the St Annes Old Links course itself - worth the premium for golfers prioritising convenience and recovery facilities.
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8. The Grand Hotel
Show on mapRooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 175
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9. Clifton Arms Hotel
Show on mapRooms filling fast – secure the best rate!
fromUS$ 209
Smart Travel & Timing Advice for St Annes Old Links Golf Club
St Annes Old Links Golf Club and the wider Fylde coast experience two distinct pricing peaks: the main summer window from late June through August, when Blackpool's leisure visitor influx drives accommodation prices up across the region, and any year in which Royal Lytham & St Annes hosts a major championship event, which creates area-wide booking surges weeks in advance. Book a minimum of 8 weeks ahead for July and August stays if you want any meaningful choice of property near the course - premium options like The Grand Hotel sell out well before that window. Shoulder season visits in May, early June, and September offer the best balance of playable weather and lower nightly rates; the links course plays firmer and faster in drier spells from May onward, which many golfers prefer. A three-night stay is the practical minimum for golfers travelling from outside the Northwest - two rounds at Old Links plus a rest day or a round at a nearby course like Royal Lytham or Fairhaven justifies the journey. Last-minute availability does open up in October and November, but links golf on the Lancashire coast in late autumn involves genuine wind and weather exposure. Midweek tee times are typically easier to secure than weekend slots and often come with lower green fees, which aligns well with midweek hotel rate reductions at Blackpool properties.