Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish joined the 25th anniversary celebrations at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa this August Bank Holiday weekend.
Sir Kenny, who often plays at the club, officially opened Formby Hall Golf Club 25 years ago and kicked off a special August Bank Holiday weekend of celebrations with Formby Hall’s inaugural Anniversary Cup tournament.
The Anniversary Cup took place on Bank Holiday Monday with 160 men, women and junior golfers, including 20 founding club members, taking part in a competitive 18-hole, Ryder Cup-style tournament with the captain’s team, Simon Chung taking on the vice-captain Bobby Phenna.
The captain’s team was victorious on the day and presented with the inaugural Anniversary Cup trophy. All tournament golfers received a commemorative 25th Anniversary lanyard and enjoyed a BBQ party and trophy presentation at the 18th hole.
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa is commemorating its 25th Anniversary year with a variety of promotions and events, as well as the Anniversary Cup. It has so far raised over £5,000 for two charities – The Paper Cup Project, chosen by men’s club Captain Simon Chung, and Woodlands Hospice, chosen by women’s club captain, Janet O’Connor.
Formby Hall has been enjoyed by amateur and professional golfers alike throughout its 25 years. Its historic link to Liverpool FC began when Sir Kenny Dalglish officially opened the golf club in 1996, and it was famously chosen by Jurgen Klopp to celebrate Liverpool’s Premier League win in June 2020.
Sir Kenny said: “Formby Hall is a wonderful golf course that I’ve loved to play over the last 25 years. There’s a great team at the club and I was really happy to come along today and help mark the occasion.”
Mark Williams, Golf Manager & Head Professional, who has been with Formby Hall for 13 years, said: “It is extremely satisfying to be involved in the 25th Anniversary milestone celebrations, having seen Formby Hall flourish and develop into the vibrant resort that we have today.
“Today was the perfect way to acknowledge how far we’ve come and with aspirations and continued investment from our owners, I am excited to be involved in the next chapter for Formby Hall and to see how the resort will develop over the coming seasons.”
Founded in 1996 as a championship course, Formby Hall has long been associated with golf’s elite. The European Tour chose Formby Hall as a venue for the Challenge Tour from 1999-2001. Its PGA Academy and Resort was added in 2008, and the Tommy Fleetwood Academy, which nurtures the next generation of golf talent, joined in 2019. Fleetwood himself had his first professional victory at Formby Hall when he won the Formby Hall Classic in 2011 on the EuroPro Tour.
Formby Hall Golf Club comprises The Old Championship Course, with its wooded areas and water hazards providing definition and character to a course that has hosted the European Seniors, Challenge Tour and Euro-Pro Tours. The Woodhey Dunes 9-hole course captures the charm of links golf. Built on sand and plotting its way through dune style terrain, the course features generous putting greens and strategically placed bunkers. The signature hole is the 2nd, featuring a challenging island green.
Visitors can enjoy a host of facilities including the PGA Golf Academy, Driving Range, Fairway Bar & Grill and new outdoor patio with Mediterranean-style tapas plates and wood-fired pizzas. “The Formby Cocktail” has been created to commemorate its quarter-century milestone and is available in the bar for guests.