Hillside's links golf course is surely one of the best links courses never to have hosted The Open. "A wild-looking links" according to Jack Nicklaus, Hillside is situated next door to Royal Birkdale, and provides a peerless test of golf, which tests all the shots in a majestic setting.

Greg Norman, the Australian who has won The Open twice (in 1986 at Turnberry and in 1993 at Royal St George's) wrote to Hillside saying its back nine holes were the best in Britain. Not surprisingly, Hillside keeps his letter safe and secure under lock and key!

Peter Alliss, in his Foreword to Phil Irlam's history of Hillside ("A Lively Octogenarian Hillside Golf Club 1911-1991") said that "Hillside's first few holes with the railway on the left are frightening, particularly when the (prevailing South Westerly) wind blows from right to left. But, even if you safely negotiate the start, there are plenty of testing and scenic holes to come. Much earth- moving, done in the 1960s, has produced one of the most scenic and testing links courses in the British Isles." In 1992 Tony Jacklin and Bernhard Langer tied for the Sun Alliance PGA Championship and Jacklin went on to win at the first play-off hole, the 15th. They had earlier tied for the 72 hole four rounds event on level par!