Poulton le Fylde Golf Club

The drive into Poulton le Fylde from Blackpool takes you past unremarkable suburban sprawl until suddenly you're looking at proper links-style turf and proper greens. This is a proper golf club - not a pay-and-play pitch-and-putt, but an actual members' course that's been going since 1891, which means they take their golf seriously.

The course itself is what matters here. Eighteen holes laid out across Lancashire countryside that's flatter than you'd expect but somehow more interesting because of it. The fairways are tight enough to punish a wild swing, and the greens have character - they'll read differently every time depending on the light and the wind coming in off the Irish Sea. If you're a golfer of any standard, you'll find yourself concentrating harder than you bargained for.

Plain truth: this is for people who can play. Beginners might find it a bit demanding. Green fees require you to contact the club directly - they're selective about visitors, and you'll usually need a handicap certificate and an introduction. It's not the kind of place that waves you through.

If you're staying at Broadwater Holiday Park just down the road, it's well worth ringing ahead and seeing if they can squeeze you in for a round. Allow four hours minimum, longer if you're being thoughtful about your game. The club has a reasonable clubhouse too, decent enough for a post-round pint while you pick over your scorecard.