I had an important golf lesson last weekend, namely, to always have a witness when you get a hole in one.

This once-in-a-lifetime event happened to me at the newly constructed Par 3 course at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa near Southport.

Sadly I had no-one to brag to (my partner was back at the spa having a shoulder, neck and back massage at the time) but I suppose I saved money by not having to buy a round in the clubhouse!

But I'll tell you anyway that it was a 100-yard carry over water to an attractive island hole set in a lake.

All part of a very challenging little course set mostly around the lake. Well worth the £10 green fee.

The round of golf was part of a short stay at the four-star hotel that included, massages, use of the pool and a round of golf on the 18 hole championship course.

I also had a golf lesson at the PGA National Residential Golf Academy, the only one in the UK. They promise to lower your scores and improve your game, well Alan Bradshaw's lesson certainly did that for me.

I hope it lasts.

The PGA Academy uses the latest G.A.S.P. Golf Swing Analysis, a concept that videos the pupils swing technique from many angles, allowing the system to pinpoint any faults in the swing. A half-hour video analysis lesson costs £25.

Formby Hall is a new £10m development that boasts a 62-room hotel, a state-of-the-art spa and leisure club, floodlit driving range as well
as the golf courses.

The 18-hole championship course is older than the rest of the development, it opened in 1996, but is still one of the newest courses on 'England's Golf Coast'.

Cut out of marshland, six miles south of Southport it has already hosted two events on the Challenge Tour and another on the European Senior's Tour. The first Tour event saw a strong field featuring Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter and Justin Rose.

Unlike the many links courses on this coast, Formby Hall uses water to protect most of the holes, 16 out of the 18.

The close proximity of the beach guarantees plenty of sand traps.

Six well-placed greenside bunkers await you at Little Venice, the signature hole par 3 sixteenth, if you can make the 150 yard carry over water to reach them (I did).

Formby Hall is targeting the corporate golf market, but deals can be done for smaller groups. For £120 per fourball they will greet you with a full english breakfast and 18 holes of golf. At £30 each player I think that is pretty competitive.

One of the main attractions must be for couples who don't both play golf. One can go and play while the other relaxes in the spa.

A good way to keep both parties happy. We certainly left happy, but it's not every day you get a hole in one.

factfile

• Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa: Tel. 01704 875 699


• www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk

• Formby Executive Golf Course Room: £180.00 per night.

• Full English Breakfast: £ 14.50

• Green Fees: £ 450

• Back Neck and Shoulder Massage: £ 30

• Individual half hour video golf lesson: £25

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