Playing S&A is a pure, traditional links experience. The course winds wonderfully through towering, mature sandhills, which provide sheltered pockets one minute and completely exposed, wind-swept tees the next. Braid’s design philosophy here was heavily focused on strategy; it’s not simply a course you can overpower. You’ll notice the exceptional bunkering, which is perfectly placed to catch anything less than a precisely executed shot—the classic Revetted bunkers are deep and unforgiving.

The course is known for its excellent variety of holes, including several outstanding Par 3s that play across valleys or into the high dunes. The firm turf demands creativity and the ability to play low running shots, especially when the Irish Sea wind is gusting. It’s a slightly wilder, more rugged experience than its immediate neighbor, Royal Birkdale, offering the traveling golfer a genuine taste of old-school links golf heritage that rewards intelligent play over sheer distance.