The Royal Birkdale Golf Club (Royal Birkdale)

Royal Birkdale Golf Club, located in Southport, England, is a renowned links course with a rich history dating back to 1889. The club moved to its present site in the Birkdale Hills in 1897, with George Lowe laying out the original 18-hole course. A significant remodelling by Hawtree and John Henry Taylor in the mid-1930s established the course's philosophy of routing holes through the valleys between the towering dunes, providing excellent vantage points for spectators. This design principle contributes to its reputation as a fair, yet challenging, championship course, rewarding straight shots and penalizing wayward ones in the surrounding scrub. Royal Birkdale gained its 'Royal' status in 1951 and hosted its first Open Championship in 1954. It has since become a regular venue on The Open rota, having hosted the prestigious championship ten times, and is scheduled to do so again in 2026. The club has also been a host to other major events, including the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Senior Open Championship, and the Amateur Championship. In 1954, Royal Birkdale was a qualifying location for The Open Championship, with 18 holes played on the Championship course and 18 holes at Hillside Golf Club. Major renovations in 1993 saw all 18 greens completely rebuilt to improve turf and drainage, ensuring its continued status as one of the finest links courses. The distinctive art deco clubhouse, built in 1935, overlooks the 18th green and has been extended and modernised over the years while retaining its unique style.