Royal Birkdale

With a rich history that has blossomed since its establishment in 1889, Royal Birkdale is a must-visit on your England golf vacation. The 18-hole course is reminiscent of a classic links course and comprises magnificent dunes, slightly elevated tees, and stunning views.

As one of the finest golf clubs in England and the North West, Royal Birkdale has had the honor of hosting numerous championships, including the Ryder Cup and the prestigious Open, which it has played host to 10 times. 

The Open Championship has an interesting history at Royal Birkdale, with Arnold Palmer’s victory at the 1961 Open resulting in immense respect and recognition for the competition from the US.

Having lost the 1960 Open at St Andrews by a shot to Kel Nagle, Palmer was determined and prevailed in true Open Championship weather. If you’re visiting the North West on your England golf trip, Royal Birkdale is a key stop. 

A definite jewel in England golf, Royal Birkdale Golf Club was founded in 1889 and gained royal status relatively late in 1951 by King George VI. It was the last course in England to be added to the Open rota in 1954. While it may have gained notice relatively late, since WWII Royal Birkdale England has held more variety of major championships than any other course in the world. It has played host to Open Championships, two Ryder Cups, The Amateur, Curtis Cup and the Women’s British Open to name just a few.

The Club moved to its current location in 1897 with an 18-hole design by George Lowe, one of the leading designers of the time. In 1935 the firm of Hawtree and JH Taylor made improvements, most notably placing the fairways in between the dunes rather than playing over them. This resulted in a tougher but fairer test of golf. In the 1960s, F.W. Hawtree made his contributions to the Championship links. The third generation of Hawtree golf architects, Martin, rebuilt all the greens before the 1998 Open, and has made several tweaks since then before subsequent Championships.

The 1998 Open was known more for who finished 4th, a young amateur named Justin Rose, than for the eventual winner, Mark O’Meara.

Perhaps the shortest notable shot in golf history happened at Royal Birkdale. “The Concession” was a putt in the 1969 Ryder Cup that occurred when Jack Nicklaus magnanimously “gave” Tony Jacklin his final putt to have the Matches end for the first (and only) time in a tie.

Besides Royal Birkdale, England’s Golf Coast boasts two other Royal clubs that are on the Open rota – Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St Annes.  All three are “must plays” on any England golf tour.  Be sure and spend some time in the iconic art deco, ship-inspired clubhouse built in 1935, and pop into the Royal Birkdale Pro Shop for a treasured souvenir of your round.