Affectionately known as ‘Hoylake’ by locals and members after its hometown, Royal Liverpool Golf Club offers exceptional play for your England golf vacation. The course has hosted 12 Open Championships, most recently in 2023.
While the list of Open winners here is not long, due to it being off the rota from 1967 to 2006, Royal Liverpool is best known for its contributions to amateur golf. The course is the only venue to produce two amateur Open championship winners.
Local golf hero and member of Royal Liverpool, John Ball, was the first amateur and Englishman to hoist the trophy when he won the 1890 Open Championship. The unofficial first Amateur Championship was held at Royal Liverpool in 1885, while the first official event was held in St Andrews the following year.
In 1902, Royal Liverpool hosted the first international match between England and Scotland, which evolved into the popular Home International Matches. Championships aside, Royal Liverpool is an exceptional English golf club. When you’re done playing, check out some of the city’s best cultural attractions, infamous sights, and major landmarks.
The course has evolved from its humble beginnings, sharing the linksland with a popular racetrack and the Liverpool Hunt Club, into the pride of England Golf. The course has been altered by the greats of golf architecture over the years from Robert Chambers and George (brother of Old Tom) Morris, Harry Colt, and most recently Martin Ebert ahead of the 2023 Open Championship.
The course has been extending to a length of 7,350 yards, the par 5 16th has been stretched to 611 yards alone, and a completely new par 3, 15th hole (the old 13th). To the members’ approval, Ebert also replaced 14 bunkers and built a new 17th green.
The course is rather flat and therefore unprotected from the wind that blows in from the Dee Estuary. It is a bit funky with interior out-of-bounds caused by the practice ground being bordered by the first and 16th holes. During the Open, the 17th and 18th are used as the 1st and 2nd holes respectively to alleviate that issue and the practice ground is used to erect the viewing stands.
England’s Golf Coast with Royal Liverpool Golf Club and its fellow “Royals” and Open venues – Birkdale and Lytham St Annes make for a memorable England golf tour.
Royal Liverpool offers one of England’s most authentic links experiences, where the flat terrain and position create playing conditions that can change dramatically within a single round. Set on the Dee Estuary, Hoylake Golf Course is famously exposed, where shifting coastal winds and swirling air currents from the Irish Sea can transform conditions hole by hole.
The relatively flat terrain, while unusual for a links course, actually amplifies the challenge by offering little natural protection from the elements. The course provides little shelter, making accuracy, course management, and the traditional ground game essential. Firm, running fairways demand creativity and reward those who embrace links strategy; a timeless test that has challenged Open Championship players for more than a century.
Beyond its Open Championship pedigree, Royal Liverpool Golf is regarded as the spiritual home of amateur golf in England. Hoylake Golf Course hosted the very first Amateur Championship and has since nurtured generations of elite players, producing Walker Cup representatives and welcoming the game’s best amateurs from around the world.
This tradition runs deep within Royal Liverpool Golf Course, where respect for etiquette, sportsmanship, and history shapes every round. It’s an atmosphere that celebrates golf in its purest form — played for passion, not profit — ensuring Hoylake remains a cherished landmark in the game’s story.
Open venue Royal Liverpool is easily accessible from the heart of the city, which offers a wide range of accommodation options. Two of Premier Golf’s recommended hotels are the Pullman and The Titanic Hotel, both of which offer great access to the city’s sights and are immersed in the former docklands.
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The best time of the year to visit Royal Liverpool for golfing is in the Summer when the weather is the warmest and there is the least amount of rain. The best months to go are between May and September with the warmest temperatures seen in June and July.
You can book a golf trip to the Royal Liverpool with Premier Golf and we recommend this golf course on any tour of England’s golf coast.
Yes, visitors are welcome to play at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Green fees vary depending on the season and day.
Royal Liverpool is renowned for its challenging links layout, featuring deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and coastal winds that test golfers’ skills. The course has a slope rating of 146 from the green tees, indicating a high level of difficulty.
The club was founded in 1869 on the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club. In 1871, it received the “Royal” designation due to the patronage of Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught.
Green Fees are included in all Royal Liverpool Premier Golf Packages, and these can vary depending on the season.
The nearest airport to Royal Liverpool is the Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) or you can fly to Manchester International Airport (MAN) which is 50 miles from Royal Liverpool. There are frequent trains and other public transport that connect between the airports and the golf course.
Royal Liverpool is a traditional seaside links course, characterised by its natural terrain, sandy soil, and proximity to the coast. The course offers a classic links experience with firm fairways and strategic bunkering.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, located in Hoylake, England, has a rich history of hosting The Open Championship. The tournament has been held at Hoylake thirteen times, with the first in 1897 and the most recent in 2023.
