Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Royal Birkdale will be hosting the 2008 Open! Among the many great courses along the Northwest coast, Royal Birkdale stands out as a perfect example of links golf. It is currently the number one course in England and has been voted the number one in Britain, most recently in the survey published in 1998 after The Open. The Club was formed in 1889, starting life as a nine hole course. In 1897 the decision was taken to move to Birkdale Hills where an 18 hole course was constructed. In 1991 a decision was taken to redesign and relay all the greens. This considerable investment and ongoing improvement has enabled the club to retain its position as one of the finest links courses.

Even in the early days, the Birkdale Club was forward-thinking, with the members voting in favour of allowing ladies to use the links from 1889. Indeed, one of the first tournaments held was the 1909 ladies' British Open Matchplay Championship. The growing stature of the club was acknowledged in 1951 when the King gave his permission for the club to be known as The Royal Birkdale Golf Club. The course has been the stage for many great golf championships including the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup and the Ryder Cup. On eight occasions the greatest championship, The Open, has been played here and in 2005 the club will be the venue for The Amateur Championship, for the third time. Royal Birkdale is the host of the Weetabix Women's British Open. The links measure 6,690 yards and although the distance itself is a test even for the most accomplised golfer, the wind, whistling down the fairways when it comes from the sea, adds to the challenge. Each hole runs through a landscape of high dunes, the fairways are flat and fair and from the tee there is generally a clear view of the task ahead. Each hole is memorable, from The Open Championship tee the 13th measure 498 yards, one of the longest par 4s in championship golf.

Visitors to the course can walk in the footsteps of many of golf's legends, among them Open Winners, Peter Thomson, a double winner at Royal Birkdale, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson. On the 15th hole, a plaque commemorates Arnold Palmer's great shot in appealing weather conditions, on the way to his Open win 1961. The clubhouse is built in a distinctive art-deco style and stands overlooking the 18th green. The enormous bay window in the lounge gives a spectacular view over the course and it is the only place to be on the last afternoon of The Open.