Royal Birkdale
The rugged links at Royal Birkdale is often sited as the finest course in England and it is easy to see why. Right from the 450-yard par 4 1st hole it offers an unrelenting challenge and tends to bring the best out of the world's most accomplished golfers.
Royal Birkdale was formed back in 1889 and has subsequently staged eight Open Championships, two ryder cups and a host of other major international events. The club was conferred its first Open in 1954 and in 1971 had the distinction of hosting the 100th Open Championship won by Lee Travino.
Subsequently Johnny Miller (1976), Tom Watson (1983), Ian Baker-Finch (1991) and Mark O'Meara (1998) have also won there.
The course is also synonymous with the name of Peter Thompson because it was there he won his first Open in 1954 and there some eleven years later he equalled the feats of JH Taylor and James Braid by winning for a fith time.
The other Birkdale Open champion was none other than Arnold Palmer who in 1961 defied gale-force wind and driving rain to defeat Dai Rees. To this day a plaque can be found on the 16th to commemorate a miraculous recovery shot that set up the American's impressive victory.
For more information on Royal Birkdale and its history visit www.royalbirkdale.com.
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