Royal Birkdale Golf Club stands as one of England's finest links courses, where ten Open's have crowned the Champion Golfer of the Year. Located in Southport's towering dunes, this fair yet challenging course rewards precision and strategy. Your golf holiday awaits at this iconic venue with its distinctive Art Deco clubhouse.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Royal Birkdale Golf Club stands as one of England's finest links courses, where ten Open's have crowned the Champion Golfer of the Year. Located in Southport's towering dunes, this fair yet challenging course rewards precision and strategy. Your golf holiday awaits at this iconic venue with its distinctive Art Deco clubhouse.
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Royal Birkdale was the star of our trip. It deserves every accolade or superlative that has ever been written about it. The Championship Course at Royal Birkdale is everything it is cracked up to be – a tough but fair challenge where every shot matters. The clubhouse is fun and welcoming. The pro shop staff were kind and helpful. The caddies were spectacular.
In 1951, the Birkdale was granted "Royal" status by King George VI, a significant honor that elevated its standing in the golfing world. In the sixties, with the growing popularity of golf as a spectator sport, drastic changes were made after the 1961 Open: updating the Clubhouse and catering for the vast hordes of people who wanted to partake in the atmosphere around the links. These vast legions needed to watch play with comparative ease and comfort without hindering play. The course was extensively updated; Hawtree and Taylor could not have envisaged the rise in popularity of the game. It was the first true "Stadium" golf course.
The weather was near perfect at Royal Birkdale for our round: 60 degrees Fahrenheit with a slight 8-12 mph breeze from the west and no rain in the forecast. We met our caddies on the first tee to begin our 4th round in four days. Royal Birkdale does not “ease you into the round,” it slaps you on the forehead at says “Wake up! Let’s go!” Number 1 is a 430-yard dogleg left par 4 that requires two good shots to get to the putting surface. The tee shot is guarded by bunkers on the left roughly 250 yards from the tee and the approach to the green must navigate three more bunkers in front, left and right of a huge green. The wind direction is a key component of the opening shot. In our case it was a comfortable left to right breeze that left a longer approach.
The sixth hole, a short par 5 for members (455 yards), but a par 4 for the Open (499 yards) plays directly into the prevailing wind. It is the only par 5 on the outward nine and is a sweeping dogleg right towards an up-hill sloping green. I hit my tee shot well, level with the bunkers on the right side of the fairway. My second shot went near the green but drifted to the right into deep rough just off the fairway. My caddie was able to find the ball (miracle!). He then handed me my 60-degree wedge and told me, “Nothing else will do here, George, except pure rage.” I swung the club as hard as I could and the ball popped out nicely about 10 yards and trickled onto the putting surface where it continued to run out about 25 feet from the cup.
The closest thing to a blind shot at Royal Birkdale is the tee shot at the 9th, a 399-yard par 4. If you hit your shot at the white building in the distance there is no problem… if you miss it right, like I did, a lost ball and triple bogey is in play.
While there is only one par 5 on the front, there are three on the back. Holes 14, 17, and 18 are all par 5s from the member tees. In preparation for the 2026 Open Championship the course has undergone some renovation. A key change is the switch of the 14th and 15th holes. Most descriptions of the course have the 14th as a 200-yard par 3 and the 15th as 544-yard par 5 from the championship tees. The day we played, the 14th was a 516-yard par 5 and the 15th played as a 165-yard par 3 from the member tees. There were also several bunkers added (although they were done so well, they looked like they had been there forever) and some removed from the course to make it more challenging for The Open in 2026.
The 18th is a terrific finishing hole. From the member tees it is a 468-yard par 5, while for the open it will play as a 490-yard par 4. A tight fairway means either a driver or a three-wood is needed to avoid the bunker and out-of-bounds on the right and a new bunker on the left at 240 yards. Distance control on the approach shot is key, as you need to avoid the bunkers that guard the front of the green, but then avoid going too long and facing a tricky up and down in front of the famous clubhouse.
The Championship course at Royal Birkdale deserves every accolade that has been spoken or written about it. The course is a phenomenal test without any tricks. The fairways are flat, the dunes and rough frame each hole for wonderful visuals, and the greens roll true without excessive undulation. It is a treasure to spend a day walking in the footsteps of Palmer, Trevino, Miller, Watson, O’Meara and Spieth as they took home the claret jug.
The iconic clubhouse provides wonderful views of the 18th green out its gigantic windows to enjoy a beverage. The memorabilia in the clubhouse are second to none. The club truly honors its place in history with photos, signed artifacts and wonderful stories that are passed along by members, caddies, and the professional staff.
George Stark
Round Information
Date Played
September 25, 2024
Standout Holes
#9, #12, #18
Rating Breakdown
Strategy
Green Complexes
Variety
Facilities & Amenities
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
Nordland, Norway
Ohio, United States
England, United Kingdom
Montana, United States
Nova Scotia, Canada
Golf's original championship returns to one of its most celebrated venues when The 154th Open takes place at Royal Birkdale from July 12-19, 2026. The iconic Southport links will host The Open for the 11th time, marking a historic occasion as the first venue to debut The Open Experiences – an innovative range of packages designed to bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Whether you're looking for premium hospitality, an immersive atmosphere, or the ultimate golf holiday combining tournament attendance with tee times at world-class courses, there's a package tailored to create your perfect Open experience. About The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale Royal Birkdale has been a cornerstone of Open Championship history since first hosting in 1954. The course has produced some of golf's most memorable moments, including Jordan Spieth's dramatic victory in 2017 when he edged Matt Kuchar in a thrilling final round. Past champions at this legendary links include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, and Padraig Harrington. The Championship runs across eight days, with bespoke practice days from Sunday, July 12 to Wednesday, July 15, featuring exciting new additions including a Last-Chance Qualifier and the Heroes Classic showcase event. Championship play begins Thursday, July 16, culminating in the crowning of the Champion Golfer of the Year on Sunday, July 19. Four Ways to Experience The Open 1. Attend. Stay. Play.: The Ultimate Golf Holiday For serious golfers who want to combine watching the world's best with playing some of England's finest courses, all wrapped together with the accommodation of your choice, The Open’s Destination Packages offer the complete championship experience. What's Included: Guaranteed tickets to The 154th Open Hotel accommodation ranging from budget-friendly camping to luxury options Optional tee times at top championship courses in the area Travel to and from the course Dedicated customer service Play England's Golf Coast: Southport is home to the UK's highest concentration of championship links courses, offering extraordinary golf within minutes of Royal Birkdale: Hillside Golf Club – Adjacent to Royal Birkdale, featuring what Greg Norman called "the best back nine in Britain" Southport & Ainsdale – Open Qualifier that has hosted the Ladies British Open Formby Golf Club – Stunning combination of heathland, pine forest, and coastal dunes Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) – Another famous Open venue, approximately 40 minutes away Royal Lytham & St Annes – Complete the "golden triangle" of Open venues in the region Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa – Modern championship course with luxury hotel facilities These packages allow you to extend your Open experience into a comprehensive golf tour of one of the world's premier golfing destinations. Reserve your place today: Book Now 2. The Ticket Plus Experience For fans seeking an elevated experience with exclusive access and amenities, Ticket Plus offers the perfect blend of comfort and excitement. What's Included: Access to Links, a specially designed private area near the 4th hole Viewing platform overlooking the 4th green to watch the world's best players up close Private area with undercover and outdoor seating Large screens broadcasting all the action £25 food voucher for gourmet food trucks Private bars with drinks available for purchase Private toilet facilities Complimentary park and ride pass Complimentary access to grandstands throughout the course Pricing: From £270 (excluding VAT) per person Ticket Plus combines the freedom to follow your favourite players across the course with a comfortable home base to relax, refuel, and enjoy the championship atmosphere. Reserve your place today: Book Now 3. The Open Camping Village: An Unforgettable Experience For fans looking for an affordable, immersive way to experience The Open, The Open Camping Village offers your ticket, plus accommodation within walking distance of Royal Birkdale at Victoria Park in Southport. Accommodation Options: Standard Camping: Pre-erected tents available in 2-person, 4-person, and 6-person sizes Includes cots with mattresses, lighting, and USB charging ports Glamping Tents: Bell Tents with comfortable beds, duvets, and cozy décor Linens, sheets, pillows, and towels provided Solar-powered amenities Village Amenities: Clubhouse with diverse food vendors and bars Live entertainment and music each evening Panel discussions with former players Big screens showing tournament coverage Modern showers and toilet facilities Private wristband access for guests only 15% discount at merchandise stores on grounds Friendly, family-oriented festival atmosphere The Open Camping Village creates a unique community where golf fans from around the world come together to celebrate their shared passion for the game, making it perfect for families, couples, and groups of friends. Reserve your place today: Book Now 4. Premium Hospitality: Enjoy an elevated Championship experience with a choice of three hospitality packages. From relaxed dining spaces to exclusive lounges and prime on-course views, each option offers comfort, atmosphere and outstanding access to the action. What's Included: Premium Immerse yourself in The Open. Savour breathtaking views of the 15th green and 16th tee from the balcony of the Dunes House, our hospitality exclusive triple deck, where you will witness world-class golf unfold before your eyes. Step inside to unwind and indulge in a curated selection of gourmet dishes, expertly crafted by our chefs from an array of restaurants and bars. Additional Package Benefits Fast track to The Open Shop Q&A Session Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Platinum Savour every moment at The Open. The Platinum experience gives you access to your dedicated lounge within Dunes House, where you will be able to access all three floors, providing stunning views of the 15th green and 16th tee as well as a variety of dining experiences. Your experience extends beyond Dunes House and Links, with entry to The Retreat, a luxurious Champagne lounge overlooking the par 3, 7th green. Enjoy unparalleled views from standing viewing platforms around the course, ensuring you witness every moment of the action up close. Additional Package Benefits Access to The Retreat Q&A session with a past or present player Fast track to The Open Shop Q&A Session Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Signature A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity As one of the few guests in Signature, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to Clarets, perfectly positioned overlooking the 17th green at Royal Birkdale. Take in the iconic par 5, while indulging in world-class hospitality. Beyond Clarets, immerse yourself in the heart of the Championship with exclusive access to behind-the-scenes experiences. Witness the action up close with your reserved grandstand seat on the 18th green; you’ll be perfectly placed, never missing a moment of the drama. Additional Package Benefits Access to Clarets and The Retreat Behind-the-scenes experiences with unprecedented access to restricted areas Q&A session with a past or present player Photo opportunity with the Claret Jug Fast track to The Open Shop Reserved 18th grandstand seat Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Reserve your place today: Book Now Why Choose The Open? Attending The Open is more than watching world-class golf; it’s an opportunity to be part of sporting history. With demand for tickets at an all-time high and Royal Birkdale set to deliver another unforgettable championship, these packages ensure everything is taken care of, so you can focus on soaking up the atmosphere, the drama, and the traditions that make The Open so special. From elevated Hospitality experiences and enhanced Ticket Plus options to the unique Open Camping Village or the ultimate golfer’s getaway through Destination Packages, every option offers exceptional comfort, convenience, and access. Whichever you choose, you’re not just attending a tournament; you’re securing an unforgettable experience at one of golf’s most celebrated venues. Book Your Open Experience Today Don't miss your chance to be part of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. With packages selling quickly and limited availability, early booking is strongly recommended. Reserve your place today: Book Now For more information or assistance: Email: Experiences@TheOpen.com Phone: +44 (0) 1334 460090
Alex Frolish has been a pilot for approaching 20 years and now travels to all corners of the globe in his role as a commercial airline pilot. His passion for flight is only equalled by his passion for golf and golf travel. Having picked up a golf club over 35 years ago when aged just 3 years old, Alex has played over 600 courses across every continent on planet earth furnished with a fairway. Over the next few months you’ll be able to follow Alex’s golfing travels as he brings you anecdotes of his life both in the air and on the course. With no flying yet on the horizon, my October was free to pack in some autumnal links golf, and my plans had a distinctly regal feel to them. First off, a trip to the north west links playground of England, to play Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale. I had played both of these courses before, Hoylake a number of times over the years and Royal Birkdale just once in the year 2000, when my entry to the Royal Birkdale Junior Open cost me just £4. That day changed my outlook on golf and golf courses forever more. Walking upon the hallowed grounds of a major championship hosting golf course for the first time, that I had watched my heroes play up close and personal just a couple of years before in the Open Championship, had a profound effect on me. My enthusiasm for the game and golf courses was emboldened, and I believe that being able to walk where the greats of the game have walked is one of the most wonderful parts of our sport. The contrast between the two courses is stark, but they are both endearing in different ways. The towering dune avenues at Royal Birkdale are grand and beautiful, truly a feast for the eyes and the camera lens. Hoylake is a subtle temptress however, more flat and bleak on first viewing, meaning the strategy and lines off the tees are much less easily defined. These two links courses are at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of the land they inhabit, but both prove how brilliant links golf is in its many varied forms. My admiration for both courses was plentiful, and I spent the drive home as all of us golfing obsessives do, replaying all the holes in my mind and working out my favoured eclectic collection of holes between the two courses. Photo credit: Kevin Murray A special word on Mackenzie & Ebert’s ongoing impact across the two courses. At Birkdale, the team have recently broken ground on a bold set of course changes designed to significantly enhance the course in time for the 2026 Open Championship. This includes the designing and re-designing of a number of new holes in the middle of each nine, including a complete re-design of the 5th, which I think will certainly improve the offering here immeasurably, as this has long been regarded as one of the weaker holes on the Open rota. I’m sure you will be aware of ‘Little Eye’, the infamous par 3 at Hoylake created by Mackenzie & Ebert for the 2023 Open Championship. Having played it just a couple of months after the tournament, my summary would be that the TV cameras don’t do this hole justice. Clearly everyone can play a good shot that nullifies the danger, but it is the scale of the challenge if you don’t hit a good shot that is terrifying for the average golfer. Of course it is penal and many won’t like that, although you can’t deny that it is an exciting and dramatic test to tackle so late in a round of tournament play. My other two observations would be that the hole might be so much easier on the eye if the tee were raised in elevation just a few feet, to make best of the wonderful views of the Dee estuary beyond the green. Secondly, the walk back from the green to the next tee is awkward in a routing sense, not so much of an issue in an Open Championship when the walk to the back tee is shorter, but more onerous for day to day golfers making the hike to the next set of tees of the day. Anyway, the trip to the north west was a special one, but it was my travels later in the month to the northern coast of Ireland that I had been eagerly anticipating. Many of you will have travelled to play golf in Ireland, and will recognise that palpable rising level of excitement as a trip to the Emerald Isle approaches. It was my first ever flight across the Irish Sea with Loganair, who delivered me right to the heart of my itinerary with minimal disruption. The convenience of the flight from London Heathrow to Londonderry meant that only a few hours after setting off from home, we were cradling our first pints of Guinness in the grand and perfectly located Bushmills Inn, working our way hole by hole through the Dunluce Links, that would welcome us bright and early the following morning. At last orders, the barman persuaded us to take a couple of Bushmills whisky miniatures away to the course the next morning, an intervention I was very grateful for as the links wind began to bite on the back nine. Photo credit: Larry Lambrecht Royal Portrush is set on a dramatic stretch of cragged coastline, the backdrop to Game of Thrones and the home of the Giant’s Causeway. The golf courses on this coast match the glamour of those box office attractions and the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush is the lead character in the show. Some golf courses grow on you and other instantly make their mark. As we wandered across the higher ground on the first few holes, I was already moving some big names in my ‘best courses played’ list aside to make way for this quite magnificent golf course. It is that good, and it isn’t a slow reveal, it is a great big panoramic smack in the face from the get go, with the expanse of the course and coastline on full display on those opening holes. The 5th and 16th (the par 3 named Calamity Corner) are the show stopping headline grabbers, but there is a consistent strength to the offering that is infectious and all consuming. On the current Open rotation, I have yet to fully decide, but I do feel the Dunluce may be my favourite of all. As with all golfing itineraries, you never get long enough to take it all in, and after our post round tour of the clubhouse and raid of the pro shop, we were on our way along the winding roads (only a few miles as the crow flies but a couple of hours on four wheels) bound for Rosepenna Resort, where we would play the new Tom Doak designed St Patrick’s links the following morning. St Patrick’s is a triumphant demonstration of architectural restraint. The historical back story of the land here is well documented, but it is what Tom Doak has chosen to do with this abundance of blockbusting links ground that is the real story of the piece. Enough space here for 36 holes, but utilising the best bits of the land to make an utterly magical 18 is a master stroke. What is even more brilliant, is that he has resisted the temptation to stretch the golf course into a modern monster, instead offering a varied strategically thought provoking and playable par 71, engaging for all standards. The course measures a little less than 7000 yards from the tips and crucially, is routed airily, so as to maximise the feeling of grandeur. It achieves that grandness in spades and although I have only played one of the three links at Rosapenna, I can’t imagine anything could be better than this triumph. Photo credit: Clyde Johnson Our stay again was fleeting, and although the winds buffeted us throughout our round at St Patrick’s, it would be nothing compared to the rage Storm Babet would throw at us at Ballyliffin the following morning. Coming from a 36 hole golf club at Saunton in England, I was interested to see how one of the finest Irish equivalents compared. The answer was extremely favourably on this initial visit. This northern coast of the Emerald Isle is cementing itself as a real destination for golf, and Ballyliffin is a key component of the attraction. Golf has been played at Ballyliffin for many years, but the Old course is in fact relatively young, having only been opened some 50 years ago, a juvenile in links terms. The club is located on one of the northernmost tips of Ireland, jutting out into the North Atlantic, leaving it exposed to the elements which have crafted a magnificent dunescape that the Old and Glashedy links benefit from. The Old inhabits the slightly less dramatic and more rolling ground, making it feel more classic in character, and it most definitely has an authenticity that belies its relatively young age. You’ll excuse my slightly less architecturally detailed review, such was the persistence of the downpour we experienced on our visit. The dampness reached its peak at the turn, and although all but one of my playing partners (we were a group of 8) decided they had reached their saturation limit, I was curiously compelled to play on, inspired by what I was seeing. I was rewarded for my insanity/persistence with a fine and memorable back nine set of links holes less hampered by the deluge. It really would have been a shame to miss it. The drive back to Londonderry airport as always, was bittersweet. A trip to Ireland always leaves you wanting more. One more course, one more putt, one more pint of Guinness. However, I used the time on the trip home to craft my next Irish itinerary, one that will hopefully come into being sometime in 2024. Anyway, I hope that has whetted the appetite and sparked thoughts of planning an Irish jaunt of your own, and in the mean time, wherever you are reading this and whatever your November has in store, I wish you many well flighted wedges, friendly bounces and most importantly, plentiful happy rounds.
Top 100 Golf Courses of England 2012 Top 100 Golf Courses reverts back to a Top 100 for England A little more than twelve months ago we announced the extension of our England top golf course rankings to 200 courses. Having listened to feedback during 2011, we have now decided to revert back to a national English Top 100. The reason we are changing back is simple. Very few people have played the England Top 100, let alone the England Top 200. We found it virtually impossible to define the positions for English courses in the ranking range of 101 to 200. During 2011 we launched and completed a project to identify the best courses in every English county. This has proved to be a successful way to showcase the best English courses on a regional basis. Our future plans are to further develop and refine our English Best In County rankings by continuing to use local help and expertise to accurately assess the golf courses across the individual English counties. Andy Newmarch (our Marketing Director) and I have played eighty-five of England’s Top 100 Golf Courses between us and we’ve decided to challenge each other to see who can complete the entire England Top 100 first. We each have around thirty more courses to play, so it may take a year or two to establish the winner, but we’ll keep you posted. If you’ve already played the English Top 100, or a significant proportion, I’d love to hear from you. Please send an email to: info@top100golfcourses.com. So what has actually changed since we last looked at England twelve months or so ago? For the first time since we launched our individual country rankings back in 2006, we have a new English No.1. Following a successful 2011 Open Championship, Royal St George’s moves into pole position and upstages our long-standing numero uno (now No.2), Royal Birkdale. Swinley Forest jumps back into the Top 10 for the first time since 2008 and Sunningdale (New) continues its progression up the table to No.7. Luffenham Heath moves back into the hundred after its centenary in 2011 and Tandridge makes a return too as it begins to showcase the quality of the renovation work. The Manor House in Wiltshire and the underrated Edinburgh course at Wentworth also rejoin the Top 100. From the Golden Age, Blackwell and Stoneham move into the hundred for the first time, but it’s a modern course that is our only brand new entry and it doffs its cap to the Golden Age of golf course architecture. Set in glorious Northumberland countryside, with an elegant 18th century mansion at its heart, the Colt course at Close House was one of only a handful of European courses to open in 2011. Designed by Scott Macpherson of Turner Macpherson Golf Design, the Colt course is fashioned in the spirit of Harry Colt, featuring many of the great architect’s trademarks. I do hope you enjoy our condensed England Top 100 and if you have any comments or feedback, I’d love to hear from you. And, just for the record, I’d like to remind you that Top 100 Golf Courses is truly independent, having no association with any magazine publications. Finally a big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post course reviews online. Please keep them coming, it’s your reviews that make the Top 100 website come alive. Keith Baxter Editor-in-Chief www.top100golfcourses.com To see in detail our new 2012 Top 100 Golf Courses of England click here.
