Royal Birkdale Golf Club

On the northwest coast of England, just about a mile from the Irish Sea, lies Royal Birkdale Golf Club, one of the finest championship tests in the world.   

The club’s origins date to 1889, when its first nine holes were laid out. Five years later, the course relocated to the nearby Birkdale Hills before moving once more, in 1897, to the site it occupies now.

George Lowe, then the head professional at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, designed the original 18-hole course. But the layout that exists today can be traced to 1932, when the local Southport Development Corporation granted the club a long-term lease and Fred G. Hawtree, alongside five-time Open champion J.H. Taylor, transformed the links into the course that largely remains today. Under the terms of the agreement, the course would be redesigned with the express purpose of hosting championship golf, a mission that continues to guide the club. 

Although the club did not host its first Open Championship until 1954, it has since become a fixture of the Open rota. The 2026 Open marks the 11th staging of golf’s oldest major at Royal Birkdale, more than any other venue except St. Andrews since the end of World War II. Beyond the Open, the club has hosted dozens of the sport’s most prestigious amateur and professional events across both the men’s and women’s games, including two Ryder Cups. The 1969 edition is forever remembered for “The Concession,” one of the most famous moments in Ryder Cup history. 

Throughout the decades, Royal Birkdale has continued to evolve, much of that evolution shepherded by successive generations of the Hawtree family. Ahead of the 2026 Open Championship, the club selected Mackenzie & Ebert to undertake its most significant renovation project in decades, with Tom Mackenzie overseeing the project. The design changes were intended to improve playability for members, increase variety among the par 3s, enhance drainage, and modernize the practice facilities. Among the most significant changes, Nos. 5, 14, and 15 were either substantially redesigned or built anew, while the former par-3 14th was converted into a dedicated short-game practice area. Every hole on the course received attention — some dramatically, others subtly.

Royal Birkdale could be considered a modern venue relative to many of its counterparts on the Open rota, but not just because it didn’t host its first Open until the 1950s. Unlike the traditional out-and-back-style routing found at many links courses, Royal Birkdale features returning nines — a departure from many traditional links designs — with both the ninth and 18th greens located near the clubhouse. 

Royal Birkdale is widely regarded as one of the fairest championship tests in golf and a favorite venue among touring professionals. There are few blind shots, quirks, or daring design features. Yet its simplicity should not be mistaken for mundanity; the golf course presents a variety of holes and shot types. Though the coastline itself never comes into view, the first 12 holes take players on a meandering journey out toward the Irish Sea, constantly shifting directions to expose players to a variety of wind patterns. The final six holes more or less run parallel to one another and include the course’s only two par 5s — at least in championship play — a dramatic finishing stretch that never fails to deliver unforgettable moments. 

With ample space to accommodate championship infrastructure and record-breaking galleries, along with a longstanding commitment to evolving to meet the requirements of a modern championship host, Royal Birkdale remains one of golf’s premier venues. More than a century after its founding, it continues to prove itself a worthy host of the most prestigious events in the sport, one that is sure to crown a deserving winner. 

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