Photo: Sue Adair · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lancashire & Merseyside Coast, England
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
A dune-valley links on the Lancashire coast and an eleven-time Open Championship venue, hosting The 154th Open in 2026.
Course overview
Royal Birkdale Golf Club was founded in 1889, with the present links laid out at the Birkdale Hills site in 1897 by George Lowe, professional at Royal Lytham & St Annes. The routing was substantially reworked in 1922 by Hawtree and J.H. Taylor, whose redesign — placing fairways in the valleys between the dunes rather than over them — gave the course its enduring character. Royal Birkdale has hosted The Open Championship eleven times since 1954, most recently welcoming The 154th Open in 2026, and is widely regarded as one of the finest courses in England.
The essentials
- Architect
- George Lowe; Hawtree and J.H. Taylor (redesign 1922)
- Established
- 1897
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 70
- Length
- 6,543 m
- Location
- Merseyside, England
Character & atmosphere
A links routed through the valleys between towering dunes rather than over them — a deliberate design choice from the 1922 Hawtree and Taylor redesign that shelters play from the worst of the Irish Sea wind while still demanding precise ball-striking. Suited to golfers who can control trajectory and flight under pressure; unforgiving of loose iron play even when the wind is down.
Highlights
Why play here
- Designed by George Lowe; Hawtree and J.H. Taylor (redesign 1922), opened in 1897.
- Sea views feature throughout the round.
Practical guidance
Plan your visit
How to get there
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is the closest airport to Royal Birkdale, approximately 21 miles south — around 45 minutes by car. Manchester Airport (MAN) is a slightly further alternative with a broader international network, roughly an hour's drive. Direct rail connects Liverpool to Southport, with the course a short taxi ride from Southport railway station. Car hire is recommended for golfers combining Royal Birkdale with other courses on the Lancashire coast.
Where to stay
Southport is the obvious base for a Royal Birkdale trip — the course sits at the southern edge of the town, and the wider Sefton coast is one of England's most concentrated links golf regions. The town itself retains a traditional English seaside character, with Lord Street's Victorian architecture and a genuine pier adding some non-golf interest for a short stay.
Location
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England
Explore Lancashire & Merseyside Coast
England's premier Open Championship coastline, spanning Royal Birkdale on the Sefton dunes, Royal Liverpool across the Dee Estuary on the Wirral, and Royal Lytham & St Annes on the Fylde coast.