Hoylake, Wirral, England
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
One of the oldest and most revered links in England — Royal Liverpool at Hoylake is a flat, exposed, and uncompromisingly demanding course that has shaped the history of the game.
About the Course
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Royal Liverpool Golf Club was founded in 1869 on the Wirral Peninsula, making it one of the oldest golf clubs in England. The course at Hoylake — as it is universally known — has hosted The Open Championship twelve times, with the most recent in 2023 when Brian Harman claimed the Claret Jug in dominant fashion.
Unlike the dune-framed links of Birkdale or the clifftop drama of Portrush, Hoylake is a flat, exposed, and deceptively demanding course. The layout is defined by its out-of-bounds stakes — internal OB lines that run through the course and demand precise positioning on almost every hole. The wind, which sweeps in from the Irish Sea with little obstruction, is the course's primary defence.
The club's history is woven into the fabric of the game. The first Amateur Championship was held here in 1885. Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam at Hoylake in 1930. Tiger Woods won his second Open here in 2006, famously never using a driver throughout the week. The course demands intelligence and patience as much as power.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
Twelve Open Championships
Hoylake has hosted The Open Championship twelve times — a record matched by only a handful of courses in the world. From Bobby Jones to Tiger Woods to Brian Harman, the course has been the stage for some of the most celebrated victories in the history of the game.
The Internal Out-of-Bounds
Hoylake's defining characteristic is its internal OB lines — stakes that run through the course and demand precise positioning on almost every hole. This is not a course that forgives wayward driving. The mental challenge of managing the OB is as demanding as any physical test in links golf.
Bobby Jones and the Grand Slam
In 1930, Bobby Jones completed the Grand Slam at Hoylake — winning the Open Championship here as part of his historic sweep of all four major titles in a single calendar year. The achievement has never been repeated, and Hoylake's place in golf history was secured forever.
The Wind and the Flat Terrain
Without the dune ridges that shelter courses like Birkdale, Hoylake is fully exposed to the Irish Sea wind. The flat terrain means there is nowhere to hide — every shot must be shaped and flighted with the conditions in mind. It is a course that rewards the thinking golfer above all others.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
The Wirral and Lancashire — A Championship Region
Royal Liverpool sits at the southern end of one of the most remarkable championship golf regions in the world. Wallasey is just five miles away, Formby a short drive north, and the great Southport courses — Birkdale, Hillside, and Southport & Ainsdale — within easy reach.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
Royal Liverpool is a cornerstone of our Open Championship Links programme — a collection that brings together the finest courses of Lancashire and Merseyside in a single, purposeful itinerary. We arrange tee times, accommodation in Liverpool and Southport, and every detail of the routing.
To explore how Royal Liverpool fits into a wider route, visit our The Open Championship Links Collection page or our England golf tours page.
Begin Your Journey
Play Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at Royal Liverpool and build a private itinerary across the Open Championship Links of Lancashire and Merseyside.
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