Inside the course: Royal Birkdale Golf Club

text size

Jul. 16, 2008
By Jamie Batey, Special to PGATOUR.com

The British Open returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club for the first time since 1998. Learn more about this historic venue.

Fast facts

Original architect	George Lowe Jr.
Course Superintendents	J.H. Taylor and Charles Hawtree
Number of TOUR events as host venue	9 (including 2008)
Course ranking	Ranked 2nd (out of 54 courses) in 1998
Yardage	7,173 yards (for the 2008 Open Championship)
Grass	Bentgrass/fescue/Poa annua (fairways)
Sand bunkers	20 new (16 fairways and four greenside) and 27 repositioned
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
Jodi Mudd

Year
1991

Round
4th

Finish
T5

1998 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole in 1998

	The par-4 480-yard 6th was ranked 2nd most difficult in 1998. The drive must avoid the bunkers on each side of the fairway. This hole requires a long second shot to an elevated green protected by bunkers to the front and surrounded by dunes. The green is large and well contoured with various difficult pin positions. In 1998: 0 eagles, 17 birdies, 197 pars, 216 bogeys, 34 double bogeys, 7 others.
Easiest hole in 1998
	The easiest hole at Royal Birkdale in 1998 was the par-5 547-yard 17th. Drives have to be hit between two large sand dunes and must avoid the two new bunkers on the right of the fairway. With the ground here firm, the correct drive will normally get some run, shortening the hole. The new and re-modeled two-tier green has been pushed back some 30 yards and is well protected by some severe bunkers and dramatic contouring. In 1998: 26 eagles, 198 birdies, 204 pars, 36 bogeys, 6 double bogeys, 1 other.

Royal Birkdale in 2008			1998 rankings
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank
1	4	449	4.478	2
2	4	421	4.274	7
3	4	407	4.047	16
4	3	203	3.144	15
5	4	344	4.155	14
6	4	480	4.616	1
7	3	177	3.234	10
8	4	457	4.172	13
9	4	411	4.214	11
10	4	403	4.240	8
11	4	408	4.346	5
12	3	183	3.212	12
13	4	498	4.323	6
14	3	198	3.238	9
15	5	544	5.017	17
16	4	416	4.369	3
17	5	547	4.580	18
18	4	472	2.365	4

NOTES: The par-4 439-yard 16th is considered the signature hole. The green sits on a plateau with bunkers on both sides of the green making the second shot one where precision is a necessity.
• In 2008, six of Royal Birkdale's 18 holes were ranked in the top 50 toughest holes of the year and two (holes 1 and 6) were ranked in the top 10.
• The 6th at Royal Birkdale was the most difficult of any 6th hole of the courses played on TOUR in 1998.
• Royal Birkdale's 6th hole had the most bogeys of any hole for any course on TOUR in 1998.
• The 17th hole at Royal Birkdale was the easiest of any 17th hole of the courses played on TOUR in 1998.
• Royal Birkdale has been voted the No. 1 course located in Britain.

Course origins

Birkdale Golf Club was formed in 1889 but the development of the links was established in 1922. The first Open Championship at the course took place in 1954.

There are only two holes at Royal Birkdale that have not been changed in some way, shape or form while renovating for this years Open Championship. However, unlike most courses, the changes are taking place with the elevated greens which will sit on mounds as well as its width (as opposed to the length).

Tournament history

Course	Number hosted	Location	Years
St. Andrews	27	Scotland	1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1946, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005
Prestick	23	Scotland	1860-1871, 1875, 1878, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1893, 1898, 1903, 1908, 1914, 1925
Muirfield	15	Scotland	1892, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1980, 1987, 1992, 2002
Royal St. Georges	13	England	1894, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, 2003
Hoylake	10	England	1897, 1902, 1907, 1913, 1924, 1930, 1936, 1947, 1956, 1967
Royal Lytham & St. Annes	10	England	1926, 1952, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1988, 1996, 2001
Royal Birkdale	8	England	1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998
Royal Troon	8	Scotland	1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004
Carnoustie	7	Scotland	1931, 1937, 1953, 1968, 1975, 1999, 2007
Musselburgh	6	Scotland	1874, 1877, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1889
Turnberry	3	Scotland	1977, 1986, 1994
Cinque Ports	2	England	1909, 1920
Princes	1	England	1932
Portrush	1	Ireland	1951
Royal Liverpool	1	England	2006