The Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club Southport

Royal Birkdale Golf Club in the town of Southport, is one of the clubs in The Open Championship rotation and will be hosting the 2008 Open July 17th – July 20th. As Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa is just 3.5 we are offering a number of Hospitality at The Open packages!

Royal Birkdale can be classed among the many great courses along the Northwest coast, including Formby Hall. Royal Birkdale is a prime example of a links golf and has hosted The Open Championship on eight occasions the first time being in 1954.

A links golf course is the oldest style of golf course, the name comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes, and also sometimes to open parkland.

The Royal Birkdale golf club was formed in 1889 and started off as a 9 hole course. In 1897 it was decided the course would move to Birkdale Hills and resulted in the construction of an 18 hole course.

Up until 1951 the club was known as The Birkdale Club but after a visit from the King in that year he gave permission for the club to be renamed as The Royal Birkdale Golf Club, a title which is now shortened to Royal Birkdale by visitors to the club from near and afar.

Visitors to the Royal Birkdale course can walk in the footsteps of many of golf's legends including Open Winners - Mark O'Meara, Ian Baker-Finch, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Peter Thomson who has won twice, in 1954 and again in 1965. If this is something that interests you take a look at our Hospitality at The Open packages.

The clubhouse at Royal Birkdale is built in a distinctive art-deco style and stands overlooking the 18th green. The enormous bay window in the lounge gives a spectacular view over the course and it is the only place to be on the last afternoon of The Open so make sure you book your Hospitality at The Open packages ASAP.