No 5 - Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale is an Open venue favourite boasting a great challenge, and a rich history. The design is incredibly challenging with each hole beautifully framed
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5 ROYAL BIRKDALE
Architect: Lowe 2006 position: 7 Stats: 6,817 yds; par 72; SSS 75 GF: £120-£195 T: 01704 552030 W: royalbirkdale.com
When the Open visited Royal Birkdale in 2008 we saw just how punishing a tough links can be in strong winds.
Article continues belowUnlike many other Major venues, Birkdale has always been a stern, but fair, test – The R&A didn’t have to add too many teeth to push the world’s best to the limit.
Each hole is beautifully framed, with many high tees affording clear views of the hole (and dangers) ahead.
Often, the natural dunes create the feel of an amphitheatre, separating holes perfectly and allowing you to appreciate each individual challenge in isolation.
This is one devilishly beautiful stretch of land. NT
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+ Incredibly challenging design; rich history; good visitor facilities - Expensive; too hard for many; clubhouse design divides opinion Enter your review of Royal Birkdale Down below
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>>> Top 100 Golf Courses: No. 6 Back to the Top 100 Golf Courses list - An introduction to Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses by editor, Mike Harris - Who makes up The Top 100 Golf Courses panel? - How do Golf Monthly assess the Top 100 Golf courses?
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In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he went on to become a feature writer interviewing many of the biggest names in the game including Tiger Woods, Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy and Arnold Palmer.
A 5-handicap golfer, Neil is a club member who takes a keen interest in the health of the game at grassroots level. You’ll often now find him writing about club-related issues such as WHS, membership retention and how best to bridge the gap between the range and the course.