Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 16

A guide to the sixteenth hole at Royal Birkdale ahead of the 146th Open Championship

Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 16
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A guide to the sixteenth hole at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England ahead of the 146th Open Championship

Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 16

Hole 16 - Par 4 - 438 yards

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The 146th Open Championship takes place at Royal Birkdale this month, here is a guide to the sixteenth hole.

Related: Royal Birkdale Golf Club Course Review

Whilst the 16th hole has significantly less bunkers than the 15th, there are still 10 sand traps on this dogleg-right par-4.

On paper the tee shot is a simple one, with the second of the two bunkers to carry off the tee at just 258 yards from the backs.

However, there is thick rough beyond and those who get aggressive in trying to cut the corner will find serious trouble if the drive is leaked to the right.

Royal Birkdale Golf Club Hole By Hole Guide: Hole 16

Plenty of room to the left on the 16th

The safe play here is to take it over the bunkers with a draw, to leave a mid-to-short iron into this uphill green.

There are three bunkers around 40-60 yards short of the green which shouldn't come into play, whilst four deep pot bunkers around the putting will see plenty of action.

There is harsh contouring around the green and run-offs, making up-and-downs tricky.

This is another hole where good ball striking will be rewarded, whilst loose shots will be punished.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV