The Complete Guide to Royal Liverpool Golf Club

The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is one of the most storied venues in the game of golf.

The club is a 13-time host of The Open and has crowned some of its greatest champions, from Bobby and Walter and to Rory and Tiger. Hoylake also hosted the first Amateur Championship and the first international competition, known today as The Walker Cup.

Credit: Kevin Murray and Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Whenever The Open is held at Royal Liverpool, commentators around the world wax lyrical on the course, its notoriously penal bunkers, Tiger’s 2-iron exhibition in 2006 and, of course, that little band from Liverpool.

While the 2023 Open Championship was a runaway affair, the tournament inspired many to plan golf trips to northwest England.

If you're among the golfers counting down to a round at Hoylake, here’s your complete guide to Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

For additional insight, tune-in to our Golf and the Good Life podcast for an exploration of Royal Liverpool and England's Golf Coast.

Internal Out of Bounds

For most golfers, the sight of out of bounds causes a touch of fear. And while a drive that ends up in someone’s backyard or on the roof of the Old Course Hotel is expected to cost us stroke and distance, out of bounds inside the grounds of the course is a rare phenomenon. It’s also a frustrating one.

Just ask Phil Mickelson.

The 1st and 16th holes at Royal Liverpool play as the 3rd and 18th during The Open Championship. The two holes wrap around the club’s practice area, which serves as the giant tented village during The Open and is out of bounds.

During the 2014 Open Championship, Phil Mickelson blasted his 2nd shot on the 18th hole toward the grandstand right of the green. Almost every other week of the year, Mickelson would have been granted a drop near where the ball crossed into the stands, but not at Hoylake.

Instead, he was forced to take the loneliest walk in golf back to his prior spot to replay his shot.

For the mere mortals visiting Royal Liverpool during England golf trips, out of bounds flanking both sides of the 1st hole makes for a nervous start to the day. But we should all count our blessings.

The short par-3 7th hole - known as Dowie - once featured internal out of bounds just feet from the left-side of the green. Thankfully, the white stakes were pulled up before the 1967 Open Championship and never returned.

Hilbre

There are many that will argue that the dogleg left 12th hole (14th during The Open Championship) is the finest at Royal Liverpool. The daring play off the tee is over the bunkers protecting the corner of the dogleg, but only the longest of drivers should even consider it.

As you survey the demanding second shot, take note of the steep fall off to the right of the green waiting to punish the slightest of push. During his masterful display of 2-iron stingers during the 2006 Open Championship, Tiger Woods paid no mind to the trouble and holed a 4-iron here in the 2nd round.

Although the hole itself is nothing short of great, it’s the view of the Dee Estuary that will linger in your memories from your trip to Royal Liverpool.

New 17th Hole

Ahead of The Open’s return in 2023, Royal Liverpool made a number of updates to its historic links. The club put the course in the trusted hands of Mackenzie & Ebert – the same firm who updated Royal Portrush ahead of the 2019 Open as well as the dramatic transformation of the Ailsa course at Turnberry Scotland.

The most notable of these changes is a new 17th hole (15th when The Open isn't in town), a pint-sized par-3 which plays to a well-protected and elevated green. The Dee Estuary sits as a backdrop and is sure to be a formidable distraction to the complacent golfer.

Whenever The Open is held at Hoylake, there’s a good chance this tiny par-3 could decide who takes home the Claret Jug. Especially if the wind is up.

Credit: Kevin Murray and Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Bobby Jones Bunker

When Bobby Jones came to the 16th hole during the 1930 Open Championship (the 18th for modern Opens) his path to the Claret Jug was still very much in doubt. His brassie on this par-5 found a perilous lie in one of the greenside bunkers, which required him to play with one leg propped on the cavern’s edge. What happened next was best described by the man who coined the phrase “Grand Slam,” Atlanta newspaperman and Jones biographer, O.B. Keeler:

“Up came the ball floating in a geyser of sand, flopping like a tired frog, then rolling, rolling, until it reached the cup, circled the rim as the crowd shrieked, and settled 3 inches from the hole.”

Although exactly which bunker Jones was in has been lost to the sands of time, the sight of these bunkers serves as a gentle reminder of Royal Liverpool’s place in golf’s rich history.

Credit: Kevin Murray and Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Royal Liverpool Clubhouse

After an H&B Expedition to Royal Liverpool and England’s Golf Coast, Jason Sciarro of Bull Valley Golf Club returned with a bit of sage advice for those set to play golf across the pond…

“Enjoy the golf clubs in their entirety. Have a pint or two and walk around the clubhouse to check out the history. Be in the moment.”

Perhaps nowhere is this more important than at Royal Liverpool, where inside the clubhouse you’ll find a collection of memorabilia that is second to none. From championship trophies and medals to Tiger’s trusty 2-iron, the historic space seemingly doubles as both clubhouse and golf museum.

Outside of the clubhouse, some might see just an ordinary clock high above the putting green. Like so many features at Royal Liverpool, there’s a story which accompanies this timepiece.

When Royal Liverpool first opened, the clubhouse was nothing more than a couple of rooms at the adjacent Royal Hotel. The hotel’s owner was John Ball, Jr., whose son – John, III – would go on to win the British Amateur and Open Championship a combined 6 times.

Although the hotel was razed long ago, the 17th hole is called “Royal” in tribute to the father. The legacy of John Ball, the son and champion, was commemorated by the installment of this double-sided clock on the clubhouse.

In addition to perusing the impressive collection of memorabilia, no day at Royal Liverpool would be complete without enjoying an extra hour or two in the historic clubhouse. Sure, the view from the lounge is inspiring, but it’s the hospitality from the club’s members that will prove to be truly memorable.

It’s for this very reason that we rank the clubhouse lounge at Royal Liverpool as one of the best 19th holes in golf, and why it should be an important part of your itinerary.

Other Golf Courses Near Royal Liverpool

The area near Southport and Liverpool is known as England’s Golf Coast for good reason. There is so much exceptional golf found here, those planning golf trips in 2025 and beyond can spend a week, play a different world-class course every day, and unpack the suitcase just once.

In addition to Royal Liverpool, the region is home to two additional Open Championship golf courses at Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

Royal Birkdale has hosted The Open on 10 occasions, with another already on the calendar for 2026. Royal Lytham & St. Annes has hosted The Open 11 times, two of which were won by Seve Ballesteros. Both players required heroics from the driving range and parking lot to secure the Claret Jug.

Aside from The Open golf courses, this area is home to a wealth of exceptional, yet lesser-known, layouts.

Hillside Golf Club and Formby Golf Club both make a strong case for membership on The Open rota and have hosted the Amateur Championship on multiple occasions. Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club is a two-time host of the Ryder Cup. Wallasey is home to the Stableford format and often serves as a qualifying venue for The Open, including when Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam in 1930.

See our guide to England’s Golf Coast off the beaten path to learn more about these exceptional courses.

Exploring Liverpool

Although England’s Golf Coast does not feature as many sightseeing opportunities as other regions in Great Britain and Ireland, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Good Life during your trip.

It’s probably no surprise that many of Liverpool’s most famous attractions center around its most famous sons: The Beatles. From the famous Cavern Club – where the band appeared nearly 300 times early in its career – to the immersive Beatles Story museum, fans of The Beatles will find Liverpool to be a Magical Mystery Tour.

Aside from Liverpool’s music history, the Maritime Museum and an outpost of The Tate are both insightful and entertaining. The “Bombed Out Church” is a solemn reminder of the perils of World War II, while the massive Liverpool Cathedral is an inspiring sight.

As the sun sets over the River Mersey, cocktails at the former headquarters of White Star Line is always a good decision. The Carpathia rooftop bar offers a dash of history alongside a titanic view of the city.

Finally, those visiting in the spring or fall will find the quintessential Liverpool experience with a visit to famed Anfield for a football match. But plan this part of your trip early. As you may have heard, the Reds have returned to glory and tickets can be scarce.

Royal Liverpool put on a great show during the 2023 Open Championship. If past history is any guide, it’s also certain to lead to a surge of golfers looking to plan H&B Expeditions to England’s Golf Coast.

If you foresee being among them, our advice is to get ahead of the crowd and start planning your journey sooner rather than later.