Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake
Encyclopedia
The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is a leading golf
club in Merseyside
in North West England. It was founded in 1869 on what was then the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, and received the "Royal" designation in 1871 due to the patronage of the Duke of Connaught of the day, who was one of Queen Victoria's
younger sons. Robert Chambers and George Morris (younger brother of Old Tom Morris) were commissioned to lay out the original Hoylake course, which was extended to 18 holes in 1871. Harry Colt, one of the world's leading golf course architects, redesigned the course early in the 20th century, and it has since been tweaked periodically, mainly as a response to advances in equipment.
on the Wirral Peninsula
, with the course itself extending between Hoylake and the neighbouring town of West Kirby
, which is separated from the city of Liverpool
by the estuary of the River Mersey
. Consequently, the course is often referred to as Hoylake, after the town. It has a single 18-hole course, which is a seaside links
.
The 2006 Open Championship
was held at Royal Liverpool on 20-23 July, for the first time since 1967. The course had its routing changed slightly for the championship, so that the old 16th hole (a huge par 5) became the 18th, thus making the old 17th and 18th the first and second holes, respectively, with the former first hole now becoming the third, and so forth.
. It was host to the first ever international match between Scotland
& England
in 1902. It hosted the first Home International matches, and the first transatlantic contest between GB&I and the USA in 1921, an event which became the Walker Cup
the following year. In fact, it is Royal Liverpool Golf Club's contribution to the amateur game that has set it apart from all other clubs in England. Although, at the end of the nineteenth century, it was the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
that took on the role of the governing body in golf as the game developed, it was at Hoylake that the rules of amateur status were laid down. The Open at Hoylake was also the scene of the second leg of Bobby Jones
's historic Grand Slam in 1930. A young John Lennon used to walk across the course to visit his girlfriend and future wife Cynthia Powell who lived in Hoylake.
and John Ball
. Between them they dominated the amateur game of their era, and the pair were also a major influence on the professional game, each of them winning the Open Championship as amateurs. Ball won the Amateur Championship eight times between 1888 and 1912, and was runner-up twice. He won the Open Championship in 1890, the first Englishman and the first amateur to do so, and also took the Amateur title the same year.
Harold Hilton's record was just as impressive. He won the Open twice, in 1892 (the first year the Open was played over 72 holes) and again five years later, making him the only amateur apart from John Ball and Bobby Jones
to win the title. His victory at Hoylake in 1897 was marked 100 years later by the creation of a new, annual Harold Hilton Medal tournament open to amateur golfers aged 30 or more and handicap five or less. Hilton also won the Amateur Championship four times, was runner-up on three occasions, and won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1911, the year in which he also held the British title. This feat made him the first to hold both major amateur titles simultaneously. In the same year he still found time to become the first editor of the new Golf Monthly magazine.
quote: "Hoylake, blown upon by mighty winds, breeder of mighty champions" highlights one of the course's key defences. The wind was conspicuous by its absence during the benign Open week in 2006. However, such was winner Tiger Woods
's respect for the need for strategic play that he only hit his driver once during the tournament, with the course baked out due to dry conditions, and playing very fast. The course is mostly level, but the holes nearest the coast run through sandhills.
The course has also hosted a number of professional tournaments, both on the European Tour and before the foundation of that Tour in 1972; many tournaments for ladies, seniors and boys; and various regional and representative events. It hosted The Open Championship
for the first time in 39 years in 2006 when Tiger Woods
won his third Open Championships; he beat his fellow American Chris DiMarco
by two strokes. This was an emotional victory for Woods, who had lost his father to prostate cancer just two months earlier.
Royal Liverpool hosted the 2010 English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy
from June 24-27, 2010; the event was won by Darren Wright. The links had earlier staged the Brabazon on four occasions. In 1961, Ronnie Shade
was champion, followed in 1972 by Peter Moody, a former University of Cambridge
captain. Sandy Lyle
lifted the trophy in 1977, while the 1989 event saw a tie between Craig Rivett from South Africa
and Neil Roderick from Wales
.
For the first time in its history, Hoylake will also host the 2012 Ricoh Women's British Open, which will take place from September 13-16, 2012. The first Women's British Open was staged in 1976, and in 2001 it gained status as one of the women's majors
.
Winners of The Open Championship
at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake:
(a) denotes amateur
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
club in Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
in North West England. It was founded in 1869 on what was then the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, and received the "Royal" designation in 1871 due to the patronage of the Duke of Connaught of the day, who was one of Queen Victoria's
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
younger sons. Robert Chambers and George Morris (younger brother of Old Tom Morris) were commissioned to lay out the original Hoylake course, which was extended to 18 holes in 1871. Harry Colt, one of the world's leading golf course architects, redesigned the course early in the 20th century, and it has since been tweaked periodically, mainly as a response to advances in equipment.
Location
Despite the club's name, its clubhouse is located in the small town of HoylakeHoylake
Hoylake is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, on Merseyside, England. It is located at the north western corner of the Wirral Peninsula, near to the town of West Kirby and where the River Dee estuary meets the Irish Sea...
on the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
, with the course itself extending between Hoylake and the neighbouring town of West Kirby
West Kirby
West Kirby is a town on the north-west corner of the coast of the Wirral Peninsula, England, at the mouth of the River Dee across from the Point of Ayr in North Wales. To the north-east of the town lies Hoylake, with the suburbs of Grange and Newton to the east, and the village of Caldy to the...
, which is separated from the city of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
by the estuary of the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
. Consequently, the course is often referred to as Hoylake, after the town. It has a single 18-hole course, which is a seaside links
Links (golf)
A links is the oldest style of golf course, first developed in Scotland. The word "links" comes from the Scots language and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes and sometimes to open parkland. It also retains this more general meaning in the Scottish English dialect...
.
The 2006 Open Championship
2006 Open Championship
The 2006 Open Championship was the 135th Open Championship, played from 20-23 July at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. Tiger Woods held off Chris DiMarco, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, and Sergio García for a two-shot victory. The win was his second consecutive Open Championship title and third overall. It was...
was held at Royal Liverpool on 20-23 July, for the first time since 1967. The course had its routing changed slightly for the championship, so that the old 16th hole (a huge par 5) became the 18th, thus making the old 17th and 18th the first and second holes, respectively, with the former first hole now becoming the third, and so forth.
History
Hoylake has a long and distinguished history of golfing firsts. It was originator and host to the inaugural men’s amateur championship in 1885, which became The Amateur ChampionshipThe Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
. It was host to the first ever international match between Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
& England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1902. It hosted the first Home International matches, and the first transatlantic contest between GB&I and the USA in 1921, an event which became the Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
the following year. In fact, it is Royal Liverpool Golf Club's contribution to the amateur game that has set it apart from all other clubs in England. Although, at the end of the nineteenth century, it was the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
that took on the role of the governing body in golf as the game developed, it was at Hoylake that the rules of amateur status were laid down. The Open at Hoylake was also the scene of the second leg of Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
's historic Grand Slam in 1930. A young John Lennon used to walk across the course to visit his girlfriend and future wife Cynthia Powell who lived in Hoylake.
Superstar champions Ball and Hilton
The history of Hoylake would not be complete without mention of two of the club's most famous sons, Harold HiltonHarold Hilton
Harold Horsfall Hilton was an English amateur golfer.-Biography:Hilton was born in West Kirby. In 1892, he won The Open Championship at Muirfield, becoming the second amateur to do so. He won again in 1897 at his home club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake...
and John Ball
John Ball (golfer)
John Ball, Jr. was a prominent English amateur golfer of the late 19th and early 20th century.Ball was born in Hoylake, Merseyside. His father was the prosperous owner of the Royal Hotel, located near the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, in Hoylake...
. Between them they dominated the amateur game of their era, and the pair were also a major influence on the professional game, each of them winning the Open Championship as amateurs. Ball won the Amateur Championship eight times between 1888 and 1912, and was runner-up twice. He won the Open Championship in 1890, the first Englishman and the first amateur to do so, and also took the Amateur title the same year.
Harold Hilton's record was just as impressive. He won the Open twice, in 1892 (the first year the Open was played over 72 holes) and again five years later, making him the only amateur apart from John Ball and Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
to win the title. His victory at Hoylake in 1897 was marked 100 years later by the creation of a new, annual Harold Hilton Medal tournament open to amateur golfers aged 30 or more and handicap five or less. Hilton also won the Amateur Championship four times, was runner-up on three occasions, and won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1911, the year in which he also held the British title. This feat made him the first to hold both major amateur titles simultaneously. In the same year he still found time to become the first editor of the new Golf Monthly magazine.
Character of the course
Many comments have been made over the years about the quality and toughness of the links. The legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin'sBernard Darwin
Bernard Richard Meirion Darwin CBE JP a grandson of the British naturalist Charles Darwin, was a golf writer and high-standard amateur golfer. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
quote: "Hoylake, blown upon by mighty winds, breeder of mighty champions" highlights one of the course's key defences. The wind was conspicuous by its absence during the benign Open week in 2006. However, such was winner Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
's respect for the need for strategic play that he only hit his driver once during the tournament, with the course baked out due to dry conditions, and playing very fast. The course is mostly level, but the holes nearest the coast run through sandhills.
Important events
Important tournaments staged at Hoylake include:- The Open ChampionshipThe Open ChampionshipThe Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
: 1897, 1902, 1907, 1913, 1924, 1930, 1936, 1947, 1956, 1967, 2006 - Walker CupWalker CupThe Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
: 1983 - Curtis CupCurtis CupThe Curtis Cup is the best known team trophy for women amateur golfers, awarded in the biennial Curtis Cup Match . It is co-organised by the United States Golf Association and the Ladies Golf Union and is contested by teams representing the United States and "Great Britain and Ireland"...
: 1992 - The Amateur ChampionshipThe Amateur ChampionshipThe Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
: 1885 (the inaugural event), 1887, 1890, 1894, 1898, 1902, 1906, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1953, 1962, 1969, 1975, 1995, 2000 - Ladies' British Amateur ChampionshipBritish Ladies Amateur Golf ChampionshipThe British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship was founded in 1893 by the Ladies' Golf Union of Great Britain. Until the dawn of the professional era in 1976, it was the most important golf tournament for women in Great Britain and would eventually begin to draw golfers from continental Europe...
: 1896, 1989, 1996
The course has also hosted a number of professional tournaments, both on the European Tour and before the foundation of that Tour in 1972; many tournaments for ladies, seniors and boys; and various regional and representative events. It hosted The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
for the first time in 39 years in 2006 when Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods
Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
won his third Open Championships; he beat his fellow American Chris DiMarco
Chris DiMarco
Christian Dean DiMarco is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. DiMarco has won seven tournaments as a pro, including three PGA Tour events.-Early years:...
by two strokes. This was an emotional victory for Woods, who had lost his father to prostate cancer just two months earlier.
Royal Liverpool hosted the 2010 English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy
Brabazon Trophy
The English Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy is the national amateur stroke play golf championship in England . It has been played annually since 1947 and is organized by the English Golf Union.The format is 72 hole stroke play contested over 4 days...
from June 24-27, 2010; the event was won by Darren Wright. The links had earlier staged the Brabazon on four occasions. In 1961, Ronnie Shade
Ronnie Shade
Ronald David Bell Mitchell "Ronnie" Shade MBE was a Scottish professional golfer.Shade was born in Edinburgh and grew up playing golf at Dudddingston Golf Club in that city. He enjoyed unrivalled success as an amateur player in the 1960s, winning five consecutive Scottish Amateur Championships...
was champion, followed in 1972 by Peter Moody, a former University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
captain. Sandy Lyle
Sandy Lyle
Alexander Walter Barr "Sandy" Lyle, MBE is a Scottish professional golfer. Lyle has won two major championships during his career. Along with Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, he became one of Britain's top golfers during the 1980s...
lifted the trophy in 1977, while the 1989 event saw a tie between Craig Rivett from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Neil Roderick from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
For the first time in its history, Hoylake will also host the 2012 Ricoh Women's British Open, which will take place from September 13-16, 2012. The first Women's British Open was staged in 1976, and in 2001 it gained status as one of the women's majors
Women's major golf championships
Women's golf has a set of major championships which parallels that in men's golf, but the women's system is younger and has been less stable than the men's. Many professional stroke play events for women are played over three rounds , but the majors are played over four rounds , which is the...
.
The Open Championship
The R&A announced early in 2010 that the Open Championship will be held at Royal Liverpool in 2014 for the 12th time in its history.Winners of The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake:
| Year | |Winner | |Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | ||
| 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006 |  Tiger WoodsTiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No... 3rd |
67 | 65 | 71 | 67 | 270 (-18) |
| 1967 |  Roberto DeVicenzoRoberto DeVicenzo Roberto De Vicenzo is a former professional golfer from Argentina. He won more than 230 tournaments worldwide in his career including eight on the PGA Tour and most famously the 1967 Open Championship.-Biography:... 1st |
70 | 71 | 67 | 70 | 278 (-10) |
| 1956 |  Peter Thomson 3rd |
70 | 70 | 72 | 74 | 286 (-2) |
| 1947 |  Fred DalyFred Daly (golfer) Frederick Daly was a Northern Irish professional golfer who was best known for winning The Open Championship of 1947 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake.Daly was born in Portrush, County Antrim... 1st |
73 | 70 | 78 | 72 | 293 (+5) |
| 1936 |  Alf PadghamAlf Padgham Alfred Harry Padgham was one of the leading British professional golfers of the 1930s and 1940s.Padgham was born in Caterham, Surrey... 1st |
73 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 287 |
| 1930 | Bobby Jones (a) Bobby Jones (golfer) Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level... 3rd |
70 | 72 | 74 | 75 | 291 |
| 1924 | Walter Hagen Walter Hagen Walter Charles Hagen was a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of eleven professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods . He won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win the British Open, which he went on... 2nd |
77 | 73 | 74 | 77 | 301 |
| 1913 | J.H. Taylor John Henry Taylor John Henry "J.H." Taylor was an English professional golfer and one of the pioneers of the modern game of golf. He was also a significant golf course architect.... 5th |
73 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 304 |
| 1907 |  Arnaud MassyArnaud Massy Arnaud Massy was one of France's most successful professional golfers.Massy was born in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France... 1st |
76 | 81 | 78 | 77 | 312 |
| 1902 |  Sandy HerdSandy Herd Alexander "Sandy" Herd was a Scottish professional golfer from St Andrews.Herd was the club professional at Huddersfield Golf Club from 1892 to 1911. In 1902, he won The Open Championship at Hoylake. He had a three shot lead after 54 holes, but nearly let the title slip out of his hands by scoring... 1st |
77 | 76 | 73 | 81 | 307 |
| 1897 | Harold Hilton (a) Harold Hilton Harold Horsfall Hilton was an English amateur golfer.-Biography:Hilton was born in West Kirby. In 1892, he won The Open Championship at Muirfield, becoming the second amateur to do so. He won again in 1897 at his home club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake... 2nd |
80 | 75 | 84 | 75 | 314 |
- Note: Superscript number besides the player's name is the number of the Open Championship in their respective careers.
(a) denotes amateur