Royal Liverpool Golf Club: Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Key Information

Historic Royal Liverpool or Hoylake has been a staple in the top 15 of our Top 100 golf courses UK&I ranking since 2009.

Built in 1869, on what was then the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, Hoylake is the second oldest of the English seaside courses, after Westward Ho! It's one of the very best links in England.

The club has played host to The Open Championship on 13 occasions with recent winners Brian Harman, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods demonstrating the quality of golf demanded by this excellent course.

At the tip of the Wirral peninsula and set on fairly flat ground, it’s a superb layout with beautiful greens and wonderful natural contours. Always maintained in immaculate condition, there are some uniquely memorable golf holes to experience at Hoylake. It’s a course where emphasis is placed on strong driving and tee shots must be threaded between punishing bunkering.

Major works were undertaken in preparation for July 2023 and the most recent Open Championship to be contested at Hoylake, with advice from course architect Martin Ebert and all overseen by Royal Liverpool’s experienced Course Manager Craig Gilholm.

Special note should be made of recently designed par-3 15th "Little Eye" (which played as the 17th for The Open.) The design is imaginative, original and a little different in look compared to the rest of the course. The natural grass and sandy areas combine wonderfully with the raised green turned toward the coast. The bunkering is well thought out and the drop off areas quite punishing. I think it’s a great addition. There were also been changes to further greens, tees, bunkers, hollows and mounding around the course.

Playing any championship course allows you to test your ability against what the best in the world experience and I always find Hoylake is a true example of this. The opening few holes ease you into the round although good shots are still required.

Once into the heart of the round all aspects of your game will be tested, and you will need all of them to be working to score well. Accuracy is key throughout especially as you reach the back nine. I always enjoy the subtle run-off areas around the greens that can cost you shots but give you options. It's a great test.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…

John Winter

The routing, like Muirfield, constantly changes so it is not a constant slog into the wind. The wind can scream across the flatter part of the course, unprotected by the dunes, but each hole is protected by cleverly sighted and often penal pot bunkers that reveal its true architectural strengths. The Course Manager, James Bledge, left no stone unturned to present the very best conditioned course available for the 2023 Open and those improvements remain.

Steve Hollis

Although the first 3 holes are somewhat uninspiring, holes 1 to 12 are a very interesting sequence of holes. All the green complexes are quite exceptional. The clubhouse is full of grand history, a place you would love to spend an afternoon spinning yarns with your pals. There is a real sense of old-fashioned quality in every aspect.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Location

Best Courses near to Royal Liverpool Golf Club

WALLASEY

Over 130 years, Wallasey’s links has had design input from Old Tom Morris, Hawtree and Taylor, James Braid and Donald Steel. More recently, the design and presentation has stepped up several gears under course manager, John McLaughlin, and is now a thrilling journey through some of the best dunes in English golf.

WEST LANCS

West Lancs lies among a concentrated north-west cluster of very fine links golf. It can certainly prove a stern test when the wind is up. Coming home, 12 and 13 stand out, an excellent par 3 where you must clear two deep pot bunkers, then a wonderful dogleg par 4 from an exposed tee.

For all the best courses in the area check out our guide to the best courses in Cheshire

Best Places to Stay Near Royal Liverpool Golf Club

Titanic Hotel Liverpool - Book now at Booking.com
At Liverpool’s Stanley Dock, the Titanic Hotel Liverpool is found in the site’s former North Warehouse. The hotel is also home to the dockside Stanleys Bar and Grill and Rum Bar. Just 5 mins from Liverpool centre and a short drive to Hoylake.

Hillbark Hotel and Spa - Book here now
An elegant country house hotel just inland from Royal Liverpool. The Hillbark Hotel offers a luxurious retreat and is a hugely relaxing place to unwind after a day's golf.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Course Gallery

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

• 2025/26 - 13
• 2023/24 - 12
• 2021/22 - 12
• 2019/20 – 14
• 2017/18 - 14
• 2015/16 - 12
• 2013/14 - 15
• 2011/12 - 13
• 2009/10 - 13

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