THE MAGIC OF HOYLAKE

Hoylake has a hard task following the 150th Open at St Andrews, but it can deliver a unique spectacle unlike any course on The Open rota.  

- Michael Catling

NEED TO KNOW

COURSE: Royal Liverpool, Wirral

DATE: July 20-23, 2023 PAR: 71 Yards: 7,383

CUT: 70 and ties

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Cameron Smith

Hoylake has never been seen as a golfer’s town, but it sure does feel like one whenever The Open comes to this sports-mad corner of the Wirral Peninsula.

From July 17-23, more than 26,000 fans are expected to occupy this small-town venue along Meols Drive, breaking the record for the most spectators in an event outside of St Andrews.

This year excitement surrounds a raft of changes to the course, including a new hole and par, which will present an altogether different challenge to the 12 Open Championships that have gone before at Royal Liverpool.

We sent our team to play it and spoke to the people that matter to examine the changes, assess the challenges and pass judgement on what is being hyped up as one of the most exciting finishes to a major championship venue…

WHAT DO THE HISTORY BOOKS TELL US?

Royal Liverpool has been around for 154 years and is one of England’s most celebrated and oldest links. It remains a favourite of the R&A because of its history, location and willingness to evolve.

Some of the greatest golfers of their respective generations have triumphed here, including J.H. Taylor, Walter Hagen and Peter Thomson. Bobby Jones even won the second leg of his Grand Slam at Hoylake in 1930. Those are the sort of names that ring out through history.