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

Host to The Open Championship on 12 occasions and again this summer, Royal Liverpool or Hoylake is one of the most historic clubs and courses in the country.

Royal Liverpool
A spectacular overhead shot of the 12th at Royal Liverpool
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Key Information

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Row 0 - Cell 0 Row 0 - Cell 1
AddressMeols Drive, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 4AL
Phone Number0151 632 7772
Websitehttps://www.royal-liverpool-golf.com
Emailbookings@royal-liverpool-golf.com
Green Fees£215 - £265
Visitor TimesPhone for information, times limited in 2023 because of Open Championship
Par72
Slope Rating146 (Green), 139 (Yellow), 127 (Black), 153 (Ladies Yellow), 146 (Ladies Black)
Opened1869
Designed byRobert Chambers, George Morris
Golf Monthly Verdict

Royal Liverpool

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

A historic club where classic links holes blend seamlessly with modern design influences. For 2023, significant course enhancements have been undertaken with advice from renowned course architect Martin Ebert. This is a true championship course and always a fabulous Open venue.

REASONS TO PLAY ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB

– Superb piece of links land with expansive skies and rolling terrain

– A great feeling of history to be found on the second oldest English seaside course

– A layout that's always evolving and one that's maintained impeccably

RANKINGS

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 12

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 12 occasions with recent winners Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods demonstrating the quality of golf demanded by this excellent course. The Open returns to Hoylake this July.

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 have been undertaken in preparation for July 2023, with advice from course architect Martin Ebert and overseen by Royal Liverpool’s experienced Course Manager Craig Gilholm. 

Special note should be made of the newly designed par-3 15th (which will play 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. It’s a great addition.There have 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 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. Subtle run-off areas around the greens can cost you shots. It's a great test.

Hoylake

The 11th at Hoylake

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

John Winter UK&I Top 100 panel
John Winter

Hoylake is a fantastic golf course. The routing, like Muirfield, constantly changes so it is not a constant slog into the wind. The wind screams 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. Gentle run offs on many holes convert errant approach shots into difficult up and downs. Ever improving year-on-year.

Nicholas Hercules UK&I Top 100 panel
NIcholas Hercules

An immense challenge for all bar single digit golfers as it’s vital to be hitting into the treacherous green complexes from the right angles to avoid coming in over greenside pot bunkers. Bunkers in general are so well placed. The hidden burrows on greens can make you look foolish with so many easy three putts out there. Course was presented flawlessly when I played.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Location

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Green Fees

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Mar - Sep 2023£265
Oct 2023£215
Mar - Sep 2023 Fourball£1060
Oct 2023 Fourball£860
Mar - Sept 2023 Junior playing with adult£100
Oct 2023 Junior playing with adult£75

Visit the Royal Liverpool website for more information

Best Courses near to Royal Liverpool Golf Club

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<a href="https://www.wallaseygolfclub.com" data-link-merchant="wallaseygolfclub.com"">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.

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/west-lancashire-golf-club-course-review-36096" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">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

Royal Liverpool Golf Club Historical Top 100 Ranking UK&I

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Royal Liverpool?

Visitors are welcome at Royal Liverpool although times this year are limited as the club is playing host to the 151st Open Championship. For more information visit the Royal Liverpool website or phone 0151 632 3101.

Why is Royal Liverpool called Hoylake?

It's quite simple really - It's because Royal Liverpool sits in the seaside town of Hoylake at the north west of the Wirral Peninsula.

How many times has Royal Liverpool hosted the Open Championship?

Royal Liverpool or Hoylake has played host to The Open Championship on 12 occasions, this July will see the 13th. Golf Monthly's first editor Harold Hilton won the first Hoylake Open back in 1897. Walter Hagen, Tiger Woods and (most recently) Rory McIlroy have all been Open winners at Royal Liverpool.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?