A short history of The Golf Open
This is the ninth year that The Open has visited Royal Birkdale, the first time being back in 1954. The venue has proved to be very popular and only St Andrews has hosted the event more often.
Royal Birkdale Club was founded in 1889 although since then the layout has seen some changes. The current design was created in 1922 by Fred Hawtree, course architect, and by J H Taylor, who won The Open five times himself.
At that time, links courses often required players to hit up and over the sand dunes, which often lead to the creation of blind shots. Royal Birkdale preferred a routing that allowed the holes to follow the valleys between the dunes.
Flatter lies on the fairways gave rise to the club’s reputation for fairness. It also creates the impression of seclusion and of course, leaves the dunes free to be great vantage points for spectators.
The Open has grown from the first event in Prestwick in 1860, with just eight golfers playing for the title over three rounds of a 12 hole course to the sensational modern context it is today attracting golf’s finest players.
The Claret Jug – formally known as The Golf Championship Trophy – is presented to the winner of The Open each year. Originally the prize was actually the ‘Challenge Belt’, made of Morocco leather and embellished with a silver buckle and emblems.
Changes to the course this year include all but two holes, with focus on tightening rather than lengthening. Twenty new bunkers have been added (16 fairway and four greenside) plus significant mounding to seven of the greens, making for a greater variety of recovery shots.
New strategic options have also been introduced to the lines of five holes: 3, 9, 11, 16 and 17.
This year’s championship will welcome renowned player Tom Watson, five times winner of the Claret Jug, who comes to Royal Birkdale for the 32nd time to play in this event.
Watson first played in the 1975 event at Carnoustie where he won the championship at his first attempt – a coup that only ten men have ever accomplished.
Please contact Alexander Events now for details of tickets and hospitality packages at this years’ must-see event.
