England North - Royal Birkdale - 7018 yds - Par 70

The Northwest coast of England from The Wirral to Blackpool boasts so many wonderful courses, that good ones tend to look commonplace. To say that Royal Birkdale stands out in such illustrious company gives a fair indication just what you can expect. In our opinion there is no better expression of links land golf in England.

Although there are high dunes all over the course, the fairways are flat and fair. This is not a quirky course of the style of some of the smaller links courses in England, but a grand, and fair challenge.

Right from the start the course gives an indication of what you can expect. The first hole demands a precisely positioned tee shot and well struck second with a wood or long iron. The second, which invariably plays straight into the wind, is equally difficult, normally requiring another long shot into a green as heavily defended as a Roman fortress.