1. Founded: Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also known as Hoylake, was founded in 1869 and is one of the oldest golf clubs in England.
2. Location: It is located in Hoylake, a seaside town on the Wirral Peninsula, in northwest England.
3. Host of The Open: The Royal Liverpool Golf Club has hosted The Open Championship 12 times as of 2021, with the first event held in 1897 and the most recent in 2014.
4. First English Open Venue: It was the first English golf club to host The Open Championship.
5. Royal Designation: The club was granted the "Royal" title in 1871 by Queen Victoria, hence its name, Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
6. Designers: The original 18-hole course was designed by Robert Chambers, a local amateur golfer, and George Morris, who was the greenkeeper at St Andrews.
7. Redesigned by Harry Colt: In 1902, the renowned golf course architect Harry Colt made significant modifications to the layout, creating the course we largely see today.
8. Signature Holes: The 7th hole, named "Dun," and the 13th hole, named "Hilbre," are considered two of the signature holes on the course.
9. Bunkers: The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is famous for its deep and strategically placed bunkers that pose challenges to even the best players in the world.
10. Open Champions: Several iconic golfers have won The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, including Bobby Jones (1930), Walter Hagen (1924), and Tiger Woods (2006).
11. Unique Terrain: The course features a mix of links and heathland terrain, making it unique compared to many other Open Championship venues.
12. The Great Triumvirate: Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, and James Braid, collectively known as the "Great Triumvirate," won The Open Championship 16 times between 1894 and 1914, and all three were members of Royal Liverpool.
13. Length: The course is known for its challenging length, especially when the wind is a factor, which is typical of links golf.
14. The Open Trains: To accommodate spectators during The Open Championship, special trains run from Liverpool to Hoylake.
15. Historic Clubhouse: The Royal Liverpool Golf Club's clubhouse is an elegant building that has witnessed many historic moments in golf.
16. Blue Plaque: The clubhouse has a blue plaque dedicated to John Ball, one of the club's most famous members, who won The Open Championship in 1890 and The Amateur Championship a record eight times.
17. World War II Impact: During World War II, the course was used for military purposes, and its condition deteriorated. It took some time to restore it to its former glory after the war.
18. Hoylake Trophy: The club has a prestigious amateur event named the "Hoylake Trophy," which attracts top amateur golfers from around the world.
19. Environmentally Friendly: Royal Liverpool has taken significant steps to become more environmentally friendly by installing solar panels and using innovative greenkeeping practices.
20. St. Andrews Connection: Hoylake and St Andrews share a unique connection as they are the only two venues to have hosted The Open Championship in both the 19th and 20th centuries.
For inquiries, email secretary@parowgolfclub.co.za
