​SOUTHPORT, England — A hole-by-hole look at Royal Birkdale, the venue for the 154th British Open scheduled for July 16-19, reveals a course that tests golfers at every turn. The opening hole among the Open’s most demanding starts with a tee shot required to find a fairway that bends to the left. The strategy hinges on how close you can position your drive to the left-hand fairway bunker, which affords the best view of the green and the most favorable angle of attack. Wind tends to blow from left to right, and there is out-of-bounds along the right side. The front of the green is guarded by two pot bunkers on either side, setting a stern opening challenge.
Two bunkers sit on the right side of the fairway at nearly 300 yards from the tee, while a pronounced mound dominates the left side between the 250- and 290-yard marks. The hole plays into the prevailing wind, and the green is protected by six bunkers along with rough-covered banks, making the approach treacherous. A tee built into the dunes turns this hole into a slight dogleg to the right, and additional left-side bunkers at a little over 300 yards create a partially blind tee shot that tests accuracy and nerve. The optimal play keeps the tee shot on the left side of the fairway to open up the best line into a green that is guarded by four pot bunkers.
The par-3 is made even more demanding by a right-to-left prevailing wind and a green that extends some 40 yards in depth. The green no longer has a front bunker, so shots can run up to the green, yet there are three bunkers to the left and one to the right. Mounds to the right will kick errant shots away from the target, complicating saves from trouble and heightening the importance of precision. The hole has been redesigned to no longer be a blind tee shot, inviting players, depending on the wind, to attempt driving the green. A pond sits to the right—a rare sight in links golf—and it was present in 2017 but was then hidden by shrubs. The green is surrounded by seven bunkers, and going long can spell trouble.
The 154th Open headlines this year’s major lineup at Royal Birkdale. For those following the week, coverage details include live broadcast options and streaming availability on Golf Channel. The emphasis will be on how this course measures the field, with media day previews highlighting a blend of tradition and updated challenges that keep players mindful of wind, firm fairways, and treacherous greens.
The signature hole on the front side has long been considered the strongest in the 2017 rotation. It features two pot bunkers on the right at the dogleg and one on the left should any drive stray from the fairway. The tee shot must remain between these hazards, setting up a long approach to an elevated, undulating green that is framed by surrounding dunes. The par-3 greens at Royal Birkdale include the shortest of the layout, which has been slightly raised to create steep slopes toward several of the deepest bunkers. The famed “doughnut” bunker—with a circular patch of grass in the middle—remains a defining feature around this hole.
Typically, this hole plays downwind, with a bunker on the left and three more on the right. The tee shot must thread a path between them, and two deep pot bunkers guard a large, difficult-to-read green. Another notable feature is a hole that presents a blind tee shot, a rarity for this links layout, paired with a dogleg to the right. Interestingly, there are no fairway bunkers on this hole, underscoring the emphasis on accuracy and strategic Shot-making required to conquer Royal Birkdale during the Open.