Ranking the Top Five Courses in British Open History

By Matt Coles | Jul 17, 2019

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /

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SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 21: Bryson Dechambeau of the United States hits his tee shot on the 1st hole during the second round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 21, 2017 in Southport, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

#5 – Royal Birkdale

ProGolfNow’s fifth-best golf course on the British Open’s rotation is Royal Birkdale, an absolute gem on the North West coast of England.

It has hosted the tournament ten times in its history, with its most recent edition just a couple of years ago, as Jordan Spieth took victory in 2017.

In that very tournament, South Africa’s Branden Grace became the first man to ever shoot a 62 in major championship history.

The likes of Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Mark O’Meara and Padraig Harrington have won around the links of Birkdale, while Dame Laura Davies won the Women’s British Open when it was held there in 1986.

The course also played host to both the 1965 and 1969 Ryder Cups, just a couple of years after King George VI bestowed the royal charter on the club, with the 1969 Ryder Cup seeing ‘The Concession’ from Jack Nicklaus to Tony Jacklin.

There are some stunning holes on the Birkdale links, particularly on the back nine. The par-3 12th sees golfers having to play over a deep hollow to a narrow green.

The par-5 17th is the course’s longest hole, measuring nearly 570 yards, and is then followed by a fearsome par-4 18th, which is over 470 yards in length. A daunting finish that could ruin a decent round.

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