Why it matters
Royal Liverpool — universally called Hoylake — is the second-oldest seaside course in England (1869) and has hosted the Open 13 times, including 2023. Its defining feature is the internal out-of-bounds lines that run inside the course itself — a quirk that visitors find startling and that turns a missed tee shot into a stroke-and-distance penalty without leaving the property. The closing stretch from the 16th plays into the prevailing wind and is among the hardest finishes in the Open rota.
How to play it
Walking only. Visitor times bookable directly with the club. Liverpool John Lennon airport (LPL) is 30 minutes; Manchester (MAN) is 60. Pair with Formby (45 minutes north) or Royal Birkdale (30 minutes) for a Merseyside two-course day.