Part 1 of Behind the Architectural Curtain – Royal Birkdale Golf Club
The words “difficult” and “fair” are often applied to Royal Birkdale. From an architectural perspective – how challenging is it to have both words apply to a links layout?
Tom Mackenzie: The description is entirely reasonable and if I were playing there for my living, I would feel that it treats most players fairly.
Some mention that the fairways seem unusually flat compared to the tumultuous affairs at Royal St George’s or The Old Course. We knew that trying to recreate those sorts of features at Birkdale would have been inappropriate.
Mike Howard: The use of the word ‘fair’ seems to have become an expletive amongst some in the design world. Some prefer Royal St’ Georges and its large, unpredictable shapes. I learn something every time I go to places like that but there is something about the predictability of Birkdale that is refreshing in the links golf world.
For Birkdale it is simple, hit good shots and you’ll likely make a good score. Wayward shots get punished proportionally. That is not so difficult to implement when done with enough thought.
The involvement of “quirk” is often an element in links courses with odd bounces and various stances mandating player adjustment as needed. The criticism of Royal Birkdale is that it has far less of those characteristics. Comments?
Mike Howard: I love quirk just as much as the next links golf enthusiast. My previous life as a competitive golfer didn’t enjoy it as much, or I didn’t learn to appreciate it as my focus was on scoring as well as possible. I think that shows the contrast.
I would add that some of the shots at Royal St. George’s — just one example — encourage more shots in the air than you realize in order to avoid those odd bounces you mention.
Birkdale encourages more running approaches into greens, a key characteristic of good links golf. If every course was the same, golf would be boring. Variety of styles within links golf is good for the game.
Tom Mackenzie: I do enjoy the quirky nature of many of our great links as an amateur golfer out to have fun. If bad bounces lost me a major or two then that would soon wear thin.
Royal Birkdale was designed as a championship venue, and it delivers superbly in that regard and is a real favorite with many amateurs as well. Its ranking in England consistently has it close to the top so it is doing okay with its “flat” fairways. Links golf is a broad church.
What was the thinking behind the par-3 7th design?
Tom Mackenzie: One of the objectives was to create a set of par-3s that offered a more varied test in terms of length, direction and challenge. With the 7th, we opted to use a high tee that has a wonderful view out over the sea and across the course.
It reduced the hole to a measured length of 151 yards, but it will play below 150 yards for a few days during the tournament. If the prevailing wind blows then it will be from the right and into, so it will be hard to judge shots with a lofted Club – most pros will be using one of their many wedges! We can’t wait to see how it plays.
Mike Howard: The main members tee has always been located to right side of the 6th green and presented the best view of the course and, perhaps, the most interesting par-3. It never made sense to walk so far back and left to play from a low tee with a poor view at a length that was so similar to the others.
It was a big project to create enough teeing area on top of the dune to the right but it was definitely worth it to get all golfers playing from there. For the world’s best, a lofted club from an elevated tee with a cross-wind will be a fascinating test.
Raising the green was enforced due to water-table issues but has allowed for a green that is more testing for the short approach shot.
At Royal Birkdale the old 14th was removed and a new 15th created. Explain why?
Tom Mackenzie: The challenge is not to make the course even harder for the average member at the same time that we toughen it up for the world’s elite. Our work reduced the number of bunkers which opened up landing areas for the shortest players to keep them in the hole.
Some were added much further on to tighten landing areas for the longest drivers from the back tees. Around the greens, much greater variety has been introduced with extensive closely mown areas which encourage players to try different recovery shots.
Less confident players find these areas easier to play from as they only really want to find the green and two putt. They are much tougher for the best players who need to get up and down, faced with tight lies and often awkward angles of slopes to negotiate accurately.
Mike Howard: The similarity of the par-3 length and direction had long been a criticism of the layout since the routing was changed in the 1960s when the par-3 12th was introduced to replace the original par-3 17th.
During the feasibility process, it became apparent that the space around the original 15th allowed the opportunity to create space for a new par-3 playing back towards the clubhouse in a direction completely different to the others. Playing downwind, the approach is shaped to encourage running shots, something which does not feature on the 4th, 7th and 12th holes which require approaches to carry on to the putting surface.
What will the 2026 Open be like for spectators compared to 2017?
Mike Howard: The adjustments to the 5th and 7th should mean easier viewing and more exciting shots being played.
The amphitheaters of the 14th, 15th and 16th holes should be electric on the weekend given their proximity and the dunes lining those holes. Also, a more demanding 18th should provide more interest for the finish.
Tom Mackenzie: The creation of the new 15th with the substantial dune ridge along its left will offer a superb vantage point for viewing. The new par-3 meant that old 14th is dropped out so the flow of people is greatly improved through that area, which in turn freed up the possibility of having the main spectator village on the Club’s practice ground. That will be a great hub for everyone with easy access to many of the holes around the course.
We were also able to work closely with The R&A to connect up what were formerly dead ends in spectating terms, such as being able to walk all the way up the right of the 6th to the 7th tees and back to the spectator village. The 17th green will have a bank of spectators on the left – that was previously limited by the 18th tee which was perched above the 17th green.
All in all, it will be a greatly improved spectator venue, and it is projected that there will be in excess of 300,000 people attending throughout the week.
Is there any specific type of player you see as having a better likelihood of success at this year’s Open?
Tom Mackenzie: It is always unwise predicting the weather in the north-west of England, but we know that the rough is thick and we are currently having a spell of prolonged dry and sunny weather so it is likely to be hard and fast. All of those add up to someone with great control over the ball and not necessarily the longest players.
Look at Brian Harman and Aaron Rai succeeding on long tough courses when they are amongst the shortest out there. Patient players will succeed.
Mike Howard: The bomb and gauge style, theoretically, shouldn’t work at Birkdale. Jordon Spieth talked after his win in 2017 about how he had planned out his rounds with caddie Michael Grellar, particularly off the tee.
Someone thoughtful and in control of their ball should prevail. Given the lack of major shapes on the greens, expect to see someone with a hot putter hole some long putts to maybe separate themselves from the rest, just as Spieth did in 2017 on the 15th hole.
How is success in what was done at Royal Birkdale measured?
Mike Howard: The member reception is the absolute key as that is who the work was for. We are not naïve in the fact that one of the world’s biggest events is coming to the course.
It brings more eyes to the course and perhaps more criticism, but the course belongs to the members and they are the key.
On the whole, the feedback is good. You can never please everyone, but the initial positive comments are pleasing to hear.
Tom Mackenzie: The work has been well received by the members which was a high priority. They are the ones who play 52 weeks of the year most years after all.
What aspect of Royal Birkdale do you enjoy the most?
Mike Howard: I love the rhythm of the round at Birkdale, and I don’t think it gets spoken about enough. The movement of the clubhouse in 1932 resulted in the change of routing and the 1st hole in its current form. It is probably the most unappealing opening tee shot you can find, especially for a right-hander in a prevailing wind.
The 2nd is equally as tough. The 5th hole onwards offers a slightly easier test for the front 9 (members play the 6th as a par-5 so that offers an opportunity but not for The Open when it is a brutal par-4. Then the 10th-13th is a case of holding on to what you might have before the final 5 holes which contain 2 par-5s in The Open — 3 for members with the 18th as a par-5 — and the short par-4 16th.
Both nines are a matter of survive the openers and then try to make up some shots on the way back. Psychologically, having those slightly easier holes later on always gives this light in your mind that you may pick up some shots late on and to not give up on a round too early.
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The Participants
Tom Mackenzie
Lead Designer on Royal Birkdale project
Director of Mackenzie & Ebert.
Has been a golf course architect since 1989 and founded Mackenzie & Ebert with Martin Ebert in 2005. He works on many of the classic courses around the world, including the Royal Birkdale project and the full reconstruction of New South Wales in Sydney two years ago.
The practice also designs new courses that put to great use this in depth understanding of the greatest heritage courses which sit so comfortably in their settings.
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Mike Howard
Senior Design Associate
Mackenzie & Ebert
Has been working for Tom Mackenzie & Martin Ebert since July 2016 following the completion of a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from The University Of Edinburgh.
Prior to this, he played golf to a competitive level, being part of the golf scholarship program at The University of Striling whilst completing an undergraduate degree in Environmental Geography.
Mike has been a member at Royal Birkdale since the age of 13 and has competed in tournaments around the world, making the decision in 2014 to pursue a career in golf course architecture.
Since then, he has been intimately involved in many projects for Mackenzie & Ebert, including Princes, The Berkshire, Lima (Peru), Hillside and Royal Birkdale.
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Related: Seve & the summer of ‘76
M. James Ward
A long-time member of both the GWAA and MGWA. The 68-year-old has covered all facets in golf since 1980 — including reporting on over 100 major championships and 13 Ryder Cup matches. His writings have appeared in various outlets. On a personal level, has played over 2,000 courses globally and is lead reviewer for Top 100 Golf Courses.
Previously served for 17 years as national course rating panelist for Golf Digest. Has also personally competed in USGA Championships. Resides in the metro New York City area with his wife Celeste. Favorite quote paraphrased for golf — “You are what your golf score says you are.”