Club Information
Club Opened:	1889
Handicap Required:	Yes
Buggy Hire:	No
Club Hire:	Yes
Driving Range:	Yes

The Club

On 30th July 1889, nine gentlemen met at the home of Mr. J. C. Barrett and it was here that they took the unanimous decision to form themselves into a Club, to be called the Birkdale Golf Club. The founder members at the first meeting were Messrs. George Crowther, R.L. Worsley, Digby Johnson, John Coney, R.G. Hayward, W.M. Simpson, B.R. Simpson and W. W. P. Shatwell. The somewhat daunting task that they set out to achieve, was "to make all necessary arrangements and incur all necessary expense as to preparing the course and greens, hiring a professional and providing suitable accommodation for a Club House etc."

On the 23rd December 1889 the members of the club voted unanimously in favour of allowing ladies to use the links, "on and not exceeding three days each week, but not on a Saturday or Bank Holiday." 

The original 9 hole course was on Shaw Hills, behind Bedford Road to the south of East Ward. In 1897 the Club moved to the Birkdale Hills where an 18 hole course was constructed and still stands today.

One of Britain's finest golf clubs and host to two Ryder Cups, the Walker and Curtis Cups, the Women's British Open and the Open Championship on eight occasions. Royal Birkdale has been voted the No 1 course in Britain, and is among the best in the world.