In our 3rd episode from our ‘Story of a Golf Club’ series we head to Royal Liverpool Golf Club (Hoylake), taking in the incredibly rich history and understanding about how the course has evolved over the years. Established in 1869, the course was founded on the same ground also used as a horse racing track, and the internal out of bounds that sits on the right side of the 1st and 16th stands as a monument to its equine ancestry, in addition to a number of other more subtle features through the club and its clubhouse.
A number of things strike you when you spend time at Hoylake. Firstly, its proud history with The Open, having held 12 championships throughout its history, has invariably produced the strongest champion golfer of its generation. Past winners like Harold Hilton, Bobby Jones, Peter Thompson, Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy have all lifted the claret jug on these famous shoes of North West England. That same feeling transcends the club golf played at Hoylake, with an ethos on strong amateur golf, competitiveness and a warm and friendly club atmosphere whenever you set foot on the premises. Despite a rich history, and a club with enormous amounts of prestige attached to it, the club is incredibly welcoming. The pineapples that sit on the putting green, and were previously part of the winners circle in its racecourse days are there to represent the clubs hospitality and this is a key part of the clubs ethos today.
A few significant moments have helped shape the history of Royal Liverpool. John Ball is adored by the members, the first golfer to win both the Open and Amateur titles in the same year in 1890, and only Bobby Jones would go on the replicate that same feat 40 years later. He lived over the other side of 18, and his family were instrumental part in the development of the course. His medals are still on display in the hallways of the clubhouse, and quite rightly, the club are extremely proud of his achievements.
Harold Hilton is another famous name, having won 7 major championships throughout his career despite never turning professional. He won his second major title at Hoylake in 1897, and again only Jones would go on to eclipse is truly incredible Amateur golfing career.
More recently Matthew Jordan who now begins his professional career in golf, no doubt looking to replicate the successes of its earlier members.
Hoylake has also been associated with an endless number of firsts throughout its history. 1st to stage an international match, first time the US an GB played each other at a sporting fixture, 1st amateur championship, the initial prototype for the Walker Cup, the first time someone won an Open using the Haskell Ball. It’s no coincidence that Royal Liverpool has achieved all of this, as a trailblazer in the game, and equally prepared to make bold and brave decisions to keep up with the times.
Bobby Jones’ win in 1930, as part of his eventual Grand Slam is yet another piece of monumental history, and his picture hangs proudly above the staircase as you head upstairs in the clubhouse. Hoylake was interestingly the first time Bobby Jones played golf in England, as well as the last, and was given honorary membership to the club in the same month as another famous name from round the corners at Wallasey, Dr Frank Stableford, who saved the club golfer with the introduction of his points based scoring system.
Some of the boldest changes at Hoylake are the recent changes to the par 3 13th. The hole has been completely reversed, with a new elevated green site with the hole now playing as it’s 15th (17th in The Open). Visually intimidating off the tee, with waste areas short of the green, and swales and run offs surrounding it make this a brutally tough test of skill and precision.
All of this means Hoylake has a bright and promising future, like its club motto – Far & Sure….
