Royal Birkdale Golf Club

If there was no Muirfield, this would be my #1 course in the world. It's a links lover's course with the holes framed by the sandhills along the coast. It's about an hour north of Liverpool, England, and was designed by Frederic George Hawtree, and plays to 6,700 yards. Mostly fattish fairways, without blind shots, and is more straightforward than most links courses. The layout twists and turns, and so does the wind, requiring constant calculation, in fact that may be one of Birkdale's virtues, it keeps you engaged throughout. You will be rewarded if you hit the ball straight here, the fairways are somewhat narrow, and the rough was high when we played. It has hosted 9 Opens, with Peter Thomson (twice), Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O'Meara, and Padraig Harrington. It has also hosted two Ryder Cups, the US won the first in 1969, and the second was the "Concession" where Nicklaus conceded the putt to Jacklin. Great, ultra modern clubhouse from the outside, but inside warm and welcoming.