BBC SPORT | Golf | Hoylake's happy return



By Matt Slater BBC Sport Online golf editor

For much of the last 39 years, the Wirral's Hoylake golfcourse has shared the fate of its footballing neighbour, Tranmere Rovers.

Like Rovers, Hoylake has grown used to being ignored while bigger rivals hog the limelight.

An Open regular until 1967, Hoylake has missed out on golf's biggest event ever since.

Its crime? Not having room to house the town-sized tented village that accompanies the Open these days.

[The Open] is one of the greatest sports events in the world - this is sensational news for Hoylake

Joe Pinnington
RLGC captain

But the closure in 1985 of a school adjacent to the course opened a window of opportunity for the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake's owners.

The purchase of 10 acres of land from Wirral council finally gave Hoylake room for the Open's travelling circus.

The council's cooperation went further when Royal Liverpool was allowed to redevelop two holes of the nearby municipal course for use as a championship-standard practice ground.

With the issues of space resolved, Royal Liverpool was able to go back to the Open's organisers, the Royal and Ancient, and regain the place on the rota that its historic links course merits.

Hoylake to host 2006 Open

Peter Dawson, secretary of the R&A, said: "Royal Liverpool is a club with a distinguished history. We are delighted to bring the Open back to this wonderful course.

"It is right that these outstanding links will again be put to the test by the world's top golfers."

Hoylake history

1869 Liverpool Golf Club established

1871 Gains Royal designation, course extended

1885 Hosts first Amateur Championship

1897 Hosts first Open

1902 Hosts first home international

1930 Bobby Jones wins Open in Grand Slam year

1967 Hosts last Open, Roberto di Vicenzo wins

Steeped in history, Hoylake is home to a number of firsts.

The first Amateur Championship was played there in 1885, and in 1902 Hoylake was the venue for the first international match - between England and Scotland.

And the first two Englishmen to win the Open were Royal Liverpool members.

Largely unchanged since its creation in 1869, Hoylake is a typical links - formidable when the wind blows, frustrating when it doesn't.

Royal Liverpool captain Joe Pinnington said: "Everyone will struggle when the wind is up.

"But it's not just the wind. Only Carnoustie is longer on the Open rota.

"And it's a very subtle course - the burrows, bunkers and lies. That's what links golf is about."

Ernie Els won the 2002 Open at Muirfield
Pinnington, who is full of praise for the council's role in Hoylake's revival, says the return of the Open to the area will be great boost for the local economy as well as the club.

"It will be marvellous for all the traders, hotels and anybody else that wants to make any money," said Pinnington.

And with Hoylake well served by the M53 motorway, the Royal Liverpool can expect 35,000-40,000 guests a day in July 2006.

But what do the members think of sharing their beautiful course and clubhouse with the visiting hordes - not to mention the "adjustments" that the R&A traditionally makes to its Open venues?

"A golf club wouldn't be a golf club without a few whingers," said Pinnington.

"But the R&A have been terrific - they gave their full backing to the alterations and help with the restoration of the course afterwards.

"So I have been astonished. There hasn't been a whinge. Everybody is so supportive.

"As they should be. It is one of the three or four greatest sports events in the world."


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