Royal Birkdale Hole‑by‑Hole Guide for the 154th Open

The 154th British Open tees off July 16‑19 at Royal Birkdale, a course renowned for brutal winds and deep bunkers. This layout mixes classic links challenges with recent redesigns that will test every top‑tier player. Headlines focus on storylines such as Bryson DeChambeau seeking his first major cut of the season and Brooks Koepka aiming to improve on a T‑6 finish from 2017.

Hole 1 – 447 Yards, Par 4

This opening hole is one of the toughest on the Open rotation. The fairway bends left, and positioning the drive near the left bunker offers a clearer view of the green. A left‑to‑right wind dominates, with out‑of‑bounds on the right and two pot bunkers guarding the front. Players must also contend with mounding that can affect the angle of approach.

Hole 2 – 419 Yards, Par 4

Two bunkers sit near 300 yards on the right side of the fairway, while severe mounding dominates the left between 250 and 290 yards. The hole plays into the prevailing wind, and the green is encircled by six bunkers and rough‑covered banks. A wayward tee shot can quickly become a recovery challenge.

Hole 3 – 450 Yards, Par 4

A dune‑cladded tee creates a subtle dogleg right, and left‑side bunkers just beyond 300 yards make the tee shot partially blind. Staying on the left side of the fairway sets up the best approach to a green protected by four pot bunkers. The combination of visibility issues and bunker placement raises the difficulty factor early.

Hole 4 – 219 Yards, Par 3

This par‑three plays with a right‑to‑left wind, and the green runs about 40 yards deep with no front bunker. However, three bunkers sit left of the green and one on the right, while mounds on the right side punish miss‑hits. Even a modest miss can send the ball rolling away from the putting surface.

Hole 5 – 321 Yards, Par 4

Redesigned to eliminate the blind tee shot, this hole now tempts players to attack the green depending on wind conditions. A pond appears on the right, an unusual feature for links golf, and the green is surrounded by seven bunkers. A drive that overruns the fairway can quickly become a hazard.

Hole 6 – 514 Yards, Par 4

The signature hole on the front side was the toughest hold in 2017. Two pot bunkers sit on the right at the dogleg, with an additional left bunker for drives that cut through the fairway. Players must thread the drive between these bunkers to set up a long, elevated approach to a contoured green framed by dunes.

Hole 7 – 151 Yards, Par 3

This is the shortest par‑three at Royal Birkdale, and the green has been raised to create steep slopes into deep bunkers. The famous “doughnut” bunker remains a focal point. Its elevated nature makes even a well‑struck shot challenging to land on the winning line.

Hole 8 – 459 Yards, Par 4

Typically played downwind, this hole features a bunker on the left and three on the right that the drive must clear. Two deep pot bunkers guard a large, hard‑to‑read green. The tight fairway demands precise placement to avoid trouble on the second shot.

Hole 9 – 414 Yards, Par 4

A rare blind tee shot for a links course, this hole doglegs right with no fairway bunkers, tempting players to cut the corner. Extensive mounds on the right side penalize anything less than perfect contact. The elevated green includes a bunker at front right, set into a hill that adds another layer of difficulty.

Hole 10 – 397 Yards, Par 4

Four bunkers line the hole, which bends leftward, and two additional bunkers sit among the dunes on the right. The layout forces players to aim left of center to avoid the cluster of hazards. Even a modest mis‑placement can lead to a steep recovery.

Hole 11 – 434 Yards, Par 4

This hole generally plays into the wind, and the tee shot must avoid four bunkers placed between 280 and 350 yards. The green is long and angled, offering a variety of challenging hole locations that require careful club selection. Wind can dramatically alter the effective distance to the putting surface.

Hole 12 – 186 Yards, Par 3

Set amid deep dunes, this par‑three is remembered as one of the British Open’s most memorable short holes. Two front bunkers protect the green, and the surrounding terrain offers little margin for error. A gust can easily push a ball off the green into a deep position.

Hole 13 – 502 Yards, Par 4

Five fairway bunkers make this hole tricky in any wind direction, though it is slightly easier when the wind is at the players’ backs. A long iron is typically required for the second shot to a green framed by dunes and three front bunkers. Jordan Spieth famously took an unplayable penalty from the driving range here on his way to victory in 2017.

Hole 14 – 602 Yards, Par 5

Formerly played as hole 15, this is the longest wait for a par‑five on any Open course. Bunkers flank both sides of the fairway, but a solid drive can bypass a second cluster of hazards. Two front bunkers guard the green, and the hole carries a total of 12 bunkers across its length.

Hole 15 – 241 Yards, Par 3

An entirely new par‑three, this is the longest of its kind at Royal Birkdale. It normally plays downwind to a large green with a narrow entrance that makes the surface appear smaller than it is. The green slopes from front to back, and a front pin placement comes with two entrance bunkers that amplify the challenge.

Hole 16 – 393 Yards, Par 4

The strength of this hole lies in the prevailing wind that sweeps across the native‑grass fairway. Runoff areas exist on both sides and behind the green, making straightness essential. Two bunkers sit on the right side of the green, adding risk to any approach that lands on the wrong side.

Hole 17 – 566 Yards, Par 5

The tee shot sits between two large dunes and must avoid two bunkers on the right. After the turn, the hole bends left to a narrow green featuring two tiers and extreme undulations rarely seen on links courses. The complex green surface forces players to consider elevation and roll when deciding club selection.

Hole 18 – 508 Yards, Par 4

Originally a left‑to‑right hole, the tee box has moved left, turning this into a straight layout. Six bunkers line both sides of the fairway, and the green sits below the iconic clubhouse, guarded by three bunkers at its narrow entrance. The redesign gives players a clear view of the hazards they must navigate.

The 154th Open will test every facet of a player’s game, from precise driving through the front‑nine bunkers to navigating the uniquely contoured greens on the back nine. As DeChambeau, Koepka, Spieth and a host of other contenders line up, the course’s wind‑exposed fairways and hidden pot bunkers promise another memorable major at Royal Birkdale.