Changes to Royal Liverpool since the Amateur Championship of 2000 have resulted in a modest increase in length of 122 yards, to 7258 yards for The Open Championship to be played from 20-23 July 2006.
Of more significance is the renumbering of holes so that the present 17th hole will be played as the first and consequently the par-five 16th as the new 18th.
"We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole," said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.
"The 18th measuring 560 yards will present a birdie opportunity, but as a left to right dog-leg with out of bounds ever present on the right, will also be a hole for potential disaster.
"Before knowing that The Open would be returning there, Royal Liverpool had foresight in exercising a strategic review of the entire course aimed at improving the flow from green to tee while also tightening up tee-shots, bunkering and green surrounds. The changes to Hoylake have worked very well."
Royal Liverpool measured 6995 yards when Roberto de Vicenzo won The Open there in 1967.
Major Changes (New Hole Numbering)
1. 454 (+33) New Green moved away from road to relocate further back.
2. 436 (+19) New back tee constructed after previous green relocated.
4. 372 (-22) Green moved back and Championship tee slightly shortened.
6. 202 (+8) Tee adjusted for more challenging angle to green.
12. 448 (+35) New Championship tee.
Card of the Course
Hole
Yards
Par
Hole
Yards
Par
1
454
4
10
534
5
2
436
4
11
393
4
3
429
4
12
448
4
4
372
4
13
198
3
5
528
5
14
456
4
6
202
3
15
161
3
7
453
4
16
554
5
8
423
4
17
459
4
9
198
3
18
560
5
OUT
3495
35
IN
3763
37
OUT
3495
35
TOTAL
7258
72
Changes to Royal Liverpool Since 1967 – New Hole Numbering:
Pre 1993
New championship tee at 18th to add 20 yards
1993
Removal of ‘out of bounds’ cop at 9th (The Dowie) with reconstruction of the approach and surrounds. The original green was retained but new swales and bunkering were added around the green, the cop was removed and a low lying water hazard created short and left which provided the spoil for low dunes to the right side of the hole. A Cameron Sinclair design.
1998
Reshaping of 10th Tees with protective low mounds and re-alignment of fairway to the right by about 15 yards to improve the safety of adjacent properties from an errant drive. Cameron Sinclair
2000/2001
After a strategic review of the whole course by Donald Steel to reflect technological advances in clubs and balls, the following changes took place:
1st – for public safety reasons, new green constructed away from Stanley Road and further back by 40 yards; fairway adjusted to give right to left strategy for playing the hole with new bunkers at drive length on RHS ; new bunkering and swales greenside
2nd – new green angled more to left with associated bunkering and swales; new bunkering at drive length both left and right; new tees
4th – repositioning of tee to improve separation from 1st green; introduction of new bunkers left side at drive length and adjacent to the green for better green protection
5th – repositioning of tee to improve separation from 2nd green; repositioned bunkers to right side of fairway at drive length and new bunker on inside of dogleg to further complicate the drive; construction of a new green 40 yards further back and associated bunkering
6th – repositioning of championship tee (10 yards left and 10 yards back)
7th – Introduction of two new bunkers at drive length on right hand side inside of dogleg; creation of more swales around green
8th – introduction of new bunker on RHS at drive length; small extension to green left side to provide more potential pin positions
13th – new, additional higher tees preserving same length
14th – repositioning of drive length bunkers LHS on inside of dogleg in echelon to complicate the attempted carry; bunkers on RHS repositioned at greater length
15th – new, additional higher tees preserving same length
16th – removal of cluster of pot bunkers LHS short of green which were replaced by two larger, more typical revetted bunkers; tighter bunkering at greenside
17th – repositioning of bunkers left and right at drive length
18th – rebuild of greenside bunkers to narrow the entrance to the green on this par 5
2004/2005
Subsequently and specifically for The Open 2006, new championship tees were installed at 1st, 2nd and 12th to give greater length.
Contact:
Stewart McDougall
Press Officer
The Open Championship
112 Cornwall Street South
Glasgow
G41 1AA
Tel: (44) 141 427 5344
Fax: (44) 141 427 2168
Email: stewart.mcdougall@btclick.com
