Member Article

Summer of golf for Liverpool City Region

Liverpool will take centre stage in the golfing world this summer as it stages two Major Championships in consecutive weeks.

For the first time, the region will host both The Open Championship and The Ricoh Women’s British Open – two of the top events in the golf world – in the same season.

Royal Liverpool, Hoylake stages The Open Championship from July 13-20, while the Ricoh Women’s British Open takes place at Royal Birkdale the previous week. It will be the sixth time Birkdale has staged the Women’s Open, while Hoylake saw substantial crowds last time it hosted The Open, in 2006.

The Junior Open, which is held every two years, will be played at nearby West Lancashire Golf Club from 14-16 July and will see an international field of over 100 girls and boys under the age of 16 take part.

Altogether, Hoylake has staged the sport’s oldest Major Championship 11 times, and organisers expect large crowds once again when Phil Mickelson defends his title. “We are looking forward to returning to Royal Liverpool where there have been some wonderful Open Championships over the years,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, The R&A’s Executive Director - Championships.

An independent study estimates the economic benefit of The Open alone at £75m, with 200,000 spectators expected at Hoylake. “Spectators turned out in huge numbers last time we were at Royal Liverpool and we are expecting another wonderful Championship this year,” he added.

Merseyside has the most golf courses per square mile in Britain, with 2.82 per cent of all land given over to golf.

One of those courses – Hillside in Southport – will also have a role to play, with Final Qualifying taking place there on 1 July 2014. Other Final Qualifying venues are Gailes Links in Ayrshire, Woburn Golf Club near Milton Keynes and Royal Cinque Ports in Kent. There are three qualifying places available into the 2014 Open from each event.

The Open continues its tradition of encouraging young spectators, with free entry for under-16s accompanied by an adult.

Tickets and a variety of hospitality packages are available. For more information or to purchase tickets call 01334 460010 or visit TheOpen.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dan Minchin .