None the less I headed out a couple of years ago with about about 2 other people over the whole day. My overriding impression was that they did a stellar job with a lot of flat land, but the course as a result of the topography didn't really have the wow factor of other open venues.
The putting green had stood up well for hours but had to give in at stage, 10 mins prior to my tee off. A hardy 2 souls taking a cautious approach on the great par 4 1st, up there with prestwick with its OB all the way around the right side of the hole that doglegs left to right.
For The Open this will be the third hole, lucky for the pros who get a bit of a loosen up before stepping up to this tee. Ultimately it leaves a great risk, reward par 5 to finish but I was a little disappointed that this would not be the opening hole.
A glorious day in mid summer indeed, This picture from the first tee doesn't really give the claustrophobic feel that you get with club in hand.
The second on the course is classic Open golf. Not a particularly long hole at 370 yards but with well placed bunkers at driving length and an interestingly contoured green. None the less I feel this will be a strong birdie chance. The approach to the second green below.
The 3rd is a very nice par 5 angling to the left gently with 3 right sided bunkers and followed by the strong 200 yard par 3 4th.
One hole I remember very well from the last time the open was here is the par 4 6th ( 8th in the open)
lined up against some houses with a blind tee shot over the gorse, it is certainly one of the most intimidating tee shots there in my book, though there is only one fairway bunker on the right to be avoided.
The front 9 then finishes with a very strong par 5th 8th where you miss the green left at your peril and possibly my favourite hole the 9th 'punchbowl'. only 390 from the tips but a very undulating fairway leads to a sunken green shrouded in mounds of thick rough.. Not the most generous punchbowl green I have ever seen but a lovely golf hole.
The back 9 starts with a sweeping par 4 that again has well positioned bunkers to the right for any overly conservative drives before reaching what is possibly the signature hole. The Par 3 'alps' plays 190 yards to an angled green with normally great views of the Dee estuary to the left hand side.
Highlights later in the round would certainly be the par 5s. The 14th is a sort of double dog leg with bunkers in play to the left off the tee and horrendous rough to the right, The fairway tapers later on to a really tight landing zone if you want to hit the green in two.
Below the bunkers at driving length with clubhouse in the distance.. Weather still miserable.
The 16th hole and the 18th for the open is another great par 5 which will undoubtedly offer high drama over the weekend. 560 yards from the back, like much of the course it is all flat but bounded almost entirely down the right with internal OB that simply has to be negotiated if going for the green.
Almost in the league of St Georges "Suez Canal'' though not quite as great in my book. The right hand greenside bunkers are shown below.
The next two will be encountered first by the Pros and are strong par 4s with highly penal rough when I played. I'm note sure how it will be looking in a few weeks but it should provide a stern test for the worlds best.
Of the open courses I have played, I would place Royal liverpool on the lower rankings. Close run with Troon I would say. They have not been blessed with amazing land but have made a very strong course full of memorable holes. and the drainage on that day was amazing! I will need to return one day when the weather is a tad more forgiving!
