Royal Birkdale is a championship course par excellence. It provides a most formidable, yet always fair, test of links golf and fully deserves the accolade of recognition as a venue for the one of the world's golf classics, The Open.

The test it provides is a complete one. It tries the golfer's skill, character, nerve and intellect. Along with Muirfeld it is justly regarded as the fairest of all the British Championship links courses. It is modern and progressive without betraying the game's heritage. If ever the Open were to be given a permanent venue, Royal Birkdale would have a widely-accepted claim.

Birkdale exploded onto the championship scene in 1946 with the Amateur Championship and celebrated its centenary in 1989. Since then it has staged numerous championships and international matches for the best amateur and professional, men and women golfers, including the bi-annual matches between teams representing GB&I and America; the Curtis Cup; the Walker Cup and the Ryder Cup. Above all though, Royal Birkdale is an established venue for the Open Championship.

Each hole runs in the valley between towering sandhills. The problems are clearly stated but if you stray from the fairway, the sandhills, buckthorn and scrub can be punitive. The signature hole at Royal Birkdale is the 17th - a 547-yard par 5. Great accuracy and boldness are required - the twin sand dunes, some 240 yards from the tee, pose a real challenge, even with help from the prevailing wind.

Royal Birkdale can also boast the accolade of being voted number one in the top 100 courses in the British Isles.