January 23, 2004

By: Wayne Guest
Website: http://www.1st-in-golf.com

The Open Championship returns to Royal Liverpool

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has announced that Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host the 2006 Open Championship from 20th to 23rd July.

The Open was last played at Hoylake in 1967 when Roberto de Vicenzo of Argentina won his first and only major title.

In the years since that historic championship, the demands of the Open in terms of  infrastructure, space and traffic management ruled Royal Liverpool out as an Open venue. Now, however, with plans in place as a result of the three-way agreement  signed by The Royal and Ancient Golf Club, Royal Liverpool Golf Club and the  Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, the Open will make a welcome and long-overdue  return after a break of 39 years.

The agreement covers areas of mutual responsibility and obligation and sets out the major criteria of accessibility, travel, accommodation, traffic, car parking, spectator  access and infrastructure. One essential catalyst in the return to Wirral was the  purchase by the club of 10 acres of land adjacent to the course plus the commitment  to build a new practice ground close to Meols Drive on the municipal course owned by Wirral Council.

Peter Dawson, Secretary of the R&A said: "Royal Liverpool is a club with a long and  distinguished history and we are delighted that we are now able to bring the Open  back to this wonderful course at Hoylake.  Many people have contributed to the agreements that underpin today's  announcement and it is right that Royal Liverpool, which is justly regarded as one of  Britain's outstanding links, will again be put to the test by the world's top golfers.  I thank all concerned for their efforts and anticipate an outstanding championship at  Hoylake in four years time."

The Captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Joe Pinnington, stated: "We are delighted that  the greatest golfing event in the world is to come back to Hoylake. I know that our  Members as well as the local people of Hoylake, West Kirby and Wirral will be proud to  give a very warm welcome to the great golfers of the world, the media and the golfing public in 2006."

Steve Foulkes, Leader of Wirral Council said: "This news simply couldn't be better and  everyone is absolutely delighted. Work has already started, with the R&A and the club  itself, to ensure that the 2006 Open is the first of many successful returns of the Open  Championship to Wirral."

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Author Notes:

Wayne Guest contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-golf.com.  A source of information on golf equipment, golf manufacturers, supplies, tips and more.