I played much-changed Birkdale and new-look Lytham and here's what I learned

Significant changes, including a brand-new hole, have been made at Royal Birkdale since the Southport venue last hosted The Open in 2017, when Jordan Spieth took the longest time to hit a shot in the event’s history after knocking his drive on to the practice range at the 13th before going on to claim the Claret Jug.

Though not on the same level, tweaks have also been carried out at Royal Lytham & St Annes, where, following an announcement this week, the 156th Open will be held in 2028 but, before then, the Fylde links will be in the spotlight as the AIG Women’s Open returns there for the first time since 2018.

In the build up to an exciting double-header in the space of just three weeks this summer on what is known as the North West Golf Coast, The Scotsman got to see the changes to both courses by playing them on back-to-back-days at media events for The Open and AIG Women’s Open.

Here’s what Golf Correspondent Martin Dempster had to say about two courses that he’s played on more than one occasion in the past and, as a result, has always been a big fan of both Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham.

Tee changes galore at Birkdale

Work has been carried out on no less than nine championship tees - the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 14th and 17th - while new ones have also been created on four holes - 4th, 6th, 7th and 18th. The alterations have led to the maximum yardage becoming 7,223 yards - an increase of 67 yards from nine years’ ago. The par-4 4th is 20 yards longer while 35 yards have been added to the 18th. At the same time, three holes - the 5th, 7th and 16th - are now shorter than 2017.

New 5th hole at Birkdale on old footprint

On a course where just about every hole is visually stunning from the tee, this also now applies to the par-4 5th due to it having been earmarked for the first of the significant changes since 2017. A big bunker immediately catches one’s eye up the left side of the fairway, which is flanked on the other side by a waste area that sits in front of a small water hazard. While the overall total of bunkers on the course has been reduced from 127 to 108, a slightly-raised green is protected by six bunkers and you definitely can’t be fooled by the fact it’s now only 321 yards instead of 346 yards. All in all, a cracking hole.

Big bridge walk at Birkdale

Once players come off the 13th green, they will use a temporary bridge to get to the 14th. That’s because the par-3 14th, where Spieth lipped out with a 6-iron in the final round after he’d lost the lead to Matt Kuchar at the previous hole, has been dropped from the layout and is now only used for short-game practice. The 14th hole is now what used to be the 15th, though it’s another hole that has been redone on the old footprint. With bunkers and mounding now up the left side of the fairway, it visually looks a better hole but, as the Birkdale members have apparently made known, it’s a bit of a slog at 602 yards. It also looks a bit like a bowling alley due to the fact it’s so straight, unlike most other holes on the course.

New par 3 on Birkdale back nine

The 15th is a brand-new hole and can stretch to 241 yards. It would have the Birkdale clubhouse as a stunning backdrop if it wasn’t for a hospitality unit being built as part of The Open infrastructure. It’s not got a ‘wow’ factor from the tee, but wait until you get up to the green. It’s long and narrow and has steep drop-offs on either side, with the one on the right being pretty wide as well. A Claret Jug could well be either won or lost here in the final round.

Lytham looking a lot different

Some trees have been taken out around the course, with the biggest difference as a result of that being the fact there is no longer a clump of trees down the left side of the par-5 seventh and the right side of the par-5 11th. Both holes now look much better as a result of that decision.

Changes to 11th hole at Lytham

This has happened due to a new driving range being created on ground on the right side of this hole, though it is understood that the old one will be in use for the AIG Women’s Open. That has led to the 11th becoming a straighter hole than it used to be, with a back tee there being no less than 140 yards behind the back one for members.

Bring a bucket and spade to Lytham

Catriona Matthew reckons it is “one of the best-bunkered courses” used by The R&A for events and there are a total of 174 waiting to gobble up golf balls. This correspondent only strayed into two - the first a greenside one at the par-3 12th and the other one on the fairway at the 18th - and felt that was something of a triumph. Lots of others reported horror stories, though, on this particular day and there is a particularly deep one at the left of the green at the 8th that should definitely be avoided.

The Scotsman verdict

Though not totally convinced that a new hole was needed at Birkdale, it remains a fabulous test of golf from start to finish while Lytham may look a bit different but don’t be fooled because it still has arguably the sharpest teeth of any venue on The R&A rota.