Royal Birkdale Golf Club was founded on July 30, 1889, when nine members formed themselves into the Birkdale Golf Club. The original 9 hole course opened for play in October 1889 and was found in the Shaw Hills behind Bedford Road near Bedford Park. In 1894, it was decided to move the links to the Birkdale Hills. By 1897, the club moved to its present location where 18 holes were laid out by George Lowe, the professional at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes GC.

The club’s landlord had ambitions for Royal Birkdale Golf Club to host a major championship. In preparation for the honour, the club invited Fred Hawtree and JH Taylor to make the changes in 1932. The simple philosophy was to lay the course out in the valleys instead of over them.

In 1951 the club was granted Royal status. Three years later, The Open first came to Royal Birkdale, won by Peter Thompson who repeated his Birkdale triumph in 1965.