Hoylake is a truly tactical test of links golf. Unlike some of its dune-heavy neighbors, the course is built on largely flat ground, giving it an appearance of subtlety that hides a relentless challenge. The ground itself is firm and fast, and the greens are known for their tricky contours. The primary defense, as with any great links, is the wind, which changes daily and dictates a completely different strategy for almost every round. The initial and closing holes play across the flat of the former racecourse, demanding precision rather than power.

However, the holes running along the Dee Estuary and the Irish Sea—especially the stretch from the 8th through the 12th—are where the course’s visual and architectural brilliance shines, many of which were improved by Harry Colt. The recent addition of the dramatic, short Par-3 17th, “Little Eye,” designed by Martin Ebert, has added a modern element of high drama to the closing stretch, requiring an absolutely pure strike to avoid cavernous bunkers. Playing here is less about heroic carries and more about positioning and controlling the ball along the ground.