Royal Birkdale

The Open begins today. That's "Open" as in British Open. But in the U.K., they call it simply The Open, as in "can there really be another?"

Royal Birkdale is the home of this year's Open. The first ball was struck on Saturday, October 5, 1899.

The club's storied history didn't include an Open until 1954 even though the British Amateur and one Walker Cup had been contested over Birkdale's 18 holes prior to that.

Since then, Birkdale has been home to the Open on 8 previous occasions, along with two Ryder Cups and one Women's British Open.

As those who love watching the majors know, The Open can be a real test of not just golf but a golfer's mettle. Testing the mettle comes courtesy of Mother Nature; the Royal and Ancient chooses wisely and always seeks a venue that provides more than just the challenge of topography.

Royal Birkdale is situated in Southport, about ten miles or so north of Liverpool. Its western flanks are hard up against the Irish Sea, from whence the winds whip across the water from Eire. A temperature drop and rainfall are not uncommon with the winds, either.

But, as we have witnessed in the past, benign conditions can turn the old Open courses into glorified mini-putt layouts.

However, the British summer this year has been characterized by cold winds and chilly temperatures. And if that turns out to be the forecast during The Open, then watch out; scores will balloon and players who are lost in windy conditions will be on the first 787 home.

It will be, of course, a wide open tournament without Tiger Woods attending. Perhaps the world number two golfer will actually play like the world number two (for once).

There is no better prognosticator of weather conditions at Royal Birkdale than a course worker there.

Geoff Shackelford offers us Willie Dunbar's predictions in this post.