In what year was Birkdale awarded Royal status?

Birkdale was awarded Royal status in 1951.

The club had existed as Birkdale Golf Club since 1889, but it did not become Royal Birkdale immediately. The “Royal” designation was granted in 1951, formally recognising the club under the title it uses today. This was a change in status and name, not the club’s founding date.

The award came during an important period in the club’s development. Birkdale had moved to a new site in 1894 and built its distinctive art-deco clubhouse in 1935. After the Second World War, it hosted major amateur events, including the Curtis Cup in 1948 and the Walker Cup in 1951. Those events helped establish the venue as a significant championship site.

The year 1951 is commonly mixed up with other milestones: 1889 marks the club’s foundation, 1894 the move to Birkdale Hills, and 1935 the clubhouse construction. Royal status belongs specifically to 1951. Royal Birkdale later joined The Open rotation and first hosted the championship in 1954.