Hillside Golf Club Begins Birkdale Common Reconstruction Amid Local Opposition

Work has begun to convert part of Birkdale Common into a new practice area for Hillside Golf Club, as part of a Royal Ancient (R&A) plan to improve facilities for the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale

The project involves fencing, landscaping, and re-profiling the land to extend the Hillside practice range, a decision that has faced significant local opposition due to concerns about the permanent loss of public parkland

R&A states the work is necessary for world-class facilities and will result in a net biodiversity benefit, but residents fear it sets a precedent for future commercial use of public land