How Many Shots Would You Get at The Open?

Date Published: 07/07/2026

When The Open returns to Royal Birkdale, players face one of the toughest tests in championship golf. With fast fairways, deep bunkers, and firm conditions, it is a course that does not give anything away easily.

For everyday golfers, it also raises a simple question. How many shots would I get around Royal Birkdale in The Open?

Using the World Handicap System™, we can work this out using the official formula for Course Handicap:

Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)

For Royal Birkdale:

  • Course Rating: 76.5
  • Slope Rating: 151
  • Par: 70

This estimated rating of the championship course set up gofers will play produces a very high adjustment, showing just how demanding the setup is compared to a standard course.

Course Handicap™ Table for Royal Birkdale

Handicap Index® Course Handicap™
0 7
1 8
2 9
3 11
4 12
5 13
6 15
7 16
8 17
9 19
10 20
11 21
12 23
13 24
14 25
15 27
16 28
17 29
18 31
19 32
20 33
21 35
22 36
23 37
24 39
25 40
26 41
27 43
28 44
29 45
30 47
31 48
32 49
33 51
34 52
35 53
36 55
37 56
38 57
39 59
40 60
41 61
42 63
43 64
44 65
45 67
46 68
47 69
48 71
49 72
50 73
51 75
52 76
53 77
54 79

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What This Shows About Royal Birkdale

Even high handicap golfers are receiving a significant number of shots, which highlights just how difficult the course plays when set up for The Open. An average golfer with a Handicap Index of 18, for example, would receive 31 shots in this setup.

That level of allowance reflects a course where par is a strong score and mistakes are heavily punished, especially with championship rough and wind conditions off the Irish Sea.

For comparison, professional golfers play from scratch, meaning they are effectively taking on a Course Handicap of zero on a layout that regularly ranks among the hardest in major championship golf.