Signage goes up as Birkdale preps for the Open

Signage and paraphernalia are already being erected at Riyal Birkdale ahead of the Open championships in July.

The local and regional economy is expected to receive a multi-million pounds boost when the international golfing championship arrives at Royal Birkdale in July, 2017.

More than 200,000 people are expected at the global sporting event at one of the finest links courses in the UK and February 16 marks the 150th day until the practice rounds tee off.

It is the  tenth time Royal Birkdale will host The Open and preparations are well underway to welcome sports fans from across the world to Sefton and the wider Liverpool City Region.

Royal Birkdale last hosted The Open in 2008 and  the links course forms part of England’s Golf Coast which also includes many other Sefton golfing venues.

Cllr  Ian Maher, Leader at Sefton Council, said: “A lot of work  has already taken place as we prepare to welcome the world’s best golfers, thousands of visitors and the many millions more watching on TV to our fabulous borough.

“We want  to ensure we use The Open  to  really boost  our  local economy, grow employment opportunities and ensure our businesses reap the benefits of hosting one of the largest sporting events in the world.

“This really is an opportunity to put Sefton and the City Region in the global shop window with  millions of pounds  set to swell  the local and regional economy.

“We want the world to see we are very much open  for business and for everyone to marvel at all our assets and fantastic coastline which forms part of Royal Birkdale’s famous links course.

“Events like The Open attract enormous volumes of positive profile and we are determined we really tap into this.

“We want 2017 to leave a golfing legacy with as many people as possible from across Sefton getting involved in this wonderful sporting spectacle. It also ties in with  2017 being the Year of Sefton’s Coast with us celebrating everything surrounding our unique coastline.