Just returned from a trip to the west coast of England and I must say I came away wholly impressed by Wallasey.
It seems that since last year there are a couple minor updates to share for the course. #1 has been impacted by some road work which seems to have impinged drainage of the rough patch breaking up the first fairway, and overall this may push the club toward the proposed re-working of #1-2 and a practice area. Considering those holes in the context of the rest of the course this could yield an improvement overall.
Some winter work has cleaned up the right side of #6 and others with some open/waste bunkers added. These seemed like an improvement to playability and along with some new fairway bunkering on 13 fit reasonably well with what was already there. Also #12 has come in nicely and I strongly prefer it to the 17th at Royal Liverpool in terms of reworked par 3's on the Wirral.
3 is exceptional, 4 and 17 dramatic and a very good arena of golf, 5 an interesting and scenic par 3, 8's OTM green is wonderful, 10 is coming in nicely and is truly a risk/reward drivable par 4, 11 a true links 4, 13 and 14 solid opposite facing 5's despite being on flat land, 15 a wonderful greensite, 16 is a gem, and 18 a fine finish with the backdrop.
From the plays on my trip, the only course I would favor to Wallasey is Royal Lytham, and would tip the scales to W up against Hoylake, Birkdale, Formby (closest), and West Lancashire. No doubt the other Royals have their merit and the infrastructure to host The Open, but for my tastes as a home club Wallasey ticked all the boxes for me. A Can't Miss if making your way to this part of the UK.