Open Championship Venues
Walk in the Footsteps of History
There are currently ten golf courses on the rotation of Open Championship venues. In contrast to the vast majority of the major championship hosts in America, each of The Open golf courses allows at least some degree of visitor play. This inspires thousands of golfers every year to travel across the pond for the chance to play some of golf’s most iconic courses and to walk in the footsteps of the greats.
Here is where you can do the same.
The Old Course at St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Scotland
Prestwick may be the birthplace of The Open Championship, but no venue has hosted the tournament on more occasions than The Old Course at St. Andrews. For a place that’s rightfully celebrated as The Home of Golf, it’s a fitting record. Some of the most memorable moments in golf history have played out at The Old Course. Bobby Jones celebrating on the shoulders of the crowd en route to the Grand Slam. Jack launching his putter skyward. Seve’s jubilation. Tiger’s record-breaking march. The Old Course was the scene of it all.
For many first-time visitors, The Old Course at St. Andrews, which many claim was designed by Mother Nature and perfected by Old Tom Morris, is a puzzling affair. It’s the kind of course that sometimes takes a few trips around to fully appreciate its beauty. But whether it’s your first or tenth round on The Old Course, the joy that comes from this journey with the heritage of the game simply never fades. Neither does the thrill of the opening drive, the tee shot on the Road Hole, and the stroll across the ancient Swilcan Bridge.
- First Open – 1873
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2022
- Years Hosted – 30
- Notable Courses Nearby – Carnoustie, Kingsbarns
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Old Course at St. Andrews Tee Times
Muirfield
Gullane, Scotland
When the nearby links at Musselburgh became too crowded for their enjoyment, The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers moved to their own private course at Muirfield in 1891 and took The Open Championship with them. Of the active members on the rota, only The Old Course at St. Andrews has hosted The Open on more occasions. The winners list at Muirfield reads like some sort of compilation of the greatest to play the game. Vardon, Hagen, Braid, Nicklaus, Player, Watson, and Faldo all won here. So did Phil Mickelson, who delivered one of the finest closing rounds in Open Championship history and the lowest by a winner at Muirfield.
Old Tom Morris designed the original layout at Muirfield, but it was Harry Colt who transformed it into one of the sternest of The Open golf courses. The two nines are routed in opposing circles. This means that the wind challenges the golfer from all angles, making it all the more difficult to avoid the notoriously thick rough.
What sets Muirfield apart from the other Open Championship venues, however, is the incredible experience afforded the visiting golfer. In the morning you play 18-holes with your own ball, in the afternoon it’s alternate shot with a partner, and in-between is a lunch in the clubhouse that must be seen to be believed. All of which makes Muirfield perhaps the best single day that the game has to offer as well as one of the most coveted tee times in Scotland.
- First Open – 1892
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2013
- Years Hosted – 16
- Notable Courses Nearby – Gullane, North Berwick
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Muirfield
Royal St. George's Golf Club
Sandwich, England
For the first three decades of its existence, Scotland held a monopoly on The Open Championship. In 1890, the English amateur John Ball broke that trend when he became the first non-Scottish winner of the Claret Jug. Four years later, Royal St. George’s took it a step further as the first Open Championship venue outside of Scotland. Royal St. George’s has gone on to produce some great Open champions. Two members of The Great Triumvirate – Harry Vardon and J.H. Taylor – each won here. Along with James Braid, the three men collected 16 Open titles between 1894 and 1914. Walter Hagen was a popular winner at Royal St. George’s, as were Greg Norman and Darren Clark.
Although Royal St. George’s has hosted the tournament on more occasions than any of The Open Championship venues outside of Scotland, its run as a member of the rota nearly came to an end entirely. When blind shots fell out of favor with golfers in the mid-20th century, Royal St. George’s found itself on the outside looking in at The Open Championship. After a 30 year absence, and a variety of course changes to remove the blind shots, the Claret Jug finally returned in 1981. Today, Royal St. George’s blends tradition and exceptional links golf into an experience for the traveling golfer that’s only matched by Muirfield.
- First Open – 1894
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2021
- Years Hosted – 14
- Notable Courses Nearby – Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports
- More Reading – 7 Things to See at Royal St. George’s
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Hoylake, England
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, commonly known as Hoylake, has played a significant role in the history of competitive golf. In 1885, the club hosted the inaugural Amateur Championship. In 1921, Royal Liverpool invited golfers to compete in the first ever international team matches, which would come to be known as The Walker Cup. And in 1897, Hoylake joined the other Open Championship venues and saw the Claret Jug go to one of its famous sons, local amateur Harold Hilton. Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Rory McIlroy, and Tiger Woods, along with his trusty 2-iron, have all followed in Hilton’s footsteps as champions at Royal Liverpool.
Although the club is sometimes overshadowed by The Open venues of Scotland in the minds of American travelers, those who make the journey to Hoylake are handsomely rewarded. The links is one of the most enjoyable golf courses in Britain, notwithstanding the internal out of bounds that flanks a couple of holes. The club recently unveiled a new 17th hole (the 15th hole outside of The Open) that is sure to join the great short par-3s of the game. In addition, Royal Liverpool boasts a warm and welcoming membership, as well as a clubhouse that could double as a golf history museum and houses a wealth of memorabilia, including Tiger’s aforementioned 2-iron.
- First Open – 1897
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2023
- Years Hosted – 13
- Notable Courses Nearby – Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St. Annes
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Royal Liverpool
Royal Troon Golf Club
Troon, Scotland
Right about the time that Prestwick was deemed no longer suitable to host the tournament, a new Open Championship venue was found just next door. Royal Troon made quite a splash when it joined The Open rota in 1923, with Arthur Havers chipping in on the 72nd hole from a greenside bunker to defeat Walter Hagen. Nearly a century later, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson supplied another unforgettable final round, as well as a record-setting one, in what would quickly come to be known as the “Duel at Troon.” But without question, it was Arnold Palmer’s victory in 1962 that sealed Royal Troon’s place in history.
In honor of its 100th anniversary, Queen Elizabeth granted the club its “Royal” designation, making Royal Troon the only club in Britain to receive the honor during Her Majesty’s 70-year reign.
Besides the chance to walk in the footsteps of the club’s history, Royal Troon offers visitors the chance to play two of the most famous – and perhaps infamous – holes in golf. At just 123 yards, the 8th hole, better known as “The Postage Stamp,” proves that a short par-3 can truly wreck a scorecard. Especially if the wayward tee shot finds the notorious Coffin Bunker. Then there’s the par-4 11th hole, which consistently ranks as the most difficult hole on The Open rota. What most golf travelers remember about the 11th, however, is not its general difficulty, but the unnerving sight of the railway in play along the right-side of the entire hole.
- First Open – 1923
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2024
- Years Hosted – 9
- Notable Courses Nearby – Prestwick, Turnberry
- More Reading – 6 Things to See at Royal Troon
Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club
Lytham St. Annes, England
Like Royal Troon, when Royal Lytham & St. Annes joined the Open Championship golf courses, it did so with a bang. The Claret Jug arrived for the first time in 1926, and so did a young amateur from the United States named Bobby Jones. On the 71st hole, Jones trailed by two-strokes and found a terrible lie left of the fairway. He hit what some have called the best shot of his career onto the green, saved par, and went on to win his first Open Championship at the age of 24. Nearly 40 years later, Seve Ballesteros pulled off his own brush with the miraculous by making birdie from a car park adjacent to the 16th hole en route to his first of three Claret Jugs.
What most golf travelers remember about Royal Lytham & St. Annes, aside from its rich history, are its bunkers. There’s 174 bunkers on the links – and that’s down from a peak of approximately 200 – all of which have been expertly crafted to attract off-line shots. Although this can make for a trying day for the errant golfer, the heritage and hospitality enjoyed at Royal Lytham will offset some of that pain. The clubhouse features a famous portrait of Bobby Jones, a plaque on the 17th hole marks the site of his triumph, and the snooker room is an exceptional place to cap the experience at this 11-time Open Championship venue.
- First Open – 1926
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2012
- Years Hosted – 11
- Notable Courses Nearby – Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool
- Podcast: Golf and the Good Life on England’s Golf Coast
Carnoustie Golf Links
Carnoustie, Scotland
Among The Open venues, Carnoustie Golf Links is generally regarded as the most difficult course on the rotation. This theory was reinforced by the chaos of the 1999 Open and the lasting image of Jean Van de Velde standing in the Barry Burn. Tom Watson and Gary Player both won here, but it was Ben Hogan’s triumph in 1953 that best defines Carnoustie’s history with The Open. After winning The Masters and U.S. Open that year, Hogan crossed the Atlantic to make his one and only start in The Open Championship. He returned home with the Claret Jug and the admiration of everyone who crossed his path at Carnoustie.
The notorious links at Carnoustie provided Old Tom Morris with his first experience with golf course design. He assisted his mentor, Allan Robertson, in laying out the first nine holes at Carnoustie, then later returned to extend the links to a full 18-holes. Most of the course as we know it, however, was the work of five-time Open Champion James Braid. The 6th hole – known as Hogan’s Alley – is one of the most famous par-5s in Scotland. The name commemorates Hogan’s win but also his bold play off the tee on the hole. The closing stretch is not for the faint of heart, with the Barry Burn snaking its way into play on multiple occasions.
- First Open – 1931
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2018
- Years Hosted – 8
- Notable Courses Nearby – The Old Course at St. Andrews, Kingsbarns
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Carnoustie Golf Links
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Portrush, Northern Ireland
For nearly a century, The Open Championship was held exclusively in Scotland and England. That changed in 1951, when Royal Portrush joined The Open venues as the first course outside of Britain to host the tournament. Unfortunately, decades of strife would follow in Northern Ireland and it seemed that The Open may never return to Royal Portrush. Fast forward to the 21st century, a lasting peace and determined club leadership brought the Claret Jug back to Royal Portrush in 2019. The jubilant scene of Irishman Shane Lowery marching up the 18th fairway to victory was certainly one for the ages.
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush was designed by Harry Colt. It’s perhaps the most picturesque of The Open golf courses, with the dramatic White Rocks, Duncluce Castle, and Skerries islands all dotting this stretch of stunning shoreline. For many golf travelers, the par-4 5th hole provides some of their fondest memories from across the pond, thanks to both the stunning view and reasonable chance at birdie. On the other hand, the par-3 16th hole – aptly named Calamity Corner – often provides a very different set of memories. As you might suspect from any of The Open Championship venues, Royal Portrush deals a stern test of golf from start to finish, and promises to deliver unforgettable Open Championships for decades to come.
- First Open – 1951
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2025
- Years Hosted – 2
- Notable Courses Nearby – Ballyliffin, Castlerock, Portstewart
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Royal Portrush
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Southport, England
When Royal Birkdale joined The Open Championship venues in 1954, it became the third course along England’s Golf Coast to be granted the honor. Arnold Palmer won his first of two Claret Jugs at Royal Birkdale. Tom Watson won his 5th here. But it’s the sight of Jordan Spieth playing from the driving range that most will first recall when thinking of The Open at Royal Birkdale. Of course, he pulled off a heroic save and went on to lift the Claret Jug in front of Royal Birkdale’s iconic clubhouse.
If any of The Open golf courses are capable of flying under the radar it’s Royal Birkdale. The course simply goes about its business quietly. There are no flashy holes or jaw dropping panoramas. Just good, honest golf that is sure to test every aspect of the visitors’ game. What Royal Birkdale does offer, however, is a superb spectating experience during The Open. Most of the holes are routed through the valleys between the sandhills, as opposed to up and over them, affording excellent views of the competition. Of course, the previously mentioned clubhouse does provide a bit of flair, and no visit is complete without a little time on the patio overlooking the 18th green.
- First Open – 1954
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2026
- Years Hosted – 10
- Notable Courses Nearby – Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St. Annes
- More Reading – 5 Things to See on England’s Golf Coast
Turnberry Ailsa
Turnberry, Scotland
The Ailsa course at Turnberry was the last venue to join The Open rota, yet it has provided some of the most iconic moments in the history of the championship. In 1977, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus separated themselves from the field by over ten strokes in what would be come to be known as the “Duel in the Sun.” The two greats matched each other stroke for stroke all four days, until Tom Watson knocked his approach on the 72nd hole to within inches of the cup to win his second Claret Jug. At the 2009 Open, Watson gave the world of golf a story that was equally thrilling and heartbreaking. The 59-year-old came to the final hole with a one-stroke lead, but his too-perfect 8-iron approach went over the green and Stewart Cink emerged from the eventual playoff with the trophy.
Besides its place among The Open venues, the Turnberry Ailsa course is consistently ranked among the best golf courses in the world thanks, in large part, to a well publicized recent redesign of the links. Almost no hole was left untouched in the process. The end result is truly spectacular, offering arguably the finest seaside stretch of golf on the planet. When paired with the exceptional hotel, Turnberry offers golf travelers a combination that is difficult to top. When The Open will return to Turnberry is anyone’s guess, but it will most certainly be ready.
- First Open – 1977
- Most Recent / Next Open – 2009
- Years Hosted – 4
- Notable Courses Nearby – Prestwick, Royal Troon
- More Reading – The Complete Guide to Turnberry
Former Open Championship Venues
In addition to the ten current Open Championship venues, four courses have hosted the tournament but are no longer a part of the rotation. Musselburgh, Prestwick, Princes, and Royal Cinque Ports hosted The Open a combined 33 times. Although their time on The Open rota has long passed, each is still worthy of a visit during golf trips across the pond.
You can learn more about these former Open Championship venues here.
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