10. Royal Portrush
Portrush, County Antrim
In 2019 we saw the Open return to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951. It was the biggest sporting event ever hosted by Northern Ireland.
The Harry Colt-designed Dunluce Links has recently been modernised by Mackenzie Ebert, with two new holes in the dunes replacing the existing 17th and 18th.
9. Royal Liverpool
Hoylake, Wirral
There have been two great winners since Royal Liverpool returned to the rota in 2006 – Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. This is a venue that attracts huge crowds because it is only a short distance from the centre of Liverpool.
8. Royal Troon
Troon, Ayrshire
While Royal Troon may not the prettiest or most dramatic links on the Open rota but the Postage Stamp 8th is world-famous while the duel between Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson was epic in 2016. The back nine is an incredibly demanding test.
7. Carnoustie
Carnoustie, Angus
On the east coast of Scotland to the north of Dundee, Carnoustie is the northernmost venue on the Open rota. The town of Carnoustie has none of the charm of St Andrews – just across the Tay – and in truth is the least glamorous venue on the rota.
However, it is a quite magnificent golf course and one that earns the respect of all players. Who can forget Padraig Harrington defeating Sergio Garcia in a play-off in 2007?
6. Royal St George’s
Sandwich, Kent
The is the only venue in the south-east of England, Royal St George’s is an hour and a half from London. The pros don’t always love it at Sandwich because the links is rumpled and often bone-hard. That means the bounces are sometimes unpredictable and there are a number of blind shots through the dunes.
The counter-view is that the course vies with Royal Birkdale for the title of the best in England. It is rich in character and diversity. Darren Clarke was the champion when the Open was last played for here back in 2011.
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5. Royal Lytham & St Annes
Lytham, Lancashire
Hemmed in by a railway and housing, Royal Lytham & St Annes is visually underwhelming but the challenge is undeniable.
It is brutally bunkered with many holes demanding the player tiptoes his way between the hazards. From some of the greenside ones on holes like the 6th and 9th, you can’t see the flag. Playing out backwards is not an uncommon fate.
4. Turnberry
Turnberry, Ayrshire
The most scenic Open venue on the rota, Turnberry is, in fact, it is the only one that offers pretty much constant sea views from the first hole to the last. It is also the most remote, some two hours south of Glasgow.
That means holding an Open here is logistically complicated in terms of both accommodation and transport. Now owned by President Donald Trump, the Ailsa course was remodelled by Mackenzie Ebert last year to universal acclaim.
3. Royal Birkdale
Southport, Lancashire
Royal Birkdale was home to record crowds in 2017 and they watched Jordan Spieth win the Claret Jug via a trip to the practice ground on the final day while playing the 13th.
Birkdale vies with St George’s for the title of England’s best course. The fairways are flat corridors between the dunes and the course is always immaculately presented.
2. Muirfield
Gullane, East Lothian
Muirfield, home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is arguably the ultimate Open test. You never play more than two consecutive holes in the same direction and the closing stretch is legendary.
Muirfield is in East Lothian, just outside Edinburgh, on Scotland’s east coast. So many of the greats have won here – from Phil Mickelson to Ernie Els to Nick Faldo (twice) to Lee Trevino to Tom Watson…
1. St Andrews
St Andrews, Fife
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The original and best – there’s nothing quite like the Old Course in Open week. What’s most special is the way that the course merges into the town. The whole region is like one big golf course really. The atmosphere is incredible with golfers and golf fans from all over the world making the pilgrimage to the Home of Golf.
A word of warning though – it’s an awful viewing course in Open week. You can’t get into the middle of the course and there are only 11 greens – all of these double greens add up to 18, with one hole from the front nine and one from the back.
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