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Where every open location is in our top 100

VaselineJuly 16, 2024

0 5 minutes read

Where every open location is in our top 100

Every year in July, when the Open Championship is played, golfers from all over the world come to enjoy links golf.

And when we see the stunning panoramic views of some of Britain and Ireland’s most spectacular coastlines, it often inspires us to book a golf holiday.

Many golfers – especially those with big budgets – can claim to have played every course at The Open.

To help you plan your own route, here’s some more information about each course, including details of where each Open venue stands in the Golf Monthly Top 100 Rankings UK & Ireland 2023/24.

2. St Andrews, Old Course, Fife, Scotland

A view of the swilican bridge on the 18th hole of the St Andrews Old Course

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Old needs no introduction – it is simply the spiritual home of golf. This special place is the heart of the sport and the most famous course in the world.

The last time The Open was held at St Andrews was in 2022. No other venue has hosted more Open Championships than St Andrews, which has hosted them 30 times.

3. Trump Turberry, Ailsa Course, South Ayrshire, Scotland

Trump Turnberry - Ailsa Course - Hole 11

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Ailsa Course is one of the more recent entrants to hosting The Open, having first hosted it in 1977 – and it put Turnberry on the global golf map.

‘The Duel In The Sun’, an epic battle between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, is one of the most historic moments of The Open.

4. Muirfield, East Lothian, Scotland

The par-4 1st hole at Muirfield pictured

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ask a lot of people who have played here what they remember most about Muirfield and chances are they will tell you how perfect the conditions were. They are never less than exceptional.

The last time the Open was held on these East Lothian links, Phil Mickelson hit two hard shots onto the green of the par-5 17th hole to win the Claret Jug.

5. Royal Birkdale, Merseyside, England

Royal Birkdale

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Royal Birkdale was originally designed by George Lowe in the late 1890s and was further developed by Hawtree and Taylor in the 1920s into an excellent testing course for golf.

Since 1954, it has hosted no fewer than ten Open Championships, and in 2026 it will host number 11. Who can forget what happened last time? Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar certainly can’t.

7. Carnoustie, Championship Course, Angus, Scotland

Carnoustie Championship Course

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Championship Course at Carnoustie provides one of the most rigorous yet measured tests of golf of any layout in the world. There may not be a view of the sea around the course, but there is beauty in the questions it poses.

The last time The Open was held here was in 2018, when Italy’s Francesco Molinari was victorious.

8. Royal Portrush, Dunluce Links, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Royal Portrush Dunluce Links

(Image credit: Kevin Markham)

Many golfers can’t wait for The Open to return to this part of the world. Designed by the legendary Harry Colt, Dunluce hosted golf’s oldest Major Championship for the first time in 68 years in 2019. Irishman Shane Lowry was a popular winner.

Who will triumph here in 2025?

11. Royal St George’s, Kent, England

Royal St George's

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Kent Links hosted the championship for the 15th time in 2021 and could count on a great winner in the person of the American Collin Morikawa.

One of the great features of St George’s is that the holes face in multiple directions. So the backdrop is constantly changing, as is the wind direction. At the same time, the green complexes are extremely attractive.

12. Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), Wirral, England

Royal Liverpool

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Built in 1869 on the former Liverpool Hunt Club racecourse, Royal Liverpool is the second oldest English coastal course after Westward Ho! It’s not a course that many people fall in love with straight away, but the affection often grows.

Brian Harman is a fan, the American lifting the Claret Jug on a very wet Hoylake in 2023.

14. Royal Lytham & St Annes, Lancashire, England

General view of Royal Lytham and St Annes

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Although surrounded by urban development and a fair distance from the sea, Royal Lytham & St Annes is a true links course, famous for its fiendish pot bunkers and undulating terrain.

The route has stood the test of time and continues to challenge the game of golf.

Lytham last played its Open in 2012, when Ernie Els defeated the failing Adam Scott. No new edition is planned for the time being.

17. Royal Troon, Old Course, South Ayrshire, Scotland

Royal Troon 18th hole and clubhouse GettyImages-1722496898

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The Open returns to Royal Troon in South Ayrshire in 2024 for the first time since Henrik Stenson’s memorable victory over Phil Mickelson.

The course consists of three different sections: the first six holes run along the coast; holes 7 to 12 require more technique and go through the dunes; after that it becomes a lot more challenging and you usually play against the wind on the last six holes.

43. Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland

Prestwick Golf Club 2nd hole

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Much has changed at Prestwick, another fine Ayrshire venue, since it hosted the first of its 24 Opens in 1860.

However, the beautiful, wrinkled landscape still provides a tangible link with the challenge faced by Old Tom Morris and co.

45. Royal Cinque Ports, Kent, England

Royal Cinque Ports 8th green

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

The Royal Cinque Ports, a two-course Open course, largely follows an out-and-back route with one or two deviations, including an Old Course-style loop at the end.

Going outside, you will find yourself close to the sea wall in places, making for some memorable holes. The course has also benefited greatly from Martin Ebert’s judicious and selective design approach in recent years.

74. Prince’s, Shore/Himalayas Course, Kent, England

Prince - Aerial photo

(Image credit: Gary Lisbon)

In 1932, The Open visited Prince’s for what would prove to be the first and only time. Gene Sarazen set a new championship scoring record of 283 with the newly invented sand wedge.

All three nines (plus the Dunes) at Prince’s have benefited from a transformative and hugely impressive upgrade led by Martin Ebert.

N/A. Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland

Musselburgh couplings

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Musselburgh Links played a crucial role in the early development of The Open.

Musselburgh Links is probably the oldest golf course still in existence and runs through a popular racecourse. Up until 1889, six Open Championships were held here.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Where each Open location ranks in our top 100:
St Andrews, Old	2	Row 0 – Cell 2
Trump Turnberry, Ailsa	3	Row 1 – Cell 2
Muirveld	4	Row 2 – Cell 2
Royal Birkdale	5	Row 3 – Cell 2
Carnoustie, Championship	7	Row 4 – Cell 2
Royal Portrush, Dunluce Couplings	8	Row 5 – Cell 2
Royal St George’s	11	Row 6 – Cell 2
Royal Liverpool	12	Row 7 – Cell 2
Royal Lytham and St Annes	14	Row 8 – Cell 2
Royal Throne, Old	17	Row 9 – Cell 2
Prestwick	43	Row 10 – Cell 2
Royal Cinque Ports	45	Row 11 – Cell 2
Prince’s, Coast/Himalayas	74	Row 12 – Cell 2
Musselburgh	n/a	Row 13 – Cell 2
Row 14 – Cell 0	Row 14 – Cell 1	Row 14 – Cell 2

VaselineJuly 16, 2024

0 5 minutes read

Vaseline

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