Future golf course venues for The Open Championship

Although partners regarding the rules of golf, the R&A and the United States Golf Association are taking a very different approach to their most sacred events - The Open Championship and the U.S. Open.

While the USGA has named host venues decades in advance, the R&A is taking a more conservative approach, only committing a few years in advance. The Open will return to Royal Birkdale in 2026 for the first time since 2017, but nothing is set beyond that date.

The Open, staged by the R&A, is held on links golf courses throughout the United Kingdom. In 2019, that included Northern Ireland once again. The small country had not hosted The Open since 1951.

The Open was originally staged at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860, then just a 12-hole course. Prestwick held every Open thru 1873, and last hosted the event in 1925. The Old Course in St. Andrews was the first links outside of Prestwick to host the Open in 1873. It is the most regular host these days, hosting the event about every five years.

The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, who own Muirfield, voted in 2017 to allow women members. That vote was reportedly required in order to keep Muirfield in the present-day rota.

Four clubs have hosted the Open that are not in consideration at the time for future opens. Prestwick, Musselburgh Golf Links, Royal Cinque Golf Club and Prince's Golf Club are all some combination of too short or logistically challenging for future events. All 14 courses that have held The Open are open to the public.

In 2020, the R&A canceled The Open at Royal St. George's due to coronavirus pandemic concerns. Royal St. George's hosted the event in 2021, and the 150th Open at St. Andrews in 2022 was a rousing success. It has hosted more than any modern venue (1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1946, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2022).

One key question remains: When will the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry, a famous host for both the Duel in the Sun as well as Tom Watson's near-miraculous victory in 2009, return to the rota?

Old Course at Royal Troon, Troon, Scotland
Past Opens: 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2016

Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, Portrush, Northern Ireland
Past Opens: 1951, 2019

Royal Birkdale, Southport, England
Past Opens: 2017, 2008, 1998, 1991, 1983, 1976, 1971, 1965, 1961, 1954