7 minute read
Open Golf Breaks
TAKE THE
OPEN ROAD
GOLF’S FAMOUS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP VISITS NINE FANTASTIC COURSES IN ROTATION. AHEAD OF ITS TRIP TO ROYAL ST GEORGE’S THIS JULY, WE’VE PUT TOGETHER AN INCREDIBLE GOLF BREAK AT EACH OF THEM, FEATURING THE CHAMPIONSHIP VENUE ITSELF AND OTHER MUSTPLAY COURSES IN THE VICINITY.
Royal St George’s kingsbarns
1 round at Old Course, St Andrews 1 round at Kingsbarns Golf Links 1 round at Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links 1 round at Castle Course, St Andrews
Old Course
Known as ‘The Home of Golf’, with the game having been played here since the 15th century, St Andrews has hosted The Open a record 29 times, most recently in 2015.
It’s regularly named the best course in the world, for the history as much as anything, and sits atop almost every golfer’s bucket list.
Royal St George’s – 2021 Open venue
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
- from £649pp
Bed and Breakfast at Prince’s Golf Club
Royal Cinque Ports
1 round at Royal St. George’s Golf Club 1 round at Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club 1 round at Prince’s Golf Club
Royal St George’s
The 2021 Open will be the Claret Jug’s 15th visit to this memorable links layout that measures 7,204 yards from the back tees. The last Open held here was in 2011, when Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke won his first and, to date, only major championship.
Royal St George’s, otherwise known as Sandwich, is ranked the number one golf course in England – and with good reason. “Sandwich has the four prerequisites of great architecture, and it has them in spades,” says one of the world’s leading golf course architects, Tom Doak. “Challenging golf holes, beautifully crafted greens and bunkers, a character of its own, and stunning scenery.”
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
This fabulous links course hosted The Open in 1909 and 1920. It has since been removed from the rota but is still used for Open qualifying. It’s a tough challenge, but one that’s well worth taking on, especially given it’s ranked among the best golf courses in England.
Prince’s Golf Club
Widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading tournament venues, Prince’s staged The Open in 1932 and regularly hosts the esteemed Amateur Championship. It’s ranked in the top 100 courses in GB&I and is one of the best in south east England.
The Old Course, St Andrews – 2022 Open venue
5 Nights, 4 Rounds - from
£4495pp
Bed and Breakfast at Hotel Du Vin St Andrews
Carnoustie
Kingsbarns
Opened in 2000 and already firmly established as one of the best golf courses in the UK, and among the top 50 in the world.
Carnoustie
Hosted The Open eight times and will host the Women’s British Open this August. Widely considered one of the world’s best, and toughest, golf courses.
Castle Course
Opened in 2008, making it the newest course to be created under the St Andrews Links banner, the Castle Course’s excellent conditioning and dramatic topography see it ranked among the top 100 courses in the GB&I.
Royal Portrush
Royal Liverpool
Royal Liverpool (2023 Open venue) / Royal Birkdale / Royal Lytham & St Annes
2 Nights, 3 Rounds - from £769pp Bed and Breakfast at Bliss Hotel Southport
1 round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club 1 round at Royal Liverpool Golf Club 1 round at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Royal Liverpool
Also known as Hoylake, Royal Liverpool has hosted The Open 12 times, most recently for Rory McIlroy’s 2014 victory. Recent improvements cement its place among the best courses in GB&I.
Royal Birkdale
As well as 10 Open Championships, Royal Birkdale has hosted two Ryder Cups and six Women’s British Opens. Jordan Spieth won The Open here in 2017, despite hitting a shot from the practice ground after a wild tee shot in the final round.
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Royal Lytham, ranked the sixth best course in England, has hosted The Open 11 times, the Ryder Cup twice, and the Women’s British Open five times. It’s a fantastic experience, even if your golf isn’t quite up to that calibre.
Royal Troon Golf Club – 2024 Open venue
1 Night, 2 Rounds - from £469pp Bed and Breakfast at The Marine Hotel, Troon
Prestwick St Nicholas
Royal Portrush Royal Troon
1 round at Old Course, Royal Troon Golf Club 1 round at Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club
Royal Troon
Hosted the 2020 Women’s British Open and will host The Open for the 10th time in 2024. Henrik Stenson won the last time The Open was here, in 2016, following an epic duel with Phil Mickelson.
Prestwick St Nicholas
The 26th oldest golf club in the world and ranked in the 40 best. Visit for the rich history, as well as the quality of the course.
2 Nights, 3 Rounds - from
£735pp
Bed and Breakfast at Malmaison Dundee
1 round at Championship Course, Carnoustie Golf Links 1 round at Panmure Golf Club 1 round at Rosemount Course, Blairgowrie Golf Club
Carnoustie
One of the world’s toughest courses, Carnoustie has hosted The Open eight times and will host the Women’s British Open in 2021. It’s ranked the fifth best course in Scotland and 28th best in the world. It’s a hugely enjoyable experience, even if it does get the better of you!
Panmure
A charmingly old-fashioned, opened in 1845 and continuing to transport golfers back in time to what the game might have felt like before carbon fibre drivers and GPS watches.
Muirfield
This 16-time Open venue is ranked the sixth best course in GB&I and 14th best in the world. It’s officially the world’s oldest golf club (club, not course), formed in 1744. Alterations ahead of the 2013 Open make Muirfield a stern test for the modern golfer and it will host the Women’s British Open in 2022.
Gullane
Host of the 2015 and 2018 Scottish Open, and a venue for Open qualifying, Gullane is a wonderful golfing experience at any time of year thanks to the immaculate conditioning and breathtaking views.
Royal Portrush – last hosted The Open in 2019
3 Nights, 3 Rounds - October
From £679pp
Bed and Breakfast at Portrush Atlantic Hotel
1 round at Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush Golf Club 1 round at Castlerock Golf Club 1 round at The Strand, Portstewart Golf Club
Portrush
Hosted the 2019 Open after a 68-year wait. Rave reviews from players and fans alike mean it almost certainly won’t have to wait as long again. Ranked the fourth best course in GB&I and 11th best in the world.
Castlerock
This lovely links courses lives in the shadow of Portrush and Portstewart but is an absolute gem in its own right and ranked the fourth best course in Northern Ireland.
Portstewart
Features a front nine as good as any in the world. Dramatic dunes give a stadium-like feeling and an experience you won’t forget.
Prices correct from Your Golf Travel. Visit yourgolftravel.com to book
Panmure
Blairgowrie
This attractive and classy inland course sits at the foot of the Grampian Mountains, and is ranked the 36th best course in Scotland.
1 Night, 2 Rounds - from
£669pp
Bed and Breakfast at The Bonnie Badger
1 round at Gullane No. 1 1 round at Muirfield
Castlerock
Portstewart
RITA ORA
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