I remember once discussing the relative merits of two golf courses with a friend’s father. When I said it would be as hard as him trying to choose his favourite child he shot back, ‘oh no, that would be very easy’.
I recently finished played all 14 courses that have ever hosted The Open and now it’s time to rank them. Like ranking your children, opinion can depend in the mood you’re in at time of asking, but here goes!
14 OLD MUSSELBURGH (click for full review)
Musselburgh held six Opens in a bygone age and is something of a novelty now. Its 9 holes are largely contained within the racecourse and it is only 3,000 yards long, but it’s great fun. The course is still largely in its original form and, played with hickories, is a joy to experience.
13 PRINCE’S
Prince’s only held the Open once, in 1932, but that was enough to cement its place in golf history. There are three loops of 9 holes and this links golf will still entertain. It doesn’t have the scale of nearby Royal St George’s, but it’s another fun course with some gorgeous holes and wonderful variety.
12 ROYAL LYTHAM
This is my least favourite of the courses currently on the rota. When I played it the rough was the most brutal I have ever seen and the 200 bunkers added a lot more danger. There are no views to speak of and the closing holes into the wind may be too much for you. Apart from that though, very nice.
11 CARNOUSTIE
Some will tell you that Carnoustie is one of the very best courses on the rota. Personally, I don’t get it. Maybe that’s because I prefer easier golf courses? Carnoustie sometimes feels a bit of a slog for me and that finish is quite something. I absolutely know I will get some golfers - especially stronger ones, tell me I am mad putting it here. I can understand why some golfers thrive here but it is too much golf course for me.
10 ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
This one may not be on everyone’s radar but Cinque Ports, or Deal as it is known by the locals, hosted The Open twice – in 1909 and 1920. It’s just a few miles away from Prince’s and Royal St George’s, making this a tremendous location for a golf trip. The course is great fun and may be the ultimate classic links experience – a good ground game will help you score well.
9 ROYAL TROON
The 2016 Open at Troon, where Stenson and Mickelson went toe-to-toe, did Troon’s reputation no harm at all. Conventional wisdom says it has 6 average holes, followed by 6 strong holes, followed by another 6 average holes. I think that is a little harsh, the finish is strong and you will have some memorable moments here – the Postage Stamp alone is worth visiting for.
8 ROYAL LIVERPOOL
Less heralded than others in the area, Royal Liverpool (or Hoylake) was a revelation for me. It’s not without its annoyances (that internal out of bounds...) but there is much to like. You will be able to score well if you’re hitting it half decently. Expect a warm welcome here and remember to take time to look round the historic clubhouse.
7 PRESTWICK
Prestwick held the very first Open, and 24 in total. It’s an eccentric place and many holes are cheek by jowl. Eventually it just couldn’t cope with the crowds and was removed from the rota in 1925. But this is a wonderful place to play golf - you could play it a hundred times and still discover new ways to play a hole. If quirk is your thing, Prestwick is a must visit!
6 ROYAL BIRKDALE
If dunes are your thing then you will be in seventh heaven at Birkdale. Two of the features of ‘modern’ links are dunes enclosing every hole and elevated tees - Birkdale was built with these features over a hundred years ago. Some find the fairways a little lacking in character but don’t let that put you off. It is the yin to St George’s yang!
5 ROYAL ST GEORGE’S
Some say that Royal St George's is a little less than a true, classic, Open course. They say the bounces can be a little random and it’s not ‘fair’. Well, I can safely say that is a load of rubbish. This is links golf at its very very best and, for me, is close to unbeatable. The fairways are pretty wide, the bunkers spectacular and the greens can torment. It’s wonderful!
4 MUIRFIELD
Muirfield has grown on me over the years. The first time I played it the rough was up and any ball off the fairway was lost. The more I play it (usually in winter with more playable rough!) the more I have come to see this course as one of the truly great routings in the world. The green complexes are among the very the best anywhere and the constantly changing direction of the holes means you will never have too hard a slog into the wind! Oh, and the welcome is always very warm, contrary to what you might expect.
3 ROYAL PORTRUSH
Whereas some Open rota courses take multiple plays to fully appreciate the subtleties on offer, Portrush is more obvious in its attractions. This is seaside links golf of the very highest order. Unlike many of the courses on the rota the coastline is a feature, which helps the ‘wow factor’. The changes for the 2019 Open saw two new holes coming into play and the historically weak 17th and 18th holes were retired. The Open will be back here many, many times for sure.
2 TURNBERRY
The changes to Turnberry in recent years have elevated this course to the spectacular. Previously it felt like the course didn’t quite get the most out of its shoreline setting, now it squeezes every pound of value from it. Some of the purest architectural aficionados say such eye candy covers over a few architectural flaws. For me, and I imagine the vast majority who play it, this is simply one of the most breathtaking places in the world to play golf.
1 ST ANDREWS
The Old Course will always be number 1 for me. Most people are surprised by just how playable the course is - if you don’t have a slice you’ll be just fine. You will marvel at the huge greens (enjoy the 80 yard putts!) but, if you get stuck in one of the famous pot bunkers, expect to be there for a while. It is the walk in towards the town on the back nine that really elevates the experience - the closing holes are just magical. That anyone can play on this ultimate golf playground is one of the things that makes golf such a great game. Everyone should try to play at St Andrews once in their lifetime!
This blog originally appeared in 2020 but I have updated this as my order has changed after a few revisits and a changing view!