Host venues of The Open that you can play

One of the best things about the game of golf is the ability to walk in the footsteps of the game’s greatest players by taking on the same courses that staged some of their most memorable moments. There’s no older or more prestigious championship than The Open, and Golfbreaks customers are able to take on almost all of these iconic venues.

Check out some of our favourites below and begin to make your own mark on some of golf’s most historic layouts.

Ranked the no.14 course in Scotland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Troon, Scotland | Architect: Willie Fernie | Par: 71 | Founded: 1878

Set on Scotland’s rugged Ayrshire coast, Royal Troon is a traditional links course famed for its stern test and postcard-worthy holes. The Old Course, host to multiple Open Championships, begins relatively gently before building to a famously tough inward nine, where swirling winds and deep revetted bunkers make club selection crucial.

Its most iconic hole, the Postage Stamp 8th, is one of the shortest yet most perilous par-3s in the world, demanding laser precision. Expect rippling fairways, gorse-lined rough, and panoramic views of the Firth of Clyde. For purists of championship golf, Troon offers a blend of beauty and brutality that's hard to beat.

Number of times to host The Open: 10

Ranked the no.3 course in Scotland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Turnberry, Scotland | Architect: Willie Fernie | Par: 70 | Founded: 1906

Few courses rival Turnberry’s Ailsa Course for drama, heritage, and scenery. With the iconic Turnberry Lighthouse overlooking the churning waters of the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Ailsa Craig in view, the layout is nothing short of cinematic.

Redesigned in 2016 by Martin Ebert, the modernised Ailsa flows seamlessly along coastal cliffs, with standout holes like the par-3 9th, where the tee box juts into the sea, offering breathtaking theatre. Scene of the legendary 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between Watson and Nicklaus, Turnberry is a five-star golf experience steeped in Open Championship history.

Number of times to host The Open: 4

Ranked the no.8 course in England by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Southport, England | Architect: F.G. Hawtree & J.H. Taylor | Par: 70 | Founded: 1889

Arguably England’s finest championship links, Royal Birkdale lies nestled between towering sand dunes, with fairways cut into natural valleys. The result? A visually striking and fair test, where good shots are rewarded and poor decisions punished.

The course hosted The Open ten times, including the historic 2017 edition when Branden Grace shot the lowest-ever major round (62). With a rugged yet regal atmosphere, Birkdale combines playability with challenge and is often considered the most straightforward Open venue in terms of fairness.

Number of times to host The Open: 10

Ranked the no.16 course in England by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Hoylake, England | Architect: George Lowe | Par: 72 | Founded: 1869

Hoylake, as it’s affectionately known, is one of The Open’s oldest and most storied venues. Royal Liverpool’s wide, flat appearance belies its difficulty - strategic bunkering, thick rough, and capricious coastal winds can turn a good round into a grinding survival.

The site of Tiger Woods’ strategic masterclass in 2006 (using a driver just once) and Rory McIlroy’s win in 2014, Hoylake offers a cerebral golfing test. The new 17th hole - a visually striking short par-3 - added for the 2023 Open, adds modern flair to this timeless course.

Number of times to host The Open: 13

Ranked the no.1 course in England by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Sandwich, England | Architect: Laidlaw Purves | Par: 70 | Founded: 1887

Set along England’s south-eastern shoreline, Royal St George’s is known for its wildly undulating fairways, cavernous bunkers, and famously tough opening hole. It was the first English course to host The Open, and has done so 15 times since 1894.

The course’s natural landscape is both beautiful and brutal, especially in windy conditions. Darren Clarke’s victory here in 2011 remains a fan favourite. Royal St George’s rewards imagination and precision, and its sheer variety of hole shapes makes for an exhilarating round.

Number of times to host The Open: 15

Ranked the no.5 course in Scotland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Carnoustie, Scotland | Architect: Allan Robertson & Old Tom Morris | Par: 71 | Founded: 1842

Known affectionately - and fearfully - as 'Carnasty', this east coast monster is considered the most demanding course on the Open rota. Long, windswept, and deeply strategic, Carnoustie punishes indecision. Even its burn-lined fairways have become part of Open folklore - just ask Jean Van de Velde.

While brutally tough, the Championship Course remains fair. Golfers come for the challenge, the heritage (Ben Hogan’s only Open win came here in 1953), and the sense that every round could unravel at any moment. A true test of skill and nerve.

Number of times to host The Open: 8

Ranked the no.1 course in Scotland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: St Andrews, Scotland | Architect: Refined by Old Tom Morris | Par: 72| Founded: 1552 (formalised 1764)

The Old Course at St Andrews is the undisputed home of golf. With roots stretching back to the 15th century, it’s the most iconic layout in the world. From the Road Hole’s treacherous 17th to the Swilcan Bridge crossing the 18th, it’s less a round of golf and more a pilgrimage.

Despite its prestige, the Old Course is public and accessible via daily ballot or advanced booking. For any golfer, a round here is not just about score - it’s about soaking in history where legends have walked.

Number of times to host The Open: 31

Ranked the no.13 course in Scotland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Prestwick, Scotland | Architect: Old Tom Morris | Par: 71 | Founded: 1851

The site of the very first Open Championship in 1860, Prestwick is a charming, quirky, and immensely historic links. Though no longer on the Open rota due to space limitations, it remains one of the most characterful layouts in the world.

Blind tee shots, deep revetted bunkers, and narrow fairways define the course. Modern players will find it an unusual test, but those with a love of golf history will feel like they’re stepping back in time. A true bucket-list course for traditionalists.

Number of times to host The Open: 24

Ranked the no.2 course in Northern Ireland by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Portrush, Ireland | Architect: Harry Colt | Par: 71 | Founded: 1888

Royal Portrush stormed back into the Open spotlight in 2019, after a 68-year absence, with the Dunluce Links dazzling players and viewers alike. With dramatic elevation changes, cliffside vistas, and fierce bunkering, it is one of the most visually arresting links courses in the world.

Colt’s routing through natural valleys and headlands delivers thrilling variety. The infamous Calamity Corner 16th is as tough as they come. Scheduled to host The Open again in 2025, Portrush is one of the few major venues as loved by pros as it is by visiting golfers.

Number of times to host The Open: 2

Ranked the no.36 course in England by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Sandwich Bay, England | Architect: Charles Hutchings & Guy Campbell | Par: 72 | Founded: 1906

Often overshadowed by its illustrious neighbours, Prince’s Golf Club is a hidden gem with a genuine Open pedigree. It hosted The Open in 1932, when Gene Sarazen triumphed, and today it offers 27 holes of championship links golf divided into three nines: Shore, Dunes, and Himalayas.

The Shore & Dunes loop forms the main championship layout - modern, challenging, and beautifully routed through dunes and along the sea wall. Prince’s combines historical significance with slick conditioning and a fantastic coastal setting, making it a must-play on any Kent golf tour.

Number of times to host The Open: 1

Ranked the no.10 course in England by Top 100 Golf Courses

Location: Deal, England | Architect: Henry Hunter | Par: 72 | Founded: 1892

Located in the charming seaside town of Deal, Royal Cinque Ports (often simply “Deal”) is a tough, fast-running links course steeped in history. It hosted The Open in 1909 and 1920, and remains a favourite among top amateur and professional events thanks to its fierce layout and classic links character.

Running out and back in true traditional style, Deal is exposed to the elements, with wind and firm turf playing a huge role in how it plays day to day. Deep bunkers, quick greens, and tight undulating fairways make for a test as pure as any on the Open rota.

Number of times to host The Open: 2