Ryder Cup venues you can play

Hosted: 1985, 1989, 1993, 2002 Ryder Cups Located: Birmingham, England Winner: Team Europe, Team Europe, Team USA, Team USA

The Belfry needs little introduction. Europe’s most frequent host with Ryder Cups in 1985, 1989, 1993, and 2002, the Brabazon Course is steeped in Ryder Cup history. It regularly appears in Golf Monthly’s Top 100 UK & Ireland list and is a bucket-list venue.

Seve Ballesteros may have put the Brabazon on the map as an iconic Ryder Cup course, but with a wealth of moments to draw from, golfers can relive the magic of the tournament on almost every hole.

Hosted: 2021 Ryder Cup Located: Wisconsin, USA Winner: Team USA

Laid out on the coastline of Lake Michigan, an hour north of Milwaukee, Whilsting Straits is a stunning links course in an iconic location. Previously known as a multiple time host of the PGA Championship, and now most notably the 2021 Ryder Cup, the Straits Course is one of America’s premier golf destinations and certainly one of the best links courses you’ll find outside of the Monterey peninsula.

The course was designed by renowned architect Pete Dye, who considered the task of building a course on this rugged landscape as a ‘once in a lifetime thing’. The layout is a true work of art and despite only dating back to 1998, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this stunning 560-acre piece of land had developed and matured over hundreds of years. Needless to say, Whistling Straits is taking the Ryder Cup backdrop to a new level.

Hosted: 1965, 1969 Ryder Cups Located: Southport, England Winner: Team USA, Team USA

Regularly ranked among the world’s top 20 by Golf Digest, Royal Birkdale has hosted the contest on two occasions. Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Peter Alliss were among the big-name players in the field during the latter occasion, which would prove to be the closest contest in Ryder Cup history.

The contest is perhaps best known for a remarkable piece of sporting by a young Jack Nicklaus, who would concede a two-footer to Tony Jacklin on the final green, resulting in the first overall tie in the match’s history.

Hosted: 1961, 1977 Ryder Cups Located: Lancashire, England Winner: Team USA, Team USA

This storied venue has played host to ten Open Championships, less well known is that the historic Lancashire links has also staged two Ryder Cups, back in 1961 and 1977. The latter occasion would be the last time that Team GB and Ireland would compete alone against the dominant Americans, who by this point had won ten consecutive matches.

The links ranks in the world’s top 100 by Golf Digest and is nothing short of a masterpiece. Famed for its formidable and cunning collection of 200+ bunkers, these guarantee that Royal Lytham is considered among the most difficult of the Open Championship venues.

Hosted: 2014 Ryder Cup Located: Perthshire, Scotland Winner: Team Europe

Gleneagles would host the first unofficial Ryder Cup, back in 1921 when Golf Illustrated invited a group of American players to compete in the British Open. It would be almost a century before the event would return to the Scottish venue, which serves up one of the most beautiful settings in golf.

Originally staged over the James Braid-designed Kings course, the 2014 Ryder Cup would return to the new edition at the resort, the PGA Centenary Course, with Europe recording a resounding victory.

Hosted: 1991 Ryder Cup Located: South Carolina, USA Winner: Team USA

Perhaps most famous for the dramatic ‘War on the Shore’ where Team USA edged out Europe, Kiawah Island is a course built for big events, having only opened a couple of months before the 1991 Ryder Cup. Couples, O’Meara, Ballesteros, Faldo and Torrance are just a few of the famous names who played in 1991, which goes down as one of the most competitive contests in Ryder Cup history. The tie came down to the wire where Bernhard Langer ultimately missed a 6-footer to halve his match and retain the trophy for Team Europe, which goes down as possibly the most memorable moment in the competition’s history.

Most recently fans will remember Kiawah Island as the setting for when a 50-year-old Phil Mickelson won the 2021 PGA Championship on the longest course in major history (at the time) – a historic event at a truly historic course.

Like Whistling Straits, the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island is a Pete Dye man-made links that looks and plays way beyond its years. Its intimate coastal location is the backdrop for an exceptional course, which offers panoramic Atlantic Ocean views throughout in a figure of eight style (4½ out, 4½ back), as opposed to the classic out and back links. Coupled with fantastic accommodation and four other sister courses, Kiawah Island provides one of the best stay & play golf experiences in the US.

Host: 2027 Ryder Cup Located: Limerick, Ireland

Set to host the Ryder Cup in 2027, Adare Manor is a luxury five-star golf destination located just outside of Limerick, southwest Ireland. The course was initially opened for play in 1995 and has all the trademarks of a classic Robert Trent Jones Snr design. It’s challenging, very long from the back tees (and short from the front tees), with plenty of natural hazards and the River Maigue which often comes into play. Sitting firmly in Golf Digest Ireland’s Top 3 courses, it is celebrated for its immaculate conditioning.

Following an estimated €30 million redevelopment programme put in place from 2015, Adare Manor has become the go-to stay & play resort in the country. Golf course architect Tom Fazio, who redesigned Adare Manor, famously said “most golfers will never have seen anything like this course. It looks and plays like no other course in Ireland”, and we’re inclined to agree with him.

Hosted: 1983 Ryder Cup Located: Florida, USA Winner: Team USA

A Florida Swing staple and the setting for the 1983 Ryder Cup, PGA National is a first-class resort situated in Palm Beach Gardens, an hour north of Miami. In 1983, Jack Nicklaus led Team USA to another tight victory (14½ vs 13½), but perhaps the most memorable moment was when Ballesteros fired a three wood from a fairway bunker 245 yards over water and onto the green to halve his match – in true Seve fashion. Nicklaus was later quoted saying it was “the finest shot I have ever seen”.

Originally designed by Tom and George Fazio in 1981, and then later redesigned in 1990 by the Golden Bear himself, PGA National is a Florida classic. The closing trio of holes 15 to 17 are the course highlight, known as ‘The Bear Trap’, and are amongst the toughest holes in golf. Ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public Courses in the USA, it remains a must-play destination in Florida.

Hosted: 2014 Ryder Cup Located: Perthshire, Scotland Winner: Team Europe

Gleneagles would host the first unofficial Ryder Cup, back in 1921 when Golf Illustrated invited a group of American players to compete in the British Open. It would be almost a century before the event would return to the Scottish venue, which serves up one of the most beautiful settings in golf.

Originally staged over the James Braid-designed Kings course, the 2014 Ryder Cup would return to the new edition at the resort, the PGA Centenary Course, with Europe recording a resounding victory.

Hosted: 2006 Ryder Cup Located: Kildare, Ireland Winner: Team Europe

The Palmer North Course at The K Club is a beautiful Arnold Palmer parkland design located in County Kildare, a charming countryside resort just 30kms west of Dublin. The course is dominated by water and therefore made an exceptional setting for the 36th Ryder Cup, as risk and reward holes only added to the drama. The contest was very one-sided, as Ian Woosnam led Team Europe to a record-equaling victory of 18½ points to 9½.

The course itself, along with Adare Manor, is possibly one of the best parkland golf courses in the UK, with plenty of trees, strategically placed bunkers, and greens often protected by the River Liffey. Ranked among Golf Digest Ireland’s Top 10 courses and known for its five-star resort facilities, it’s a standout for luxury golf breaks in Ireland.

Hosted: 2010 Ryder Cup Located: Newport, Wales Winner: Team Europe

The only course built specifically to host the world’s biggest team tournament, Celtic Manor would produce a scintillating contest in 2010, with the match coming down to the final singles pairing. Delayed till Monday due to poor weather, Graeme McDowell would finish off Hunter Mahan on the iconic par-3 17th to give Europe a one-point victory and continue their four-match winning streak on home soil.

The rolling parkland course in the Usk Valley forms part of the extensive Celtic Manor estate, which is also home to two further championship courses as well as a plethora of leisure and dining facilities. It regularly features in the top 10 UK resorts in Golf World rankings.

Hosted: 1993, 1937 Ryder Cups Located: Southport, England Winner: Team Europe, Team USA

This classic links is one of the most underrated courses on the Lancashire coastline. All too often overshadowed by its prestigious neighbours, Southport & Ainsdale has played host to two Ryder Cups, back in 1933 and 1937, with the earlier contest marking the last time Great Britain and Ireland would be victorious for over two decades.

A James Braid masterpiece, the rolling links is a testing championship layout, which plays its way through wild dunes and snarly gorse. The layout remains an Open Championship Final Qualifying venue and has played host to numerous top amateur tournaments over the years. The course is consistently ranked in Golf Monthly’s Top 100 UK & Ireland courses.

Host: 2031 Ryder Cup Located: Girona, Spain

Formerly known as PGA Catalunya, Camiral Golf, a Quinta do Lago Resort has been confirmed as the host of the 2031 Ryder Cup. Its Stadium Course is often described as the “TPC Sawgrass of Europe” - a modern, dramatic layout that has long been considered one of Spain’s finest.

Already a regular stop on the DP World Tour, the Stadium Course will host the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship from 2028 through 2030, before welcoming the Ryder Cup in 2031. The resort also boasts the more forgiving Tour Course, luxury accommodation, and world-class facilities, making it one of the most complete golf destinations in Europe.

For golfers wanting a sneak preview of a future Ryder Cup battleground, the Camiral offers the perfect opportunity. Explore our Catalonian Ryder Cup Experience tour here.

Which Ryder Cup courses are easiest for UK golfers to play? The Belfry, Celtic Manor, Gleneagles, Royal Birkdale, and Royal Lytham are all accessible via our packages.

Which Ryder Cup venues should be on every golfer’s bucket list? Whistling Straits, Valderrama, Bethpage Black, and Gleneagles are iconic for their beauty and history.

Can I play future Ryder Cup courses before the matches are held? Yes! Both Adare Manor (2027) and Camiral (2031) are open to the public.

What are the top-rated Ryder Cup golf courses? Le Golf National (France) - Known for its dramatic finishing stretch and as host of Europe’s emphatic 2018 Ryder Cup win. Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Italy) - The stage of Europe’s triumphant 2023 victory, with breathtaking views over Rome. The Belfry (England) - A legendary Ryder Cup venue, hosting the event four times and home to countless historic moments. Gleneagles - PGA Centenary Course (Scotland) - Jack Nicklaus’ design that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland’s heartland. Whistling Straits (USA) - A visually stunning course on the shores of Lake Michigan, host of the 2021 Ryder Cup.

Read more of our frequently asked questions here.