In the nearly 150 year history of The Open Championship, 14 different courses have played host to golf’s oldest major. Of those courses, only four are no longer a part of the current rotation. That number was five as recent as last year, before the R&A made the wise decision to take the championship back to Royal Portrush in 2019. And while the four remaining courses are many decades removed from their time among The Open venues, their place in golf history is forever intact. And all are worthy of consideration when planning an overseas golf trip.
Prince’s Golf Club
The only ‘one and done’ host on The Open rota is found immediately next door to Royal St. George’s. Prince’s Golf Club played host to the 1932 Open. Gene Sarazen and his newly invented sand wedge came away the winner, making “The Squire” the first golfer to win all four of the modern major championships. While it’s time in The Open limelight was short, Prince’s is a magnificent links that serves as the final qualifying venue when the tournament is held next door at Royal St. George’s. In recent years, the club has undergone a variety of updates to its 27-holes, such as the brilliant new 5th on the Himalaya’s side as seen here.
Musselburgh Links
Largely regarded as the oldest golf course in the world, and played mostly inside the town’s racecourse, the Musselburgh Links served as host to six Open Championships. It was the high stakes challenge matches between Old Tom Morris and Willie Park, however, that put the Old Links on golf’s map. In one such match, Old Tom famously refused to continue on and sought refuge in Mrs. Forman’s pub, as the antics of the crowd had grown entirely out of hand. Willie Park played the rest of the round in protest, and the dispute over the stakes was mired in court for months. When the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers departed Musselburgh for Muirfield in 1891, so too did the Claret Jug.
Royal Cinque Ports
In the early 20th century, The Open rota stood at just 5 courses – Prestwick, St. Andrews, Muirfield, St. George’s, and Hoylake. As the championship alternated between Scotland and England, the 3-2 majority for Scottish courses was deemed to be unfair to English golfers. It was decided in 1907 that Royal Cinque Ports – better known as Deal – was the proper choice to balance the scales. After holding the championship in 1909 and 1920, Deal was set to host again 1938 and 1949, but in both cases abnormally high seas caused the course to flood and the tournament to relocate to Royal St. George’s. Sadly, Deal’s future as a member of The Open rota washed away with the tide, however it still remains one of the finest golf courses to play on the Channel Coast.
Prestwick Golf Club
When a field of 8 golfers gathered at Prestwick Golf Club in 1860 to vie for the Challenge Belt, they forever altered the course of this great game. What would become The Open Championship was contested at Prestwick 23 more times, second only to the Old Course at St. Andrews. Every great early champion of the game won here – Tom Morris (Sr. and Jr.), Willie Park (Sr. and Jr.), Harry Vardon, and James Braid were all victorious at Prestwick. And while it still stands as a fitting test of golf, the demands in terms of space and infrastructure for The Open make a 25th contest for the Claret Jug all but impossible. Still, it will always remain the “Birthplace of The Open.”
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