When considering Scotland, England, and now Ireland golf packages, the first priority for most travelers is to play the host courses of The Open Championship.
Unlike most of the major championship venues on this side of the pond, each of the Open Championship venues allows at least some degree of visitor play.
And while it is always a delight to play the Open Championship courses, the chance to do so in the lead up to or immediately after the tournament is particularly thrilling.
Here are the future venues of The Open Championship as well as some helpful information for each when planning your upcoming trip.
2024 – Royal Troon Golf Club
101 years after it hosted its first Open Championship, Royal Troon is set to do so for the 10th time in 2024.
The King won here, so did Tom Watson, and the “Duel at Troon” between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson will be remembered as one of the greatest finishes to a major championship of all-time.
As one of the storied venues of the game, those hoping to include Royal Troon in their Scotland golf packages must plan early. Tee times for Royal Troon generally become available in May of the year prior to your trip, and they don’t last long.
Like Hoylake, we suggest allowing plenty of extra time to enjoy the clubhouse after the round. The Belhaven’s Best is cool, the membership is friendly, and the view over the 18th green is meant to be savored.
2025 – Royal Portrush Golf Club
After the wildly successful return of The Open Championship to Royal Portrush Golf Club in 2019, the question was not whether the Claret Jut would return, but how quickly. The answer, as it turns out, might have been faster than anyone expected. In fact, besides The Old Course at St. Andrews, this will mark the fastest The Open has returned to the same venue in over three decades.
If 2019 is a guide, the 2025 Open Championship promises to be something truly special. It also promises to see the popularity of Royal Portrush for American golf travelers to swell even further. Royal Portrush tee times generally open in May of the year prior to your visit. If you’re hoping to play the Dunluce Links before the Claret Jug returns, our advice is to begin planning early.
2026 – Royal Birkdale Golf Club
The Open Championship owes a debt of gratitude to the history forged at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. Arnold Palmer’s win in 1961 marked an important turn of fortunes for the tournament. Until then, few Americans made the journey across the Atlantic to play in golf’s oldest major. But the news of his victory and the popularity of The King enticed more players to follow his lead.
In the decades since, Royal Birkdale has crowned a notable list of champions. Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and Johnny Miller all won here. So did Jordan Spieth in 2017, thanks in part to his miracle recovery from the driving range. The 2026 Open Championship will be held at Royal Birkdale, where more history is certain to be made.
For golf travelers, Royal Birkdale offers a few notable perks. First, England’s Golf Coast is home to not one, but three Open Championship courses. But unlike other popular destinations for golf, a great trip to this region can usually be planned with just 9-12 months notice. Best of all, you can play all three of The Open venues, plus several other great courses, without ever changing hotels.
Beyond 2026, which courses will be tapped to host The Open Championship is anyone’s guess. Given the R&A likes to return to St. Andrews every 5 years, our money is on The Old Course in 2027 and Muirfield in 2028. Wherever the Claret Jug goes, however, one thing will remain the same…
You can walk in the footsteps of history.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Scotland.
For more insight on planning your overseas golf trip, visit the pages below or have a look through our Yardage Book, where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
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