Future Open Championship venues confirmed for 2027 and 2028
The Open Championship, golf’s oldest tournament, has confirmed its host venues for 2027 and 2028. Following the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the tournament will return to two historically significant courses.
In 2027, the event will be held at the Old Course at St. Andrews. This venue has hosted the Open Championship more times than any other course, with its first hosting in 1873. The Old Course is now part of a rotation that sees it host the tournament every five editions. Its last hosting was the 150th Open Championship in 2022, where Cameron Smith secured his major victory against Cameron Young and Rory McIlroy.
The Old Course at St. Andrews is frequently referred to as “The Home of Golf.” It features iconic elements such as the “Hell Bunker” on the 14th hole and the Road Hole on 17. The course is also known for its double greens, where holes on the front nine share greens with holes on the back nine. The first hole is traditionally recognized as the widest fairway in golf, sharing space with the 18th hole. Notable past winners at St. Andrews include Tiger Woods, who won in 2000 and 2005, and Jack Nicklaus, who won twice.
The 2028 Open Championship will take place at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, marking its return after a 16-year absence. The last time this course hosted the tournament was in 2012, when Ernie Els claimed his second career Open Championship. Royal Lytham & St. Annes has hosted the event 11 times since 1926, when Bobby Jones won as an amateur. Other past champions at this venue include Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, and Peter Thomson.
Future venue considerations
While the R&A typically schedules Open Championship venues only a few years in advance, discussions are ongoing regarding potential new locations. Mark Darbon, the R&A‘s chief executive, indicated that the organization prioritizes the finest links layouts. He noted that the return to Royal Lytham & St. Annes, which has a smaller footprint, demonstrates this commitment, even if it means accommodating fewer spectators than at larger venues like Royal Birkdale.
The R&A is in discussions with Portmarnock Golf Club in Dublin, Ireland, about potentially hosting a future Open Championship. This would mark the first time the tournament is held outside the United Kingdom. Darbon stated that feasibility work has been conducted, confirming the possibility of hosting the event there. The process has been described as complicated, with the R&A working with the golf club, local authorities, and the Irish government to build a model that could also open opportunities for the AIG Women’s Open.
The R&A hopes to have a clearer view on the Portmarnock situation by the end of the year. The organization aims to ensure that the chosen venues offer a true test of links golf. Prince’s, a course in Sandwich that hosted the Open in 1932, is not currently under consideration, despite recent improvements. Muirfield, which has hosted the Open 16 times, most recently in 2013 when Phil Mickelson won, remains in dialogue with the R&A for a future return, though it may require some adjustments to the course and site.
Current rotation and other venues
The R&A currently maintains a rotation of 10 courses for the Open Championship. These courses take turns hosting the tournament. Additionally, four courses have been removed from the rotation due to changes in the modern game.
Regarding Trump Turnberry, there is currently no timetable for its return as an Open Championship host. The course last hosted the event in 2009. Mark Darbon confirmed that while there have been discussions and feasibility work at Turnberry, nothing substantial has been reported. The next available date for a new host would be the 2029 Open. Darbon previously cited logistical challenges as a primary reason for the delay in awarding Turnberry another Open, though spectator volume is not the main driver for venue selection.
The R&A remains optimistic about the demand for the Open Championship, noting its resonance with audiences globally. The organization continues to balance spectator capacity with the core principle of selecting venues that provide a genuine links golf challenge. The Open Championship will be held at Royal Birkdale this week.
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Source: sportingnews.com
