The Open is the oldest – and the best – championship of all of them.
First performed in 1860 in Prestwick, this yr’s occasion – the 153rd – will happen at Royal Portrush, Northern Eire.
Prestwick was a daily venue till 1925 when it fell from what’s now referred to as the Open rota.
Musselburgh, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s have additionally fallen by the wayside.
However each different Open course stays energetic (in concept, at the very least – rumours all the time abound about Turnberry).
The massive query is: Which of the Open programs is the perfect?
Making a judgment based mostly on the standard of the course will draw one reply, however what if we mixed the whole lot that makes an Open nice?!
Golf365 has marked each present Open rota course out of 10 for course high quality, signature gap, historical past/winners, viewing/vibe and the environment.
Which course comes out on high? Which course combines each component?
Let’s discover out!
The undisputed winner – Muirfield
Course high quality: An uncommon set-up with a entrance 9 that circles the again 9 in clockwise vogue. It’s famed for being each a pure hyperlinks take a look at and a really powerful one. 10/10
Signature gap: The par-3 twelfth has a raised inexperienced surrounded by traps. An amazing viewing spot. 9/10
Historical past/Winners: Dwelling of the Honourable Firm of Edinburgh Golfers, solely the perfect win right here: Participant, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, Faldo, Els, Mickelson. 9/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: A wonderful course to look at on, however the vibe is a bit old skool tie and stuffy. 7/10
Environment: On the sting of the golf city of Gullane and a mere prepare journey from Edinburgh. 9/10
TOTAL: 44/50
The Previous Course
Course high quality: You may’t beat the custom and TOC is so significantly better than it seems on first look, however there are weak holes. 7/10
Signature gap: The seventeenth (‘The Street Gap’) is a devilish par-4 with totally distinctive risks. 10/10
Historical past/Winners: Whereas we will mark it down on the right track high quality, there is no such thing as a getting away from the reality that St Andrews is the Dwelling of Golf (and Previous Tom Morris). 10/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Full marks for vibes however as a viewing expertise, there may be none worse. 5/10
Environment: The city location is particular: there may be nowhere fairly like St Andrews. 10/10
TOTAL: 42
Royal Portrush
Course high quality: A high quality structure with flat holes, uphill holes, downhill holes, holes by dunes, holes throughout dunes, holes in direction of the ocean and holes away from it. 8/10
Signature gap: The par-3 sixteenth is also called Calamity Nook. Lengthy, terrifying and enjoyable. 10/10
Historical past/Winners: It solely struggles for historical past and high quality of its winners as a result of it has hosted simply two Opens. Shane Lowry’s triumph in 2019 was, nonetheless, epic. 6/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Dunes make a golf course for Open galleries and Portrush has lots. 8/10
Environment: Portrush rocked in 2019. The city was giddy with fantastic pleasure. 10/10
TOTAL: 42
Royal Birkdale
Course high quality: Amazingly, within the 60s and 70s, American guests thought Birkdale was a bit “parkland-like”. Trendy golfers, although, love this journey by excessive sandhills. 7/10
Signature gap: The par-3 twelfth requires a pure strike to a inexperienced perched excessive within the dunes. 9/10
Historical past/Winners: Robust. The winners are adequate (Thomson, Palmer, Trevino, Spieth, Harrington), however it’s also the place Seve first introduced himself to the world. 8/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Excellent. The again of the tenth inexperienced may be the perfect spot on the rota. 9/10
Environment: It sits on England’s Golf Coast – a run of excellent linksland. 8/10
TOTAL: 41
Royal Lytham & St Anne’s
Course high quality: This can be a fearsome take a look at, famed for the problem of avoiding the bunkers, a curious par-3 first and a closing stretch of six brutal par-4s. 9/10
Signature gap: The 18th requires a courageous drive and the clubhouse backdrop is simply fantastic. 8/10
Historical past/Winners: Prime quality. Bobby Jones gained right here and so did Bobby Locke. Seve gained twice, together with his well-known first win in 1979 (“the automobile park champion”). 8/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: The tight structure is a giant plus, the shortage of sea views is a little bit of a minus. 7/10
Environment: Head north for Blackpool, south for Lytham. One thing for everybody! 7/10
TOTAL: 39
Carnoustie
Course high quality: An impressive structure but additionally a beast. It as soon as made Sergio Garcia cry, however it additionally left Ben Hogan in awe. Typically known as Automobile-nasty. 9/10
Signature gap: The par-5 sixth will not be solely lengthy, it’s known as ‘Lengthy’ (and in addition ‘Hogan’s Alley’). 9/10
Historical past/Winners: There isn’t a arguing with the wins of Hogan, Participant and Watson, however the prat falls of Jean Van De Velde in 1999 had been slightly cartoon-like. 6/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: A powerful course to look at the motion, however the lodge behind 18 will not be fairly. 7/10
Environment: Carnoustie is a high quality previous golf city however trendy Open galleries go it by. 7/10
TOTAL: 38
Royal Troon
Course high quality: A traditional linksland out and again. The entrance 9 runs alongside the ocean, the again 9 slightly inland. This can be a powerful driving course if the wind blows. 7/10
Signature gap: The par-3 eighth and its tiny inexperienced is also called ‘The Postage Stamp’. 10/10
Historical past/Winners: The 2016 duel of the Sons (Henrik Stenson defeated Phil Mickelson) was spectacular however its complete honour board might be not the perfect. 7/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Seaside walkers have the perfect view early on. Good dunes on the flip. 7/10
Environment: There’s nothing fallacious with Troon however different spots are higher. 5/10
TOTAL: 36
Turnberry
Course high quality: What was already a unbelievable take a look at, one that adheres to the cliff tops, grew to become even higher after the completion of the Martin Ebert renovation. 8/10
Signature gap: The brand new ninth is a par-3 throughout the ocean and craggy rocks, with a lighthouse backdrop. 10/10
Historical past/Winners: It misses out on this class as a result of it has hosted solely 4 Opens. The primary was fairly particular although: 1977’s Duel within the Solar (Nicklaus v Watson). 6/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: An excellent plot of land to look at golf on. The proprietor muddies the vibe. 7/10
Environment: Poor and a key consider simply 4 Opens – it’s miles from anyplace. 5/10
TOTAL: 36
Royal St. George’s
Course high quality: It’s a very good course, a extremely good course, however it’s up towards elite competitors and the best way the fairways kick balls off them is a flaw. 7/10
Signature gap: The par-4 fourth has an enormous fairway bunker and a sensational inexperienced. 7/10
Historical past/Winners: It went lacking from the rota from 1949 to 1981 and its winners are – once more, being powerful as a result of we’re measuring towards the perfect – not A1. 7/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Very strong. Actually the dunes round 5 and 6 are completely high notch for watching. 7/10
Environment: The city of Sandwich is cute. Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports are close by. 7/10
TOTAL: 35
Royal Liverpool
Course high quality: A humorous one. It takes time to like this structure and, even then, the third and the 18th are arduous to embrace – not simply flat however a clumsy match. 6/10
Signature gap: The brand new par-3 seventeenth is a superb take a look at requiring a daring pitch into the dunes. 8/10
Historical past/Winners: True linksland legends can win right here (Jones, Thomson, Woods, McIlroy) however then so can unlikely champions (Alf Padgham, Brian Harman). 7/10
Viewing high quality/Vibe: Much more viewing spots than it first seems however not a looker. 6/10
Environment: In 2014 Hoylake and the Wirral was in terrific kind. A bit drained in 2023. 6/10
TOTAL: 33
The most effective Open venue rankings in full:
1. Muirfield – 44=2. The Previous Course & Royal Portrush – 423. Royal Birkdale – 414. Royal Lytham & St Annes – 395. Carnoustie – 38=6. Royal Troon & Turnberry – 367. Royal St George’s – 358. Royal Liverpool – 33
READ MORE: First look: Tom Doak’s spectacular new Highlands hyperlinks golf course may rival Scottish Open
