Have You Played The Open Championship Qualifying Golf Courses

The 153rd Open Championship is soon going to be with us, which means it's about time we have a look at the Open qualifying events, and the courses at which they will be played.

The great thing about the Open is that anyone can attempt to qualify - although it's much easier said than done. 15 different venues will play host to the regional qualifying events on the 23rd of June. Be successful in one of these events and you can secure your spot in one of the four final qualifying events on the 1st of July, where you could then find yourself competing in the Open at Royal Portrush.

So, with that being said, let's take a look at the courses where these qualifying events will be held.

Regional Qualifying Venues

Bearwood Lakes Golf Club

A perfect course to start off this list. Bearwood Lakes is often described as an oasis of calm and tranquillity. With undulating terrain and a pleasant backdrop of mature oak, lime and beech trees, Bearwood Lakes offers picturesque views of the beautiful Berkshire countryside.

Caldy Golf Club

The course on offer at Caldy is like three different courses, all in one. With a mix of cliff-top links, heathland and parkland, Caldy is sure to be a challenge for anyone looking to gain entry to this year's Open. The course also offers stunning views across the River Dee estuary.

Craigielaw Golf Club

With unforgiving bunkers and challenging greens, Craigielaw is another course that will be bringing the heat to this year's qualifiers. One of the 22 courses on Scotland's golf coast of East Lothian, challenging weather conditions are also likely to come into play at Cragielaw. Cragielaw offers a real coastal links experience to anyone willing to brave the stark conditions of the Scottish coastline.

Enville Golf Club

Founded way back in 1935, Enville is one of Britain's finest examples of heathland golf. The testing treelined fairways at Enville are sure to pose a threat to this year's qualifying field. Enville is highly regarded as a tough and challenging course, and it is regularly chosen for other regional events and well-known competitions.

Ferndown Golf Club

Situated in the stunning Dorset countryside, Ferndown is packed with a rich history of championship golf. Ferndown Golf Club enjoys pristine tee to green grooming, often leading to the course being favourably compared to the world-famous Augusta. Known to be a challenge to all levels of golfer, but how will this year's crop of qualifiers cope with the obstacles Ferndown presents?

Frilford Heath Golf Club

Located just south of Oxford on a stunning 500 acres of natural undulating heathland, the fairways at Frilford demand accuracy and the greens run fast and true. An authentic and original championship challenge from the black tees, overall, a perfect location for the Open qualifying rounds.

Fulford Golf Club

Fulford is absolutely packed with golfing history, From Bernhard Langer playing a shot from a tree in 1981, to Ian Woosnam birdieing eight holes in a row, Fulford Golf Club has been the setting for many famous moments in golf. It will also go down in history as the venue for the first-ever AIG Women’s Open, won by Jenny Lee Smith in 1976. Fulford will offer a true and challenging championship golf experience to those willing to brave it in this year's Open qualifying.

Gog Magog Golf Club

The Old Course at Gog Magog has been around since 1901 and has been providing a real test of golf ever since. The Old Course has hosted the Lagonda Championship - a world ranking amateur event - since 1990, and along with Regional Qualifying it also recently welcomed the 2025 R&A U16 Girls Amateur Championship in April. The course ascends a steady climb from the clubhouse where picturesque views over the rolling Cambridgeshire countryside are present.

Hesketh Golf Club

Anyone who is familiar with previous Open qualifiers will be familiar with Hesketh, as it has previously hosted the qualifying five times. Whilst originally being a true links course, changes and developments over the years have led the course to present more of a varied golf challenge. In 2008, Hesketh saw several future stars partake in the R&A Junior Open around the course, including a young Jordan Spieth.

Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club

Located on the outskirts of Troon on the west coast of Scotland, Kilmarnock (Barassie) in Ayrshire has previously hosted Final Qualifying for the Open seven times. The challenging links has also served as the venue for other high-profile events, such as the British Boys' Amateur Championship, the Scottish Amateur Championship and the Junior Open. Kilmarnock is set to be a very tricky test for those heading there this June.

Lindrick Golf Club

A club with huge history, Lindrick Golf Club is located in Rotherham, South Yorkshire and can boast the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick, Danny Willett and Lee Westwood amongst its members. Gorse-lined fairways and strategic bunkering make Lindrick a real test of accuracy. Lindrick famously played host to the 1957 Ryder Cup, as well as hosting a handful of other highly regarded events and competitions throughout the years.

Moor Park Golf Club

The two championship style courses have been a centre of UK golf history since their design by Harry Colt in 1923. Nestled within 300 acres of beautiful parkland in the Hertfordshire countryside, Moor Park has a vast history of top-class golf competition. Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle are just a few of the Champion Golfers who have played Moor Park.

North Hants Golf Club

This golf course was originally designed by five-time Open champion James Braid, as well as also being a childhood course to Justin Rose. This undulating course has great charm and is a very deceptive yet rewarding challenge. North Hants annually hosts the Hampshire Hog, a leading amateur event, proving North Hants' ability to challenge high level players.

Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club

Rochester & Cobham Park is highly regarded as one of Kent's finest and most challenging golf courses. The course was re-designed by famous golf course architect Donald Steel in 1997, modifying the original layout. There is plenty of reward for fine play at Rochester & Cobham Park, with the added delight of no hidden surprises or daunting carries to be made throughout the course.

The Island Golf Club

Founded way back in 1890, The Island is the sixth oldest club in Ireland. The unique location of the course means it is bordered by the sea on three sides, and up until 1974, the only way to get to the course was via a small boat across the Malahide Estuary. Due to the Open being played in Northern Ireland, there has been major interest in players wishing to play at The Island for their qualifier round, resulting in a waiting list for those who chose it as their first preference. The course itself is a magnificent yet rough and rugged links course, with the coast being ever present throughout the 18.

Final Qualifying Venues

Following the regional qualifiers on the 23rd June, all the successful participants will head to one of four courses to compete in the final qualifying events. These courses are Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire.

Burnham & Berrow Golf Club

Renowned as one of the finest and most prestigious links venues in Britain, the Somerset course will be a fine challenge for all looking to make their way to Portrush. In 2024 Justin Rose achieved his qualification to the Open Championship through competing at Burnham & Berrow. As with any links course the weather and unpredictability on the day could sway the competition massively, meaning it is anyone's game at Burnham & Berrow.

Dundonald Links

Situated at the heart of Ayrshire's golf coast, Dundonald Links is a highly prestigious and well-regarded links course. Dundonald Links famously hosted the men's and women's Scottish Open in 2017. Since first opening in 1911, Dundonald has gone on very interesting journey throughout history, including the impact of the Second World War. The fresh look of Dundonald Links has been hosting championship events and competitions for many years now, often challenging the most fine-tuned golfers.

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club

Historically opened in 1892, Royal Cinque Ports previously hosted the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920. Royal Cinque Ports had also been selected to host the Open in 1942, however it was cancelled due to World War II. This seriously challenging and testing course is often selected to host high level events, such as the Open qualifiers and the R&A Boys Amateur Championship. Not an easy course by any stretch, and those wishing to qualify through Royal Cinque Ports will be up for a challenge.

West Lancashire Golf Club

One of England's oldest and most historic golf courses, West Lancashire is a regular host to the Open qualifiers as well as countless other championship events. Famous golf course designer Donald Steel has also given high regards to West Lancashire, saying: "Only in Britain can one savour the true flavour of seaside golf, of which West Lancashire is a perfect example."

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