How Much Would it Cost to Play ALL of The Open Venues
By: Golfshake Editor | Fri 09 Jul 2021
If you suddenly had an extra few thousand pounds in the bank, how would you spend it? Maybe, you could buy a new car, perhaps pay off the mortgage, or potentially embark on that dream holiday. That all sounds good, but instead, you could simply play each of the Open Championship venues.
The Open Rota encompasses many of the world's finest and most historic courses, and gratefully, all of them can be accessed by visitors, offering everyday golfers the chance to walk in the footsteps of legendary figures.
However, there's no doubt it can be expensive, and playing them all would be a sizeable cost. But certainly not impossible.
So, if you wanted to tick off all of the Open courses, how much would it set you back? We have brought together each of their peak summer visitor green fees to discover just how costly it would be to play the entire rotation.
Beginning with the ten venues that are considered part of the modern rota, we list them from cheapest to most expensive.
The Old Course at St Andrews
Considered the spiritual Home of Golf and the most iconic venue in the game, the Old Course will host the 150th Open in 2022, marking the 30th time that the championship has come to this beautiful corner of Fife. Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson, Sam Snead and Bobby Jones have all lifted the Claret Jug in St Andrews.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £195
Royal Liverpool
First hosting the Open in 1897, Royal Liverpool's initial tenure was best remembered for Bobby Jones' victory in 1930, which was part of his Grand Slam. After Roberto De Vicenzo won in 1967, it would be nearly 40 years before the championship returned to Hoylake, but since then Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have both won.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £220
Royal Lytham & St Annes
Seve Ballesteros memorably won twice at Lytham & St Annes, a course that is known for its many bunkers, which didn't stop the likes of Bobby Locke, Tony Jacklin, David Duval and Ernie Els from winning here. Somewhat uniquely, this is a links course from which you cannot spot the sea, but the quality of the layout stands out.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £230
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush
In 1951, England's Max Faulkner won the first Open Championship held outside Scotland and England, but it would be nearly 70 years before the world's best returned to Northern Ireland, where Shane Lowry won before a fevered gallery in 2019, providing one of the most atmospheric Opens in living memory.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £240
Royal St George's
England's first Open venue, Royal St George's welcomed its 15th championship in 2021, and there have been many memorable moments through that time. Harry Vardon, Bobby Locke, Sandy Lyle, Greg Norman and Darren Clarke have all claimed the Claret Jug on this undulating and breathtaking links.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £250
Royal Birkdale
For some, this is England's finest course, and if you believe that a list of champions reflects that quality, then Birkdale is hard to surpass. Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O'Meara, Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth have all won at this magnificent venue.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £250
The Old Course at Royal Troon
In 2016, Royal Troon hosted an Open for the ages as Henrik Stenson duelled Phil Mickelson, but previously it had been a hotbed for American success, with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard, and Todd Hamilton all tasting major glory here and surviving the legendary Postage Stamp.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £260
The Championship Course at Carnoustie
First welcoming the Open in 1931, Carnoustie has become renowned for the challenge of its layout, a test that famously Ben Hogan succeeded on during his sole appearance in the championship in 1953. Henry Cotton, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Paul Lawrie and Padraig Harrington are among the other winners in Angus.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £270
Muirfield
For many keen observers, Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is the finest layout on the rotation, and it's hard to argue with the icons who have won the Open here. Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Henry Cotton, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson all secured the Claret Jug in East Lothian.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £285
The Ailsa Course at Turnberry
A truly stunning property, the Ailsa Course made a spectacular introduction to the Open when Tom Watson defeated Jack Nicklaus in the Duel in the Sun of 1977. Greg Norman and Nick Price both triumphed here, before Watson remarkably rolled back the decades to lose a playoff to Stewart Cink in 2009. Having undergone major changes during the past decade, the Ailsa presents an unforgettable - if expensive - experience.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £325
So, if you wanted to play the ten venues that are currently on the rotation, it would cost £2,525.
But what if you wanted to complete the set by visiting host courses of the past? Let's take a look...
Musselburgh Old Course
This nine-holer near Edinburgh - where golf has been played for centuries - hosted six Open Championships between 1874 and 1889, and it has remained a monument to the game ever since, presenting an opportunity to step back in time to a unique layout that rests inside the Musselburgh Racecourse.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £17
Prince's
Gene Sarazen won his only Open Championship here in 1932, which remains the first and last time that Prince's hosted the event. The course was initially revamped after the Second World War due to damage, and it has been enhanced in recent years, transforming the venue into a must-visit in Kent.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £100
Prestwick
It all began here, in 1860, when Old Tom Morris teed off, starting the first Open Championship. Prestwick held the first 12 editions of the event, before the rotation of venues was established. The last Open at this revered club in Ayrshire was in 1925, but that absence hasn't diminished the original host of the championship.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £145
Royal Cinque Ports
Located in Deal, Royal Cinque Ports hosted two Opens in the early part of the 20th century, won by the great J.H. Taylor in 1909 and Scotland's George Duncan in 1920. While it may not have the recognition of nearby Royal St George's, this venue remains one of the finest in the South East of England.
2021 Summer Green Fee - £175
So, if you wanted to play all 14 venues that have welcomed the Open Championship during the past 160 years, in summer, it would cost a total of £2,962.
Obviously, there are various deals available at different periods of the year that would reduce the overall spend, but if you wanted to play them during the peak season, that's the rough total.
Play St Andrews, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Portrush, Royal St George's, Royal Birkdale, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Muirfield, and Turnberry for £2,525.
Or - for the complete Open journey - play St Andrews, Royal Liverpool, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Portrush, Royal St George's, Royal Birkdale, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Muirfield, Turnberry, Musselburgh, Prince's, Prestwick, and Royal Cinque Ports for £2,962.
Well, there you are. It's time to start saving up for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of history!
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