How Golfers Rank The Open Championship Venues
By: Kieran Clark | Edited: Wed 12 Nov 2025
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There are so many qualities that make the Open Championship the most special of golf's majors. Yes, the history is unsurpassed, the atmosphere and environment unique in a landscape dominated by events in America, and the most captivating form of the game - links golf - presents a fascinating challenge of creativity, shot-making and imagination for the best players in the world to answer.
All of that is true, but when you strip it back, what separates the Open are the venues that it's staged at.
Dating back to 1860 and its birth at Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast, the championship has visited 14 distinguished courses in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, with growing speculation that it may soon venture to the Republic of Ireland and Portmarnock near Dublin.
That's all for the future, but in the past and present, each of these layouts has their own story and identity, from the majesty of St Andrews to the examination of Carnoustie, to the undulating fairways of Royal St George's, and the formidable test of Royal Birkdale, these courses, and the towns they reside in, come alive when the Open arrives, bringing hundreds of thousands of fans, transforming these places into a carnival of golf.
The 154th Open is being staged at Birkdale in 2026 and you could be there through these amazing Destination Packages that offer something for everyone.
Another great thing is that all golfers have the opportunity to play these cathedrals of the game. Unlike in the United States, where gates and barriers typically separate the public from its best courses, all of the Open Championship venues are accessible, meaning that you could one day follow in the footsteps of giants and take on a setting that has crowned the Champion Golfer of the Year.
But how do these lucky golfers, who have played them, rate them? That's where the Golfshake Course Section comes into its own, as we have many reviews that have been submitted by everyday players.
Providing ratings for each of the Open venues in a variety of categories - including the course, its facilities and the quality of hospitality - you can see below just what visiting golfers think of these legendary institutions when they go there.
What is the best, what is the worst? Ultimately, they're all pretty great, and there is little between them, but this is how golfers would rank the Open Championship venues, based on the experience of playing there for themselves.
1. Turnberry
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1977, 1986, 1994, 2009
Golfshake Rating: 4.97 (149 Reviews)
Review Comment: "A real treat. Lived up to all the hype. Amazing place. Course just immaculate and testing but fair. People make this also. The staff are just brill!"
2. Royal Portrush
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Opens Hosted: 1951, 2019, 2025
Golfshake Rating: 4.97 (46 Reviews)
Review Comment: "The greens were fabulous. The Open Championship feel to the place. The starter was such an entertaining guy. Sense of history in the clubhouse. The view as you walk onto the 5th green!"
3. Royal St George's
Location: Kent, England
Opens Hosted: 1894, 1899, 1904, 1911, 1922, 1928, 1934, 1938, 1949, 1981, 1985, 1993, 2003, 2011, 2021
Golfshake Rating: 4.96 (68 Reviews)
Review Comment: "What a great course, so hard but really fair, and greens perfect and bunkers are so deep, and lots of blind drives."
4. Royal Liverpool
Location: Merseyside, England
Opens Hosted: 1897, 1902, 1907, 1913, 1924, 1930, 1936, 1947, 1956, 1967, 2006, 2014, 2023
Golfshake Rating: 4.96 (56 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Had the experience, first time today, to play Royal Liverpool and it didn’t disappoint. If it was not for a couple of stray drives and shots to a couple of greens where I entered the beast of bunkers, I would have walked away a happy chappy, but never mind, the craic was great and look forward to next time!"
5. Royal Lytham & St Annes
Location: Lancashire, England
Opens Hosted: 1926, 1952, 1958, 1963, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1988, 1996, 2001, 2012
Golfshake Rating: 4.95 (50 Reviews)
Review Comment: "The fairways and greens are in great condition and it is a very difficult course, with fast running greens. Highly recommended!"
6. Royal Birkdale
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: Merseyside, England
Opens Hosted: 1954, 1961, 1965, 1971, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1998, 2008, 2017, 2026
Golfshake Rating: 4.94 (50 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Excellent condition. Greens very fast, bunkers galore and bunkers too numerous to count. With rough immediately off the fairway that is tough to find and play your ball. A championship course through and through - one to definitely experience. All the staff very welcoming and helpful."
7. Prestwick
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1860, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, 1866, 1867, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1872, 1875, 1878, 1881, 1884, 1887, 1890, 1893, 1898, 1903, 1908, 1914, 1925
Golfshake Rating: 4.93 (23 Reviews)
Review Comment: "One of the most historical clubs. Hosted the first Open and several more, the last in 1925. Hard course with several blind shots, treacherous greens, and Scottish bunkers."
8. St Andrews
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: Fife, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1946, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2022, 2027
Golfshake Rating: 4.92 (380 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Just love playing The Old Course. Everything about the place brings me so much joy. Following the footsteps of the golfing greats. Out and back and aiming everything left, the conditions were superb and the sun made it an even better experience. Defo something all golfers should experience, once in their life."
9. Prince's
Location: Kent, England
Opens Hosted: 1932
Golfshake Rating: 4.92 (201 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Fabulous. What a wonderful location and three beautiful nine hole courses. Everything about Prince’s is simply fantastic."
10. Royal Troon
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997, 2004, 2016, 2024
Golfshake Rating: 4.92 (28 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Just a supreme day on a fantastic course. A day to be bettered? It'll be hard."
11. Carnoustie
Location: Angus, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1931, 1937, 1953, 1968, 1975, 1999, 2007, 2018
Golfshake Rating: 4.88 (154 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Fabulous layout, a great challenge with the toughest closing three holes anywhere and a sense of golfing history."
12. Muirfield
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1892, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1980, 1987, 1992, 2002, 2013
Golfshake Rating: 4.86 (21 Reviews)
Review Comment: "It is the complete package. The setting, the welcome received, to the facilities, the course and a meal afterwards in the clubhouse and a drink on the terrace. Pure class and a chance to play where greats of the game have played."
13. Royal Cinque Ports
Location: Kent, England
Opens Hosted: 1909, 1920
Golfshake Rating: 4.85 (67 Reviews)
Review Comment: "As stunning an example of a traditional links as you’ll find anywhere in the UK. You can understand why Royal Cinque Ports has broken into the top 100 in the world in recent years. The course was in sublime condition; tight, firm fairways, wickedly undulating greens and the traditional out and back layout. The club has a quaint halfway house serving a selection of hot and cold items. We were warmly welcomed in the clubhouse and the pro shop had a great selection of clothing and trinkets to buy. An excellent day out made better by the helpful weather!"
14. Musselburgh
Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Opens Hosted: 1874, 1877, 1880, 1883, 1886, 1889
Golfshake Rating: 3.35 (25 Reviews)
Review Comment: "Worth playing due to the history and the quirkiness of being enclosed by the racecourse. Classic links layout. Greens aren't great, but generally run OK. Limited facilities (e.g. vending machines). A proper friendly welcome from the starter, though, and one genuinely stunning view from the 6th tee, with the course and racecourse laid out in front of you and framed by Arthur's Seat in the distance."
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About the author
Kieran Clark is the Digital Editor of Golfshake. He oversees editorial content, community engagement, forums, and social media channels. A lifelong golfer from the Isle of Bute in Scotland who has now lived in St Andrews for a decade, he began playing at the age of five and maintains a passion for exploring courses, with a particular affection for historic layouts. Kieran regularly contributes in-depth opinion pieces and features, drawing on his enthusiasm for the game and its culture.
The oldest & most prestigious major, a trip to The Open is a must for every golf fan. From tickets and transfers to hospitality & golf, Golfbreaks.com can build the perfect package to help you experience The Open in style.
Tags: The Open Championship The Open Royal Portrush
