Play the British Open Venues with a Scottish Golf Break
Scotland plays host a large number of golf courses, several of which are so renowned that they form part of the golf course rotation for the British Open championship; one of the game’s four major championships.
From its inception in 1860 the British Open was organised by and played at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland but from 1872 the tournament was played according to a rotating course schedule. Initially, the schedule featured three courses – Prestwick, St. Andrews and Musselburgh which were all situated in Scotland. However, in 1893, two additional golf courses were added to the list – both in England. These courses were Royal St. George’s and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also known as Hoylake. Both these courses feature on the current rotation along with St. Andrews, although Prestwick and Musselburgh are no longer part of the schedule.
Since 1893, other golf courses have been added to the rotation while others have been dropped. In all there are nine golf courses which make up the current list of venues; 5 in Scotland and 4 in England.
In Scotland, the courses which form the Open rotation are the Old Course, St. Andrews; Carnoustie Golf Links; Muirfield; Turnberry Ailsa and Royal Troon. Golfers looking to tackle these and other courses in their immediate area can do so by booking a Scottish golf break which offers the chance for handicap golfers to walk in the footsteps of some of the games most illustrious players, such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Hogan, James Braid, Sandy Lyle and Tiger Woods.
Each of the golf courses on the Scottish rotation are easily accessible from Scotland’s major airports and golf breaks in Scotland normally include travel costs, accommodation and green fees for the course so all you need once you arrive is your golf clubs and afterwards, your wallet in order to slake your thirst at the 19th hole.
Carnoustie is situated in the Angus region of Scotland, and represents a tough test for even the best golfer. It last held the Open in 2007, which was won by Ireland’s Padraig Harrington. Like all courses on the Open list, Carnoustie is a links golf course, and is very difficult when the wind blows!
For St. Andrews, book a golf break in Fife. The Old Course is known as the ‘home of golf’ and is perhaps the most famous golf course in the world and hosts the Open every fifth year and is due to return in 2010. Beware of the infamous ‘Roadhole bunker’!
For Royal Troon and Turnberry Ailsa, look for a golf break in Ayrshire. The Ayrshire coast has many other golf courses besides and Turnberry Ailsa will be the scene of the 2009 British Open. Some of the most memorable Open finales have been played on Ayrshire’s Open venues, including the 1977 ‘Duel in the Sun’ at Turnberry, where Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus went head-to-head for the championship.
Murfield is situated in the town of Gullane, to the east of Edinburgh and is one of the oldest golf courses in the UK. Muirfield is considered to be the fairest test of all the Open venues, although it is far from being an easy course to play. Two circuits of nine holes rotate in opposite directions with the back nine looping inside the front nine, meaning no two consecutive holes are played in the same wind direction. Golfers looking to take on Muirfield’s challenge should Explore Edinburgh golf breaks and in particular the East Lothian region for a Muirfield golf tour, but be aware that the club only allows a certain number of visitors during the week so if Muirfield is on your list of courses to play, it’s always best to check beforehand that you will have the chance.
Whichever Open course you want to play, Scottish golf breaks can give you the chance to follow in the footsteps of some of golf’s greatest names and can provide a golfing experience you’ll never forget!
A keen golfer and writer, Brian Healy writes this article for Your Golf Travel, an operator of UK golf breaks and also around the world. Learn more about Scotland golf holidays here.