The Open is the oldest and greatest champion for all.
First played in Prestwick in 1860, this year’s event – 153road – Will be held in Royal Shotrus, Northern Ireland.
Prestwick was a regular place until 1925, when it fell from what is now known as the open rota.
Musselburgh, Royal Cinque Ports and Prince’s were also in trouble.
However, all other open courses remain active (theoretically, at least – rumors about the turntable are always abound).
The biggest question is: Which open course is the best?
A judgment based on the quality of the course will come up with an answer, but what if we combine everything that makes open good together?
Golf365 tags 10 current ROTA courses, with 10 course quality, iconic holes, history/winners, viewing/ambience and surroundings.
Which course ranks first? Which course combines each element?
Let’s find out the answer!
Undisputed winner – Moorefield
Course quality: An unusual setting, the first nine circles clockwise. It is both a pure link testing and a very difficult link. 10/10
Signature hole: 3rd stroke 12Th There is a green surrounded by a trap. A great attraction. 9/10
History/Winners: Home to Edinburgh Golfer Honors Company, this is the best win here: Players, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson, Faldo, Els, Mickelson. 9/10
Check the quality/ambience: A course worth watching, but the atmosphere is a bit old-fashioned tie and slutty. 7/10
environment: Take the train from Edinburgh on the edge of the golf town of Gullane. 9/10
Total: 44/50
Old courses
Course quality: You can’t beat tradition, the TOC is much better than at first glance, but the vulnerability is weak. 7/10
Signature hole: 17Th (“Road Hole”) is a demonic 4-pole with completely unique dangers. 10/10
History/Winners: While we can mark it as course quality, St Andrews is home to golf (and Tom Morris old) and that doesn’t escape it. 10/10
Check the quality/ambience: The full score of resonance, but as a viewing experience, nothing worse. 5/10
environment: The location of the town is special: there is no place like St Andrews. 10/10
Total: 42
Royal depiction
Course quality: A beautiful layout with flat holes, uphill holes, downhill holes, holes passing through dunes, holes across dunes, holes facing the sea and holes away from the holes. 8/10
Signature hole: 3rd 16Th Also known as the Calamity Corner. Long, horrible and fun. 10/10
History/Winners: It struggles only for the history and quality of its winners, as it hosts only two openings. Shane Lowry’s victory in 2019 is epic. 6/10
Check the quality/ambience: Dunes made golf courses for open galleries, and Portrush had a lot. 8/10
environment: Portrush swings in 2019. The town is exciting. 10/10
Total: 42
Royal Burkedale
Course quality: Surprisingly, in the 60s and 70s, American tourists thought Birkdale was a bit like Parkland Like. Modern golfers love this journey through the high dunes, though. 7/10
Signature hole: 3rd stroke 12Th A pure strike is needed to be carried out on the green habitat of the dunes. 9/10
History/Winners: Strong. The winner is good enough (Thomson, Palmer, Trevino, Spies, Harrington), but that’s where Sever announced his entry into the world first. 8/10
Check the quality/ambience: superb. The back of 10Th Green is probably the best place on the Rota. 9/10
environment: It is located on the England Golf Coast – a collection of excellent Linkslands. 8/10
Total: 41
Royal Lytham & St Anne’s
Course quality: It’s a frightening test known for avoiding the difficulties of bunkers, and it’s a weird 3, 3 and six brutal 4s. 9/10
Signature hole: 18Th The call for brave drives and the background of the clubhouse is great. 8/10
History/Winners: high quality. Bobby Jones wins here, and so does Bobby Locke. Seve won two titles, including his famous first victory in 1979 (“Parking Lot Championship”). 8/10
Check the quality/ambience: The tight layout is a big advantage, and the lack of sea views is a bit negative. 7/10
environment: Head north to Blackpool and south to Lytham. Everyone’s stuff! 7/10
Total: 39
Canosti
Course quality: A grand layout, but also a wild beast. It once made Sergio Garcia cry, but it also made Ben Hogan awe. Sometimes called late. 9/10
Signature hole: The sixth shot of 5 is not only very long, but is also called “Long” (and “Hogan’s Alley”). 9/10
History/Winners: There is no argument about Hogan, the player and Watson’s victory, but Jean van der Weld’s Prat Falls are cartoonish in 1999. 6/10
Check the quality/ambience: Watch powerful lessons for action, but 18 hotels are not pretty. 7/10
environment: Carnoustie is a nice old-fashioned golf town, but the modern open gallery passes through it. 7/10
Total: 38
Royal grace
Course quality: Classic Linksland out. The first nine run by the sea, and the back nine are small inland. If the wind blows, it’s a difficult driving route. 7/10
Signature hole: The third pole and its small green are also called “stamps”. 10/10
History/Winners: The 2016 son duel (Henrik Stenson beat Phil Mickelson) was spectacular, but its entire honors committee may not be the best. 7/10
Check the quality/ambience: Beach walkers can see it early. Good dune turn. 7/10
environment: There is nothing wrong with Troon, but other attractions are better. 5/10
Total: 36
Transfer to Raspberry
Course quality: It was already an excellent test after the Martin Ebert renovation was completed, and the test that glued to the cliff got better. 8/10
Signature hole: New 9Th It is a 3 pole spanning the ocean and rugged rocks with a lighthouse background. 10/10
History/Winners: It missed this category because it hosted only four opens. However, the first one is very special: the duel in the sun in 1977 (Nicklaus v Watson). 6/10
Check the quality/ambience: A very good land to watch golf. The owner messed up the atmosphere. 7/10
environment: The key factor of poverty and only openness – there are miles anywhere. 5/10
Total: 36
Royal St. George
Course quality: It’s a great course, a very good course, but it’s against elite competition and the way fairways kick out is a flaw. 7/10
Signature hole: The four-shot 4 wide bunker and a sensational green. 7/10
History/Winners: From 1949 to 1981, Rota disappeared and its winners became tough again because we were measuring the best people – not the A1. 7/10
Check the quality/ambience: Very sturdy. In fact, the dunes around 5 and 6 are definitely top-notch to watch. 7/10
environment: Sandwich Town is lovely. Prince and Royal Cinque Terre port is nearby. 7/10
Total: 35
Royal Liverpool
Course quality: An interesting person. It takes time to like this layout, even then it takes time 3road and 18Th It’s hard to hug – not only flat, but also awkward. 6/10
Signature hole: New Par-3 17Th It is an excellent test that requires bold dune pitch. 8/10
History/Winners: The real Linksland Legends can win here (Jones, Thomson, Woods, McIlroy), but unlikely to win (Alf Padgham, Brian Harman). 7/10
Check the quality/ambience: There are much more viewing points than the initial sights, but there is no finder. 6/10
environment: In 2014, Hoylake and Wirral were in great form. It’s a bit tiring in 2023. 6/10
Total: 33
The best open venues are ranked in full:
1. Muirfield – 44
= 2. Old Courses and Royal Portraits – 42
3. Royal Burkedale – 41
4. RoyalLytham & St Annes – 39
5. Carnoustie – 38
= 6. Royal Troon & Turnberry – 36
7. Royal St. George – 35
8. Royal Liverpool – 33
Read more: First watch: Tom Doak’s spectacular new highland link golf course can be open with the Scots
