Meet the courses the R&A visits

The Open Championship annually visits some of the best links courses in the world. This set of courses – commonly known as the Open Championship rota – has played some of the biggest moments in major tournament history, and is well known to golf fans around the world.

The IR&A says there is no “official” Open Championship, but since 1933 only 10 courses have held the Open Championship. It's safe to say those 10 courses make up the rota – official or not.

Here are 10 courses on the Open Championship rota.

St. Andrews (Old Course)

Location: Fife, Scotland
Open Championships hosted by: 30
Latest winner: Cameron Smith, 2022
His first place award: $2,500,000
The world's top 100 golfers: 3

Muirfield

Location: East Lothian, Scotland
Open Championships hosted by: 16
Latest winner: Phil Mickelson, 2013
His first place award: $945,000
The top 100 golfers in the world: 12

Royal St. George's

Location: Sandwich, England
Open Championships hosted by: 15
Latest winner: Collin Morikawa, 2021
His first place award: $2,070,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 33

Royal Liverpool

Location: Hoylake, England
Open Championships hosted by: 13
Latest winner: Brian Harman, 2023
His first place award: $3,000,000
The top 100 golfers in the world: 93

Royal Lytham and St. Annes

Location: Lytham St. Annes, England
Open Championships hosted by: 11
Latest winner: Ernie Els, 2012
His first place award: $900,000
The top 100 golfers in the world: 74

Royal Birkdale

Location: Southport, England
Open Championships hosted by: 10
Latest winner: Jordan Spieth, 2017
His first place award: $1,845,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 42

Royal Troon (Old)

Location: Troon, Scotland
Open Championships hosted by: 9
Latest winner: Henrik Stenson, 2016
His first place award: $1,175,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 66

Carnoustie

Location: Carnoustie, Scotland
Open Championships hosted by: 8
Latest winner: Francesco Molinari, 2018
His first place award: $1,890,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 40

Turnberry (Ailsa)

Location: Turnberry, Scotland
Open Championships hosted by: 4
Latest winner: Stewart Cink, 2009
His first place award: $1,221,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 18

Royal Portrush

Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland
Open Championships hosted by: 2
Latest winner: Shane Lowry, 2019
His first place award: $1,935,000
Top 100 GOLF in the world: 16

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Before joining the GOLF team, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists in all instruction and covers youth and women's golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.