9 Forgotten AIG Women's Open Venues

The AIG Women's Open has established itself as one of the most important tournaments in the women's game, and it continues to go from strength to strength under The R&A's stewardship.

The governing body officially took over hosting duty in 2017 after merging with the Ladies' Golf Union, and the Major has since changed names from the Women's British Open simply to the Women's Open.

A huge part of the event's success and stature is down to its courses, and that is seen with Royal Lytham and St Annes hosting in 2026, Royal St George's in 2027 and Sunningdale in 2028.

The Women's Open does not have a specific rota like the men's Open, although it does use courses the men go to and has a strong, repeatable cast of venues.

It's unofficial rota is slightly different, though, with the AIG Women's Open mixing links and inland golf, compared to the exclusive use of links courses in the men's Open.

That's why we see the women visit places like Woburn, Sunningdale and Walton Heath, which all rank inside Golf Monthly's UK&I Top 100 Courses list.

These inland layouts near London showcase some of the country's best courses and allow for big crowds thanks to the large population and accessible transport links.

So, with a mix of the best links courses and some inland gems, the Women's Open boasts some of the UK's finest venues. But what about some of the forgotten ones?

Here's a look at some of the courses we have not seen host a Women's Open for many years...

Lindrick - 1977 and 1988

Lindrick, near Worksop, Yorkshire, twice held the Women's Open in 1977 (the tournament's second staging) and 1988.

The venue is famous for hosting the 1957 Ryder Cup, which saw Great Britain win for the first time in 24 years. The club has also welcomed the British Masters twice, the Curtis Cup and multiple elite English amateur tournaments.

Fulford - 1976

Fulford Golf Club, in York, Yorkshire, staged the first ever Women's Open in 1976.

The course is famous for Bernhard Langer's shot out of a tree during the 1981 Benson and Hedges International Open, having hosted the tournament from 1971-1989. It had many other tour events in the 20th century and has since held elite amateur tournaments. The Women's Open has never been back, though.

Foxhills - 1978

Foxhills Golf Club in Surrey hosted the third Women's Open in 1978, and it's another course to have only held the event once.

20-year-old amateur Janet Melville prevailed over the Chertsey Course, now known as the Bernhard Hunt Course. The country club has two 18-hole courses as well as a nine-hole par 3 course and was the venue for the Asian Tour's International Series England in 2024 over its Longcross Course.

Paul Casey was a junior member at the club while 2026 Open champion Ryan Fox was affiliated there in his early DP World Tour days.

Southport and Ainsdale - 1979

Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club was the venue for the fourth Women's Open in 1979.

The heathland-links course, located just across the railway from Hillside Golf Club and the neighbouring Royal Birkdale, ranks 65th in Golf Monthly's UK&I top 100.

As well as the Women's Open, it has also staged the 1933 and 1937 Ryder Cups and the 2005 Amateur Championship.

Wentworth - 1980

The USA's Debbie Massey became the first American to win the championship at Wentworth in 1980.

The iconic country club is home to the DP World Tour and has staged the BMW PGA Championship over its West Course from 1972-1974 and 1984 until the present day. It has also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1953 and the World Match Play from 1964-2007 as well as other prestigious events.

Wentworth is home to the West, East and Edinburgh Courses as well as a nine-hole par 3.

Northumberland - 1981

Massey successfully defended her crown in 1981 at Northumberland Golf Club, a historic club founded back in 1898.

The course was later redesigned by Harry Colt and James Braid, and is known for many of its holes playing inside Newcastle Racecourse, just north of the city centre.

Moor Park - 1985

Moor Park staged the 1985 Women's Open, won by USA's Betsy King. King won 34 LPGA Tour titles including six Majors, although her 1985 victory is not part of that tally as it did not have Major status back then.

Moor Park in Hertfordshire is home to the High and West Courses, which were each designed by Harry Colt. The club has hosted numerous European Tour events and other elite tournaments through the years.

It is known for its grand mansion clubhouse, and its first head professional was 1902 Open champion Sandy Herd.

St Mellion - 1987

Allison Nicholas defeated Laura Davies and Muffin Spencer-Devlin by a single stroke to win her one and only Women's Open at St Mellion in 1987, which came a decade before her US Women's Open victory at Pumpkin Ridge.

St Mellion, in Cornwall, England, is home to two layouts - the Kernow Course (formerly the Old), and the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which opened in 1988.

It hosted the Benson and Hedges International Open seven times as well, which was won by the likes of Jose Maria Olazabal, Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros, as well as other professional and elite amateur events.

Ferndown - 1989

Ferndown Golf Club in Dorset, England, hosted the Women's Open in 1989 when the USA's Jane Geddes prevailed.

The club ranks 93rd in Golf Monthly's UK&I Top 100 list and was founded by the magazine's first editor and World Golf Hall of Famer, Harold Hilton, who won two Opens, four Amateur Championships and a US Amateur.

It's a beatiful heathland course and was also where Peter Alliss learned the game, as his father, Percy, was head professional.