The Open Courses - How They Rank

Where do The Open golf courses rank? We take a look.

The Open Courses - How They Rank
Michael Weston
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Royal Birkdale is attracting a lot of praise this week, but where does this superb Southport links rank overall on Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18? The Open Courses - How They Rank.

The Open Courses - How They Rank

If you're watching the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and wondering how this magnificent course compares to the others on the Open Rota, then make sure you check out Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18.

Colin Montgomerie describes Royal Birkdale as The Open course offering "the fairest test", whereas Gary Player is adamant that nothing comes close to Turnberry. Everyone has a favourite - whether from a playing perspective, or merely as a spectator - and there's really no right answer, it's just a fantastic debate.

Unsurprisingly, all ten courses on the current Open Rota rank highly, each one placed in the top 20 golf courses in the UK & Ireland.

How many have you played? Which Open course do you rate as your favourite?

This is the only list produced by golfers, for golfers. How They Rank:

Trump Turnberry Resort (Ailsa)

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 1

Open Championships: 4

Last Open: 2009

Muirfield

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 2

Open Championships: 16

Last Open: 2013

St Andrews (Old)

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 4

Open Championships: 29

Last Open: 2015

Carnoustie (Championship)

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 5

Open Championships: 7

Last Open: 2007

Next Open: 2018

Royal Birkdale

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 6

Open Championships: 10

Last Open: 2017

The Open Courses - How They Rank

Royal Birkdale's par-4 5th [Getty Images]

Royal St George’s

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 10

Open Championships: 14

Last Open: 2011

Next Open: 2020

Royal Lytham & St Annes

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 11

Open Championships: 11

Last Open: 2012

Continues below...

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Royal Portrush (Dunluce)

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 13

Open Championships: 1

Last Open: 1951

Next Open: 2019

The Open Courses - How They Rank

The par-4th 13th at Royal Portrush (Dunluce) [Getty Images]

Royal Liverpool

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 14

Open Championships: 12

Last Open: 2014

Royal Troon (Old)

Golf Monthly’s UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2017/18 Ranking: 20

Open Championships: 9

Last Open: 2016

Four other courses have staged golf's oldest Major: Musselburgh Links (The Old Golf Course), Prestwick, Prince's and Royal Cinque Ports. Where do these rank?

Michael Weston
Michael Weston
Contributing editor

Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. As a multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the men's European Championships, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers, and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's now a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including six world number ones, and has attended and reported on many Major Championships and Ryder Cups. He's a member of Formby Golf Club. 

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