Activities Sports & Athletics British Open Golf Courses Venues That Have Hosted the Open Championship Share PINTEREST Email Print A rainbow soars over the 18th hole at St. Andrews, the most-common site of the British Open. Warren Little/Getty Images Sports & Athletics Golf Golf Tournaments Basics History Gear Golf Courses Famous Golfers Baseball Basketball Bicycling Billiards Bodybuilding Bowling Boxing Car Racing Cheerleading Cricket Extreme Sports Football Gymnastics Ice Hockey Martial Arts Professional Wrestling Skateboarding Skating Paintball Soccer Swimming & Diving Table Tennis Tennis Track & Field Volleyball Other Activities Learn More By Brent Kelley Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process Brent Kelley Updated January 10, 2018 Below is the yearly list of golf courses that have been the site of the British Open golf tournament, dating back to that major's first playing in 1860. Announced future sites are listed first. The courses in the Open rota are all links courses. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (the R&A) runs the Open Championship and is in charge of setting the rotation of golf courses. The championship typically alternates between links in England and Scotland, although that order can occasionally get thrown off (such as with a rare trip to Ireland in 2019). Most Commonly Used Golf Courses for the Open The Old Course at St. Andrews is the course that has been the site of the most Opens. With its most-recent use in 2015, The Old Course has been the British Open site 29 times. Here are the most-frequently used links: The Old Course, 29 Opens Prestwick, 24 Opens Muirfield, 16 Opens Royal St. George's, 14 Opens Royal Liverpool, 12 Opens Royal Lytham & St. Annes (11) and Royal Birkdale (10) also have hosted double-digit Opens. Prestwick, at No. 2 on the above list, was the original home of the Open Championship, but last was used as the Open venue in 1925. British Open Sites Here is the year-by-year list of golf courses where the Open Championship has been played (plus a handful of future sites listed first): 2020 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England2019 — Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland2018 — Carnoustie Golf Links, Carnoustie, Scotland2017 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England2016 — Royal Troon, Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland2015 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland2014 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England2013 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland2012 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England2011 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England2010 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland2009 — Turnberry (Ailsa Course), South Ayrshire, Scotland2008 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England2007 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland2006 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England2005 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland2004 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland2003 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England2002 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland2001 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England2000 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1999 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1998 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1997 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1996 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1995 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1994 — Turnberry (Ailsa Course), South Ayrshire, Scotland1993 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1992 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1991 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1990 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1989 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1988 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1987 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1986 — Turnberry (Ailsa Course), South Ayrshire, Scotland1985 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1984 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1983 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1982 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1981 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1980 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1979 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1978 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1977 — Turnberry (Ailsa Course), South Ayrshire, Scotland1976 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1975 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1974 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1973 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1972 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1971 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1970 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1969 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1968 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1967 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1966 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1965 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1964 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1963 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1962 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1961 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1960 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1959 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1958 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1957 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1956 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1955 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1954 — Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England1953 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1952 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1951 — Royal Portrush Golf Club (Dunluce Links), Portrush, Northern Ireland1950 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1949 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1948 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1947 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1946 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland British Open Sites Prior to World War II In the years from 1940 through 1945, the Open Championship was not played due to World War II. Continuing with the list of sites, here are the pre-WWII golf courses of the Open: 1940-1945 — Not played1939 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1938 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1937 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1936 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1935 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1934 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1933 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1932 — Prince's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1931 — Carnoustie Golf Links (Championship Course), Carnoustie, Scotland1930 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1929 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1928 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1927 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1926 — Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club, Lytham St. Annes, England1925 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1924 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1923 — Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course), Troon, Scotland1922 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1921 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1920 — Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, England1915-1919 — Not played due to World War I1914 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1913 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1912 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1911 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1910 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1909 — Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, England1908 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1907 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1906 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1905 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1904 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1903 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1902 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1901 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1900 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland 19th Century British Open Courses There was less moving around back in the 1800s, including a period during the first 13 years of the Open Championship when the tournament was played at the same site every year. These are the 19th century British Open sites: 1899 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1898 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1897 — Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, England1896 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1895 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1894 — Royal St. George's Golf Club, Sandwich, England1893 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1892 — Muirfield, Gullane, Scotland1891 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1890 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1889 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1888 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1887 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1886 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1885 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1884 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1883 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1882 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1881 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1880 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1879 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1878 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1877 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1876 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1875 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1874 — Musselburgh Links, Musselburgh, Scotland1873 — The Old Course at St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland1872 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1871 — Not played1870 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1869 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1868 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1867 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1866 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1865 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1864 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1863 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1862 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1861 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland1860 — Prestwick Golf Club, Prestwick, Scotland