Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club

Golf's original championship returns to one of its most celebrated venues when The 154th Open takes place at Royal Birkdale from July 12-19, 2026. The iconic Southport links will host The Open for the 11th time, marking a historic occasion as the first venue to debut The Open Experiences – an innovative range of packages designed to bring fans closer to the action than ever before. Whether you're looking for premium hospitality, an immersive atmosphere, or the ultimate golf holiday combining tournament attendance with tee times at world-class courses, there's a package tailored to create your perfect Open experience. About The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale Royal Birkdale has been a cornerstone of Open Championship history since first hosting in 1954. The course has produced some of golf's most memorable moments, including Jordan Spieth's dramatic victory in 2017 when he edged Matt Kuchar in a thrilling final round. Past champions at this legendary links include Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, and Padraig Harrington. The Championship runs across eight days, with bespoke practice days from Sunday, July 12 to Wednesday, July 15, featuring exciting new additions including a Last-Chance Qualifier and the Heroes Classic showcase event. Championship play begins Thursday, July 16, culminating in the crowning of the Champion Golfer of the Year on Sunday, July 19. Four Ways to Experience The Open 1. Attend. Stay. Play.: The Ultimate Golf Holiday For serious golfers who want to combine watching the world's best with playing some of England's finest courses, all wrapped together with the accommodation of your choice, The Open’s Destination Packages offer the complete championship experience. What's Included: Guaranteed tickets to The 154th Open Hotel accommodation ranging from budget-friendly camping to luxury options Optional tee times at top championship courses in the area Travel to and from the course Dedicated customer service Play England's Golf Coast: Southport is home to the UK's highest concentration of championship links courses, offering extraordinary golf within minutes of Royal Birkdale: Hillside Golf Club – Adjacent to Royal Birkdale, featuring what Greg Norman called "the best back nine in Britain" Southport & Ainsdale – Open Qualifier that has hosted the Ladies British Open Formby Golf Club – Stunning combination of heathland, pine forest, and coastal dunes Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) – Another famous Open venue, approximately 40 minutes away Royal Lytham & St Annes – Complete the "golden triangle" of Open venues in the region Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa – Modern championship course with luxury hotel facilities These packages allow you to extend your Open experience into a comprehensive golf tour of one of the world's premier golfing destinations. Reserve your place today: Book Now 2. The Ticket Plus Experience For fans seeking an elevated experience with exclusive access and amenities, Ticket Plus offers the perfect blend of comfort and excitement. What's Included: Access to Links, a specially designed private area near the 4th hole Viewing platform overlooking the 4th green to watch the world's best players up close Private area with undercover and outdoor seating Large screens broadcasting all the action £25 food voucher for gourmet food trucks Private bars with drinks available for purchase Private toilet facilities Complimentary park and ride pass Complimentary access to grandstands throughout the course Pricing: From £270 (excluding VAT) per person Ticket Plus combines the freedom to follow your favourite players across the course with a comfortable home base to relax, refuel, and enjoy the championship atmosphere. Reserve your place today: Book Now 3. The Open Camping Village: An Unforgettable Experience For fans looking for an affordable, immersive way to experience The Open, The Open Camping Village offers your ticket, plus accommodation within walking distance of Royal Birkdale at Victoria Park in Southport. Accommodation Options: Standard Camping: Pre-erected tents available in 2-person, 4-person, and 6-person sizes Includes cots with mattresses, lighting, and USB charging ports Glamping Tents: Bell Tents with comfortable beds, duvets, and cozy décor Linens, sheets, pillows, and towels provided Solar-powered amenities Village Amenities: Clubhouse with diverse food vendors and bars Live entertainment and music each evening Panel discussions with former players Big screens showing tournament coverage Modern showers and toilet facilities Private wristband access for guests only 15% discount at merchandise stores on grounds Friendly, family-oriented festival atmosphere The Open Camping Village creates a unique community where golf fans from around the world come together to celebrate their shared passion for the game, making it perfect for families, couples, and groups of friends. Reserve your place today: Book Now 4. Premium Hospitality: Enjoy an elevated Championship experience with a choice of three hospitality packages. From relaxed dining spaces to exclusive lounges and prime on-course views, each option offers comfort, atmosphere and outstanding access to the action. What's Included: Premium Immerse yourself in The Open. Savour breathtaking views of the 15th green and 16th tee from the balcony of the Dunes House, our hospitality exclusive triple deck, where you will witness world-class golf unfold before your eyes. Step inside to unwind and indulge in a curated selection of gourmet dishes, expertly crafted by our chefs from an array of restaurants and bars. Additional Package Benefits Fast track to The Open Shop Q&A Session Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Platinum Savour every moment at The Open. The Platinum experience gives you access to your dedicated lounge within Dunes House, where you will be able to access all three floors, providing stunning views of the 15th green and 16th tee as well as a variety of dining experiences. Your experience extends beyond Dunes House and Links, with entry to The Retreat, a luxurious Champagne lounge overlooking the par 3, 7th green. Enjoy unparalleled views from standing viewing platforms around the course, ensuring you witness every moment of the action up close. Additional Package Benefits Access to The Retreat Q&A session with a past or present player Fast track to The Open Shop Q&A Session Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Signature A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity As one of the few guests in Signature, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to Clarets, perfectly positioned overlooking the 17th green at Royal Birkdale. Take in the iconic par 5, while indulging in world-class hospitality. Beyond Clarets, immerse yourself in the heart of the Championship with exclusive access to behind-the-scenes experiences. Witness the action up close with your reserved grandstand seat on the 18th green; you’ll be perfectly placed, never missing a moment of the drama. Additional Package Benefits Access to Clarets and The Retreat Behind-the-scenes experiences with unprecedented access to restricted areas Q&A session with a past or present player Photo opportunity with the Claret Jug Fast track to The Open Shop Reserved 18th grandstand seat Standing platforms overlooking the 4th green, 7th green and 10th fairway Reserve your place today: Book Now Why Choose The Open? Attending The Open is more than watching world-class golf; it’s an opportunity to be part of sporting history. With demand for tickets at an all-time high and Royal Birkdale set to deliver another unforgettable championship, these packages ensure everything is taken care of, so you can focus on soaking up the atmosphere, the drama, and the traditions that make The Open so special. From elevated Hospitality experiences and enhanced Ticket Plus options to the unique Open Camping Village or the ultimate golfer’s getaway through Destination Packages, every option offers exceptional comfort, convenience, and access. Whichever you choose, you’re not just attending a tournament; you’re securing an unforgettable experience at one of golf’s most celebrated venues. Book Your Open Experience Today Don't miss your chance to be part of The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. With packages selling quickly and limited availability, early booking is strongly recommended. Reserve your place today: Book Now For more information or assistance: Email: Experiences@TheOpen.com Phone: +44 (0) 1334 460090

European Ryder Cup courses A brief look at the European Ryder Cup venues through the years September 2014 Surely nobody could argue that the change in 1979 which allowed Great Britain & Ireland to compete against the USA as Team Europe in the biennial Ryder Cup matches against the USA was anything other than a smart move – and probably the most important factor in turning the modern day version of the competition into the undeniable commercial success that it is today. Remember, up to that point in history, the American team had won twenty-one, drawn one and lost only three of the previous 25 events which had been held since 1927, when Walter Hagen and Ted Ray captained their respective professional teams in the inaugural tournament at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. If, however, you think the inclusion of golfers from continental Europe had an immediate effect on the outcome of the tournament then think again because, incredible as it might sound, it took another six years – and three further defeats against the United States – before the tide finally turned with a resounding 16½ - 11½ victory on the Brabazon course at the Belfry. And so – not to put too fine a point on things – the Top 100 Golf Courses look at the fourteen European courses which have hosted the Ryder Cup can be split into two distinct groupings: what might be termed “the dark ages before the Belfry” (between 1929 and 1981) and the “new dawn after the Belfry” (from 1985 up to the present time). The Alister MacKenzie-designed Moortown course in Leeds was the venue for the first series of Ryder Cup matches contested on this side of the Atlantic in 1929 and the home side recorded a 7-5 win against the visiting team. Surprisingly, even in those very early days, the fervent nature of the spectators was quite apparent, as Mark Rowlinson notes in his Globetrotter Golfer’s Guide England and Wales: “The cheering of the crowd of 10,000 during play was every bit as loud as that at football matches and partisan behaviour was apparently no different from that in the most recent encounters.” The next two Ryder Cup games in England were played at Southport & Ainsdale in 1933 and 1937, with Great Britain winning the first match 6½-5½ and losing the second match 8-4 to a team captained for the sixth and final time by Walter Hagen. S&A, as it’s affectionately known locally, is a fine course (ranked just outside the current GB&I Top 100) which James Finegan described in his book All Courses Great and Small as follows: “this links, laid out by James Braid in 1923, is endearingly old-fashioned, with its blind and semi-blind shots, low mounding… and an occasional cross bunker deceptively short of the putting surface… it is exhilarating golf from start to finish.” Due to the intervention of World War II, the next series of Ryder Cup matches on home soil didn’t take place until 1949, when Gantonwas chosen as the venue. Ben Hogan, captaining his American team for the second time, lifted the Ryder Cup for the winning side after a hard-fought 7-5 victory. Consistently ranked as one of the Top 100 golf courses in the World, Ganton has since played host to the top male and female amateurs on either side of the Atlantic in the Curtis Cup (2000) and Walker Cup (2003). Nick Edmund and George Oldham’s book Following the Fairways describes the course thus: “Ganton enjoys a beautiful peaceful setting nestling on the edge of the Vale of Pickering and the Yorkshire Moors… There are few inland courses with such cavernous bunkers – 111 in all! In addition to the many bunkers and the great spread of gorse, there are numerous fir trees and pines which can come into play following a wayward shot”. In 1953, the Ryder Cup moved south to another top golfing destination, the West course atWentworth, where Henry Cotton’s home side lost out narrowly to the Americans by a margin of 6½-5½ points. The ‘Burmah Road’ course, set out by Harry Colt in 1923, is a long, tough track and it lies within an enormous property that’s sufficient in acreage to accommodate another two 18-hole courses. As Nick Edmund states in his book Classic Courses of Great Britain and Ireland, “Wentworth is both classy and classic. You realise as much the instant you turn off the A30 and enter the opulent estate. Wentworth’s origins were not exactly humble. At one time Wentworth House was owned by the Duke of Wellington’s sister and it was later acquired by a Spanish count. In 1920 the 1,750-acre site was purchased by a property developer with… the very American dream of creating a golf and country club complex”. The next port of call for the Ryder Cup matches in the UK was at Lindrick in 1957, where the Great Britain team captured the trophy for the first time in 24 years, beating its American rivals by a score of 7½-4½ points. Mike Berners Price, in his book The Centurions of Golf, makes reference to the man responsible for bringing the competition to Yorkshire: “Sir Stuart Goodwin, a Sheffield industrialist, reached agreement with the PGA that he would sponsor the event at Lindrick. Goodwin was a member of the club but not on the Committee. The decision caused surprise away from Lindrick as the Club had no previous experience of hosting major events and the course was thought to be rather short for top competitions… The Club did not gain any immediate financial benefit from the Ryder Cup, but it was appreciative of Sir Stuart’s initiative and he became Club President in 1958.” Little did anybody imagine at the time that it would take another 28 years before a European team would win the event again. Moving into the 1960s, the Ryder Cup matches appeared to take semi-permanent residence in the north west of England as first Royal Lytham & St Annes (in 1961) then Royal Birkdale(in 1965 and 1969) were chosen as the home venues for the competition. The first two of this trio of matches resulted in emphatic victories for the USA (14½-9½ and 19½-12½) but the third series of games ended in a 16-16 draw, with Jack Nicklaus forever remembered for his sporting concession of Tony Jacklin’s tricky two-foot putt at the last hole of the final singles tie, resulting in a drawn match overall. Lytham and Birkdale have played host to all the most prestigious international tournaments down the years, including Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and the Open, and that impressive track record certainly speaks for itself. Donald Steel, in his book Classic Golf Links of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, is unstinting in his praise for both courses, describing the golfing test at the former as: “Lytham relies on a variety of hazards to weave its torment. There are bunkers galore, grassy hollows and dells to tease and divert shots… and several elevated greens to pose questions of judgement”. He then summarises the challenge at the latter in these terms: “Birkdale’s fairways are flat but they form valleys between mighty dunes, providing a sturdy frame to a landscape embellished by a profusion of tenacious buckthorn and willow scrub.” In 1973, players from the Republic of Ireland became eligible to join the British Team and the matches moved north of the border for the first time, to the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield, which Malcolm Campbell, in The Scottish Golf Book, believes is “the fairest examination of golf among all of Britain’s great and historic championship courses… an honest but hugely demanding test where the dangers are in open view for all to see. Good shots are usually handsomely rewarded, while the penalties for imperfection can be severe indeed.” The course may well have offered a just, equitable and upright challenge for all the competing golfers during that particular Ryder Cup but its fairness certainly didn’t prevent the USA from lifting the trophy for the eighth time in succession, with a winning margin of 19-13 points. After another trouncing on home territory at Lytham & St Annes in 1977, when captain Brian Hugget’s Great Britain & Ireland team (as it was now named) was defeated by a score of 12½-7½ points, the next opportunity to gain revenge within the shores of the UK – this time as Team Europe – took place at Walton Heath Golf Club in 1981, when a composite course consisting of fifteen holes from the Old course and three holes from the New course (the 12th, 13th and 18th) were used for the 24th edition of Ryder Cup matches. As mentioned by Phil Pilley in his Walton Heath centenary book entitled Heather and Heaven, none of the European team had won a Major going into the match (though Langer, Faldo and Lyle would later) whilst the USA team had claimed an astonishing 36 Major titles between them. Despite leading by a point after the first day’s play, the European team crumbled on day two, losing seven of the eight matches played, and it eventually capitulated to the Americans by a score of 18½ to 9½ points. Two years later, the European team came within a point of victory at the PGA National Golf Club in Florida but captain Tony Jacklin would have to wait a further couple of years before finally wresting the trophy from the grasp of his transatlantic golfing foes at the Belfry’s Brabazon course. It’s no over assertion to state that the 1985 Ryder Cup would change the complexion of the event for ever, as the record books show that Europe have since won nine, drawn one and lost only four of the 14 biennial competitions that have been played on either side of the Atlantic since then. At long last, the sporting public now witness a head-to-head golfing event that’s no longer a stroll for one of the sides. A mere whippersnapper in comparison to the nine older, more established UK courses that preceded it onto the Ryder Cup rota, the modern Belfry complex was nevertheless able to deliver the commercial returns to the PGA European Tour that the other more established courses could never come close to matching. The Brabazon was retained as the venue for the following two series of home matches in 1989 (which was drawn 14-14) and 1993, when captain Tom Watson led his USA team to a narrow 15-13 victory. The PGA European Tour’s move away from the Belfry to even more lucrative golfing destinations began in earnest in 1997, when Valderramain Spain became the first 18-hole layout in continental Europe to host the Ryder Cup. Acquired by Bolivian industrialist Jaime Ortiz-Patiño in 1984, the course had developed over the following decade into one of the finest in the world. As Geoffrey Giles writes in his book 101 Golf Courses, “Keen to host high-quality tournament golf, Ortiz-Patiño called back the designer of the course – the prolific architect Robert Trent Jones – to make alterations. Most significant of these changes was to reverse the two nines so the hardest run of holes would become the finishing stretch.” The revamped layout certainly threw up many exciting matches in the course of the three-day event, culminating in a repeat of the result from two years earlier at Oak Hill Country Club, when a Seve Ballesteros-inspired European team edged out its opponents in a thrilling match with a score of 14½ to 13½ points. The Brabazon course’s final hurrah came in 2002 (delayed by a year due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11), when it held its fourth series of Ryder Cup matches in seventeen years – a feat that’s very unlikely to ever be repeated in today’s highly profit-orientated golfing environment – with Sam Torrance captaining the European side to a 15½-12½ victory. And so to the Palmer course at the K Clubin 2006 where another self-made millionaire, Michael Smurfit, effectively bought the rights to host the Ryder Cup in Ireland. Richard Phinney and Scott Whitley, in their book Links of Heaven, had this to say about Arnie’s layout: “The course used for the Ryder Cup was cleverly rerouted, with the seventh and eighth holes, perhaps the best two on the course, becoming the sixteenth and seventeenth. This created some do-or-die excitement as the greatest players in the world flirted with the water.” And with Darren Clarke losing his wife to cancer earlier that year, it was rather an emotion-filled European team, led by captain Ian Woosnam, which eventually smashed the American team into submission, winning by the enormous margin of 18½ to 9½ points. Continuing the theme of high profile wealthy individuals with an unbridled passion for golf, Sir Terry Matthews was next up, delivering the Ryder Cup to Wales for the 2010 edition of the competition and he oversaw the construction of the Twenty Ten course at his Celtic Manor Resortspecifically for that event. Geoffrey Giles, author of 101 Golf Courses acknowledges the effort needed to bring the tournament to Newport: “Matthews was ambitious for his resort. He wanted to attract the biggest stars in the game to play there and he set out to bring the Ryder Cup to Wales for the first time. His problem was that none of his existing courses could accommodate such a tournament... drastic measures were needed and Matthews was not afraid to take bold decisions.” Abandoning the old Wentwood Hills layout, he retained nine of its upland holes and added a new nine routed through the Usk Valley to form the Twenty Ten course. Another tight match ensued, which ended in favour of the European team with an extremely tight score of 14½ to 13½ points. Finally, in 2014, we arrive at the point where the PGA Centenary course at Gleneaglesbecomes the 14th course to join the European Ryder Cup roster and only the second course in Scotland to host the event after Muirfield in 1973. Originally designed by Jack Nicklaus, the layout was extensively overhauled in the winter of 2011, specifically to knock the course into shape for the 40th edition of Ryder Cup matches, some three years down the line. All the greens had a SubAir system installed and all the bunkers were refurbished, with a number of fairway traps removed completely. Significantly, the prosaic approach to the home green was totally remodelled, resulting in a five-metre lowering of the fairway. After all that effort and expense, the course fully deserves whatever plaudits might come its way when the action starts at the end of September. I wonder what drama might unfold in that brand new sporting arena at the 18th hole? Jim McCann Editor www.top100golfcourses.com Follow our Ryder Cup trail by browsing any Ryder Cup course page on the Top 100 website and then click on the blue hyperlinks within the Ryder Cup information box to navigate to the next Ryder Cup venue. You may find a few surprising courses. Start at Worcester Country Club and finish at Gleneagles... it will be an interesting journey. We don't know anybody who has played every Ryder Cup course on both sides of the Atlantic, so if you've played the full set, please get in touch, we'd love to hear your story.

England is home to some of the best golf courses in the world, and its five highest-ranked layouts can be played without being a member. From a 15-time Open venue on the Kent coast to some of the finest heathland golf in Surrey and Berkshire, plus a spectacular links course in Cornwall, these are the five highest-ranked courses in England that welcome visiting golfers. Royal St. George’s Golf Club (Kent) World Ranking: 19th | England ranking: 1st | Green fee: £430 Royal St George’s offers the chance to play one of England’s most historic and challenging links courses. Founded in 1887, it was the first English course to host the Open and has staged the championship 15 times, including the most recent edition in 2021. Routed through towering dunes in a loose figure of eight, Royal St George’s has undulating fairways, uneven lies and plenty of elevation changes that can make even seemingly straightforward shots difficult. The fourth hole is particularly memorable, with a huge bunker carved into a towering dune guarding the fairway. Despite its reputation as a demanding championship test, the course is as enjoyable to explore as it is difficult to score on. Wildflowers and dune grasses line the fairways, while views stretch across Pegwell Bay towards the white cliffs beyond. Add in distinctive features such as the thatched shelters and St George’s flags, and there is plenty to keep you entertained between the inevitable moments of frustration. Sunningdale Golf Club - Old Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 22nd | England ranking: 2nd | Green fee: £485 The Old course at Sunningdale is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful inland courses in the British Isles. Opened in 1901 by Willie Park Jr, it was one of the first great courses to emerge from the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt, with Harry Colt later reshaping the layout and giving it the intimate, tree-lined character it has today. Pine, birch, oak and heather frame the fairways, while the firm heathland turf makes Sunningdale a joy to walk and play. The course has hosted plenty of memorable golf, too, including Bobby Jones’ remarkable 66 in Open qualifying in 1926 and Nick Faldo’s 62 at the 1986 European Open. The 10th is a particular highlight, with its elevated tee offering a spectacular view before the halfway hut provides one of golf’s more welcome rewards. The 15th, a 226-yard par three, is another standout. For golfers visiting England, Sunningdale Old offers a classic heathland experience in one of the country's finest golfing regions. Sunningdale Golf Club - New Course (Surrey) World Ranking: 41st | England ranking: 3rd | Green fee: £485 The New course at Sunningdale provides a rather different experience to its famous older sibling. Opened in 1923 and designed by Harry Colt, it is more open and rugged than the Old, with elevated tees, heathery terrain and long carries placing a greater emphasis on driving. At 6,700 yards and par 70, the New is no pushover, with narrow fairways and plenty of undulation making it a particularly demanding test from the back tees. Even the professionals have struggled to make it look easy: Jack Nicklaus once held the course record with a 67 before Graeme Storm carded a remarkable 62 during Open qualifying in 2009. The course has also benefited from an ongoing tree-management programme, allowing more heather to return and restoring views across Chobham Common. The fifth, a picturesque par three played across the heath, is one of the highlights. The result is a course that rewards good driving without becoming a purely distance-based test, with the heathland setting providing plenty of visual interest along the way. St Enodoc Golf Club - Church Course (Cornwall) World Ranking: 49th | England ranking: 4th | Green fee: £190 St Enodoc is unlike almost any other links course in England. Overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock, with views across to Padstow, the Church Course takes its name from the 13th-century church that sits beside the 10th green. Remarkably, the building was completely buried by sand in the 19th century before being excavated in 1863. Founded in 1891 and redesigned by James Braid in 1907, St Enodoc is defined by its towering dunes and constantly changing terrain, where no two holes feel quite the same. The sixth is the course's signature hole, demanding two blind shots over the towering 'Himalayas' dune to reach the hidden green. The 10th, played across a natural valley to a narrow fairway below, is another memorable challenge. If your ball strays towards the churchyard, you'll also find the grave of Poet Laureate John Betjeman, whose poem Seaside Golf was inspired by the course. The combination of huge dunes, unusual holes and views across the Camel Estuary makes St Enodoc a particularly distinctive addition to any English golf trip. Swinley Forest Golf Club (Berkshire) World Ranking: 52nd | England ranking: 5th Swinley Forest offers a quieter, more understated version of heathland golf on the Surrey and Berkshire sand-belt. Set among mature pines and heather, it has a wonderfully quiet atmosphere and an old-fashioned character that is increasingly difficult to find. The firm, fast-running fairways and purple heather in summer give it all the hallmarks of classic heathland golf. Designed by Harry Colt and opened in 1909, Swinley measures around 6,400 yards and plays to a par of 69. The short holes are particularly strong, with a varied collection of one-shotters that require careful club selection. Around the greens, false fronts, run-offs and subtle slopes provide plenty of opportunities for a good round to unravel. For much of its history, Swinley was an intensely private club where visitors were few and far between. It now welcomes green-fee golfers, although the club retains much of its distinctive character. The result is a course that feels removed from the modern world, with little of the glamour associated with some of its better-known neighbours. For golfers who enjoy traditional heathland golf, that simplicity is a large part of Swinley's appeal. Green fees quoted are summer 2027 rates where available.