A History Lesson – Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!

Written by Mel Sole on July 12, 2016. Posted in PGA Tour

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Everyone loves the beauty of Augusta National and the toughness of a US Open course, but none can compare with the history of the Open Championship! These venues are hundreds of years old and are on every golfer’s bucket list! Alex Myers of Golf Digest has put together the complete list of Open Championship courses used in the rotation. Learn a little history!

A crash course on the nine venues that comprise the current Open rota.

Royal Troon Golf Club

A History Lesson - Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!

Where: Troon, South Ayrshire, ScotlandTimes hosting:9, including this year

You know it as: “That place with the ‘Postage Stamp’ green.”

Unique features: Has both the shortest (Pictured left, the par-3 eighth “Postage Stamp”) and longest (Par-5 sixth “Turnberry”) holes in the Open rota; Colin Montgomerie played here often during the summers growing up. His dad was the club’s secretary, and his house was just a half-mile down the road.

In 1973, Tom Weiskopf won his lone major championship by holding off Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus. And yes, Todd Hamilton and his hybrid that he used to chip and got up-and-down 13 of 14 times that week won in 2004 by beating Ernie Els in a playoff. In fact, Troon’s past six winners have all been American.

Old Course At St. Andrews

A History Lesson - Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!

Where: St Andrews, ScotlandTimes hosting: 29 (last in 2015)

You know it as: “The Home of Golf.” There’s not much more to say than that.

Unique features: The “Road Hole” (left), on which a road and a hotel come into play; Swilcan Bridge (think Jack Nicklaus waving goodbye); Hell Bunker, large double greens, Valley of Sin, etc.

Noteworthy moments: This course has so much history that five players (Bob Martin, J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods) have won two Open titles. None were more impressive than Woods’ eight-shot romp in 2000, though, when his 19-under-par total set a major championship record. Five years later, Woods would win again here during a week that also saw Jack Nicklaus play in his final major.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake

A History Lesson - Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!

Where: Merseyside, EnglandTimes hosting: 12 (last in 2014)

You know it as: “That place where Tiger Woods cried.”

Unique features: A short drive from Liverpool’s Penny Lane of Beatles fame; Site of the first contest between Great Britain and the U.S. in 1921, an event known as the Walker Cup the following year.

Noteworthy moments: In 2006, Tiger Woods won the British Open just two months after his father passed away. He accomplished the feat by only using his driver once all week. The previous time Hoylake hosted the Open — 39 years before — Roberto De Vicenzo managed to sign a correct scorecard to claim his lone major title.

To see the rest of these iconic British Open venues, go here!

Source: Alex Myers Golf Digest

Pictures: Golf Digest

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A History Lesson – Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!

Royal Troon Golf Club

Old Course At St. Andrews

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake

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