Left: Bobby Jones putting on the 11th at Hoylake in 1930
Above: Phil Mickelson, champion golfer in 2013
and in Lancashire. Curiously these courses were not used again until the 1950s. In the 1930s Princes Sandwich, as a
replacement for Deal, and Carnoustie hosted Championships, the former for the only time. The latter must have been a success in 1931 for it was host again in 1937. Had the Second World War of 1939-45 not intervened Birkdale would have joined the list in 1940. At the end of the war expanding the number must have been to the fore in discussions as consideration of things like accessibility and the needs of spectators grew in importance. Troon and Lytham were reintroduced in the 1950s. The latter became very popular with the authorities and from its reintroduction in 1952 it has become a frequent venue. Portrush was also added, but for the only time to date, and Birkdale was host for the first time in 1954. The success of this is amply confirmed by the number of times the event has returned since. Since 1954 only 1 new venue has been
added, Turnberry in 1977. This addition on the west coast of Scotland made up for the loss of Prestwick. Since 1945 the almost firm rota that
existed up to 1939 has been disturbed. In the case of St Andrews, after holding
The addition of Hoylake acknowledged the Royal Liverpool’s role in the amateur game
the first post war Championship 9 years elapsed before the next one. Were there doubts over its suitability? If there were they were quickly reversed for the Open was held there 4 times in the next 9 years! Since the 1990s holding it at the Home of Golf every 5 years has become the routine. In 3 instances there have been large
gaps in staging the Open. 24 years for Carnoustie, 32 years for Sandwich and 39 years for Hoylake. Real or perceived weaknesses were the reasons, all of which were in connection with spectator needs. In all cases the golf courses were acknowledged as of Championship standard. 14 different courses have staged the
Championship since 1860, all traditional links courses consistent with the origins of the game. Nine are current venues. New venues must surely be added but it is unlikely that consideration of candidates is as high on the agenda as it must have been in the 1920s and 1940s – coincidentally the years after the two World Wars. ■
ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2 014 MAGAZINE
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Below: The Swilcan bridge at St Andrews
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