With many featuring on The Open Rota, royal courses are well known within the UK and are regularly put on the world stage. Gaining the prestigious title from the British Monarchy, becoming a royal course is of course a huge honour and one that is a testament to the quality of the golf course, facilities, service as well as its heritage.
With Open Championship host venues, past, present and future, these are courses which will excite golfing purists. So, take a look at our list below and you might be on a royal fairway soon.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Since gaining Royal status in 1951, Royal Birkdale has firmly established itself as one of the best golf courses in England, if not Europe. Providing a pure links test in tough conditions, the course is set up for dramatic golf, something golf fans witnessed first hand in the 2017 Open Championship.
| Location: | Southport, Merseyside |
| Length: | 7,156 yards |
| Par: | 70 |
| Grant Royal status by: | King George VI in 1951 |
| Established: | 1889 |
Royal St George's Golf Club
Royal St. George's hosted its first Open Championship in 1894, some eight years before it was granted Royal status by King Edward VII, and after 13 more between then and now, it is set to host again in 2020. The typical links course demands versatility and intelligence as you play on some of the most exciting and demanding holes in golf.
View Deals at Royal St George's
| Location: | Sandwich, Kent |
| Length: | 7,204 yards |
| Par: | 70 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1902 |
| Established: | 1887 |
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
This brilliant seaside layout is renowned for the quality of the course design, something which has been maintained and developed over the years. A difficult test for all who grace the fairways, Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club is a brilliant destination for golfers looking to play a royal course and an Open Championship venue.
View Deals at Royal Lytham & St Annes
| Location: | Lytham St Annes, Lancashire |
| Length: | 7,118 yards |
| Par: | 70 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King George V in 1926 |
| Established: | 1886 |
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
As one of the oldest seaside courses in England, Royal Liverpool naturally has tonnes of history and heritage behind it; in 1871 the course was extended to 18 holes, paving the way for the royal title in the same year. The course is rather unprotected which can cause conditions to feel more severe, although elites like Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have won Open Championships here, so they must like it.
| Location: | Hoylake, Wirral |
| Length: | 7,218 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1871 |
| Established: | 1869 |
Royal North Devon
Royal North Devon, or Westward Ho! as its commonly known, is the oldest golf course in England, dating back to 1864 and even uses the same fairways to this day. The course oozes personality with towering dunes throughout and a sharp sea breeze, however it’s returning to the traditional and iconic clubhouse which reminds you of why this course is so special.
View Deals at Royal North Devon
| Location: | Westward Ho, Devon |
| Length: | 7,044 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1867 |
| Established: | 1864 |
Royal Cromer
The clifftop course at Royal Cromer is perfect for golfers looking for some dramatic golf with brilliant views. Designed by Tom Morris, the layout isn’t long at 6,500 yards but is still a pure links test and above all else, the club is welcoming, friendly and provides a great golfing experience.
| Location: | Cromer, Norfolk |
| Length: | 6,528 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1888 |
| Established: | 1888 |
Royal West Norfolk
Royal West Norfolk is located between Brancaster Bay and surrounding marshes, making it an isolated island when the tide is high. The links course is a delight for golfers of all abilities with amazing coastal views as you play.
View Deals at Royal West Norfolk
| Location: | King's Lynn, Norfolk |
| Length: | 6,457 yards |
| Par: | 71 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1892 |
| Established: | 1892 |
Royal Portrush
As the only venue outside of England and Scotland to host an Open Championship, Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland is set to do so again in 2019. The course itself is widely considered as one of the best courses in the world, with spectacular views and an unrivalled layout.
| Location: | Portrush, Co. Antrim |
| Length: | 7,143 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1892 |
| Established: | 1888 |
Royal Norwich
Royal Norwich is by far the most renowned, established golf course in the area and the only course with royal status. Designed by the legendary James Braid the traditional layout is a sure test of links golf which demands accuracy and strategic thinking throughout your round.
| Location: | Norwich, Norfolk |
| Length: | 6,506 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1893 |
| Established: | 1893 |
Royal Cinque Ports
As two time host of The Open Championship in 1909 and 1920, Royal Cinque Ports is a truly magical golfing destination on the Kent coastline. Tall dunes, pot bunkers and a strong crosswind all contribute to the challenge that awaits as you make your way round.
View Deals at Royal Cinque Ports
| Location: | Deal, Kent |
| Length: | 7,245 yards |
| Par: | 71 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1910 |
| Established: | 1892 |
Royal Dublin
Originally designed by Harry Colt, Royal Dublin is the second oldest golf club in Ireland and displays its heritage perfectly to this day. Just a short drive from Dublin city centre, this coastal course is relatively flat for a links course but is by no means easy.
| Location: | Dollymount, Dublin |
| Length: | 7,269 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1891 |
| Established: | 1885 |
Royal Musselburgh
There are fewer golf clubs in the world that have more history than Royal Musselburgh, considered as the fifth club to ever be established, going back to 1774. 102 years later the club was granted royal status by Queen Victoria and has since been one of the standout venues with that title.
View Deals at Royal Musselburgh
| Location: | Prestonpans, East Lothian |
| Length: | 6,254 yards |
| Par: | 70 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Victoria in 1876 |
| Established: | 1774 |
Royal Aberdeen
Royal Aberdeen is again one of the world’s most historic golf courses and is one of the classic links golf courses. The heavily bunkered course offers almost no protection from the strong coastal breezes and can cause havoc to golfers on the elevated tees in places.
| Location: | Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire |
| Length: | 6,922 yards |
| Par: | 71 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1903 |
| Established: | 1780 |
Royal Dornoch
As a truly legendary links golf course, Royal Dornoch has gained plaudits from some of the most famous golfers in the world, including honorary members Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw. The beautiful scenery which surround the course make this a memorable round, regardless of how you play.
| Location: | Dornoch, Sutherland |
| Length: | 6,722 yards |
| Par: | 70 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1906 |
| Established: | 1877 |
Royal Troon
Having hosted one of the most dramatic Open Championships in recent times in 2016, Royal Troon is a simply stunning course. It’s the most recent club in the UK to gain royal status, with Queen Elizabeth doing so in 1978 and features some seriously iconic holes including the famous postage stamp 8th hole.
| Location: | Troon, Ayrshire |
| Length: | 7,208 yards |
| Par: | 71 |
| Granted Royal status by: | Queen Elizabeth II in 1978 |
| Established: | 1878 |
Royal St David's
Royal St David's is no stranger to hosting prestigious tournaments and has previously hosted Open Qualifying. The course itself is set in a remote part of North West Wales and keeps all golfers on their toes with all holes facing in different directions.
View Deals at Royal St David's
| Location: | Harlech, Gwynedd |
| Length: | 6,629 yards |
| Par: | 69 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1908 |
| Established: | 1894 |
Royal Porthcawl
Considered as Wales’ best links course, Royal Porthcrawl is a classic links test for all who visit. Located by the seaside, the course features several typical challenges of links golf, with many holes unprotected. Having previously hosted the 2004 Senior Open Championship, Royal Porthcrawl is a hugely popular stop as part of a South Wales Golf Tour.
| Location: | Portcawl, Mid Glamorgan |
| Length: | 7,068 yards |
| Par: | 72 |
| Granted Royal status by: | King Edward VII in 1909 |
| Established: | 1891 |