St Annes-on-Sea, Lancashire, England
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
A unique links in the heart of a Lancashire town — Royal Lytham & St Annes is defined by its red-brick Victorian character, its formidable bunkering, and an Open Championship history that stretches back to 1926.
About the Course
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club was founded in 1886 and has hosted The Open Championship eleven times — most recently in 2012 when Ernie Els claimed the Claret Jug. The club received its Royal designation in 1926, the same year it first hosted The Open, when Bobby Jones won the championship and a plaque marks the spot from which he played his famous recovery shot at the 17th.
Lytham is unique among Open Championship venues in that it is surrounded by a residential town rather than open coastline. The course begins with a par three — one of only two Open venues to do so — and is defined by its extraordinary bunkering: more than 200 bunkers of varying depth and character that demand precise positioning on every hole.
The course has a distinctly different character from the dune-framed links of Birkdale or the flat exposure of Hoylake. The red-brick Victorian buildings that border the course give it an intimate, enclosed quality that is entirely its own. The closing stretch — from the 15th through the 18th — is among the most demanding finishes in championship golf.
By the Numbers
Course Statistics
Based on course length, terrain & layout
Handicap index suggested for full enjoyment
The Course
Why It Stands Out
Eleven Open Championships
Royal Lytham has hosted The Open Championship eleven times, with a roll of honour that includes Bobby Jones, Seve Ballesteros (twice), Nick Faldo (twice), and Ernie Els. The course has a particular affinity with European champions — Seve's 1979 victory from the car park remains one of the most celebrated moments in Open history.
The Bunkering
With more than 200 bunkers, Royal Lytham demands precision from the first tee to the last green. The bunkers vary enormously in depth, shape, and character — some are shallow and escapable, others are deep revetted traps from which recovery is the only ambition. Managing the bunkering is the central challenge of the course.
Seve's Car Park Shot
In 1979, Seve Ballesteros drove into the car park at the 16th hole during the final round of The Open — and still made birdie. The shot became one of the most celebrated in championship history, and a plaque marks the spot. It is the kind of moment that only Lytham could produce.
The Closing Stretch
The final four holes at Royal Lytham are among the most demanding in championship golf. Long, bunkered, and exposed to the prevailing wind, they have decided Open Championships and will continue to do so. The 18th — a long par four with a heavily bunkered approach — is a fitting conclusion to one of the great tests in the game.
The Course
Course Views
Extend Your Itinerary
The Lancashire Links — A Championship Coastline
Royal Lytham sits at the northern end of one of the most remarkable championship golf regions in England. Southport & Ainsdale, Royal Birkdale, and Hillside are all within 15 miles, with Formby and Royal Liverpool a short drive further south.
Golf Travel
How It Is Included
Royal Lytham is a key component of our Open Championship Links programme — a collection that brings together the finest courses of Lancashire and Merseyside in a single, purposeful itinerary. We arrange tee times, accommodation, and every detail of the routing.
To explore how Royal Lytham fits into a wider route, visit our The Open Championship Links Collection page or our England golf tours page.
Begin Your Journey
Play Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Speak with our team to arrange tee times at Royal Lytham and build a private itinerary across the Open Championship Links of Lancashire.