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The Open News
15 March 2022
2023 Final Qualifying Venues announced
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Royal Cinque Ports one of four new venues
Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire have been confirmed as new venues to stage Final Qualifying for The Open.
The four courses will host qualifying events starting in 2023 and running until 2026, with tour players, club professionals and elite amateurs competing for places in golf’s original Championship.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, “We have selected four renowned venues to host Final Qualifying from 2023 and each of them has an outstanding reputation for hosting championships and international matches."
Burnham & Berrow will become a Final Qualifying venue for the first time in the club’s history in 2023. It has staged several prestigious amateur championships including the Women’s Amateur Championship, The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
Dundonald Links hosted the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for the first time in 2017 and also held the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open in 2015, 2016 and 2017. In doing so, it became the first venue to host the men’s and women’s Scottish Opens in the same year.
The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship was played there in 2014, while qualifying for The Senior Open presented by Rolex and a DP World Tour Qualifying School event have also taken place there. The Trust Golf Women's Scottish Open will be played at the Ayrshire links this year.
“We look forward to working with (the venues) to stage a series of exciting events in which golfers will compete for a sought-after place in The Open. We have enjoyed working with Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links in staging Final Qualifying in recent years and I would like to thank them for their support.” Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A
Royal Cinque Ports first staged The Open in 1909 when JH Taylor won the Championship for a fourth time before George Duncan lifted the Claret Jug at the Kent links in 1920. It has previously been a venue for Final Qualifying, as well as staging The Amateur Championship on three occasions in 1923, 1982 and 2013. It hosted The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship last year, won by Jack Bigham.
West Lancashire has a renowned reputation for staging professional and amateur championships and celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2023. It hosted the Women’s Amateur Championship in 2020 having also co-staged The Amateur Championship with Formby in 2009. In 2014, it was the venue for the Junior Open and has also been a regular venue for Final Qualifying.
Final Qualifying is contested by a combined field of 288 players, including those who have been successful in Regional Qualifying events, with a minimum of 12 places in The Open available.
