All About The Open Championship
The Open Championship is the oldest major championships in the field of professional golf, and is played on a rotating basis at one of nine courses across the UK.
After the first championship was held in 1860 the championship has been played on a yearly basis, except from during the two World Wars and in 1871. The competition has been played at 14 courses, including St Andrews in Scotland, Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake & Royal St George’s in Kent, and five courses including Prestwick & Musselburgh Links are no longer on the rotation.
The field for the open is 156 golfers and there are three ways those who want to participate can gain a place in the competition. Two thirds of the participants are made up of leading players who are given exemptions in order to ensure that the top professionals are guaranteed a place in the competition.
The remaining third is made up of players who take part in the Local Qualifying which is made up of Regional Qualifying and International Qualifying. Regional Qualifying describes the 16 18-hole competitions around Britain & Ireland that take place just before the event, with 12 places available and International Qualifying comprises of 36-hole qualifiers, with one held in Africa, Australia, Asia, America & Europe.
International Qualifying has tougher entry rules than Regional Qualifying, as it is only those players who have an Official World Golf Rankings rating who are permitted to enter, but for those eligible there are 36 places available split across the 5 venues.
The golfer who has won the most Open Championships is Harry Vardon, of England, who won six tournaments between 1896 and 1914, closely followed by renowned golfer and course designer James Braid who along with John Henry Taylor (ENG), Peter Thomson (AUS) & Tom Watson (USA) has won 5 titles.
The next competition is the 140th Edition in 2011, which will be held at Royal St George, in Sandwich in Kent.
Mere Country Club, a topCheshire golf club was a venue for the recent Reginal Qualifyers. It also makes a great course to take out a corporate golf membership at.
