Royal Lytham snubbed again

PNENIL

PNENIL

Well-known member
Not getting the open in 2026 as hoped as it goes to Birkdale. All venues up to 2030 now been decided. Obviously Martin Slumbers isn't a fan as its tight for space. Money talks. The R & A say it's still on the roster so there is hope.
 
Read about this earlier and as you say money talks. Liverpool this year then Birkdale about 10 minutes away 3 years later. Bit of a joke really.

Lots of talk that Lytham isn’t a test anymore but they still go to St Andrews every 5 years and have a winner destroy the course on 20-odd under par. You only have to look at the winners here over the years. Jacklin, Player, Seve x 2, Duval, Els. Big names in the game, takes a serious player to win at Lytham.
 
Also I believe the course is going to be closed this winter to create a new green (not sure which hole) and build 2 new tees so that might mean it will be selected again sooner rather than later.
 
Have been told a while back they were unlikely to get it ever again.
Not enough space for the whole ‘circus’ that comes with the tournament these days.
 
glasshalffull said:
Have been told a while back they were unlikely to get it ever again.
Not enough space for the whole ‘circus’ that comes with the tournament these days.
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Probs missed a trick not purchasing the Lawrence House land back in the day. Also a rumour they are looking to purchase the LSA High School playing field for the circus you mention but not sure how much truth, or sense, there is in buying such a large piece of land to potentially use once a decade.
 
Pauls_Boutique said:
Probs missed a trick not purchasing the Lawrence House land back in the day. Also a rumour they are looking to purchase the LSA High School playing field for the circus you mention but not sure how much truth, or sense, there is in buying such a large piece of land to potentially use once a decade.
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Birkdale uses the practice area at Hillside next door. Lytham doesn't have that option. If they got the school playing field they could let the school use it and then just make a tented village when they need it.

When we went up to St Andrews, the playing fields next door was used as a camping area
 
Pauls_Boutique said:
Read about this earlier and as you say money talks. Liverpool this year then Birkdale about 10 minutes away 3 years later. Bit of a joke really.

Lots of talk that Lytham isn’t a test anymore but they still go to St Andrews every 5 years and have a winner destroy the course on 20-odd under par. You only have to look at the winners here over the years. Jacklin, Player, Seve x 2, Duval, Els. Big names in the game, takes a serious player to win at Lytham.
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Lytham was always said to be respected by the players rather than loved. It's probably all those bunkers!
I still feel it will come back , maybe for one last time. They better get a move on or I'll be too old to walk round.
I'd actually take getting a Womens open again to be honest as its a lot more accessible watching and a great experience. Even that is not guaranteed anymore as they seem to be spreading their wings and using a lot more different venues. I went to Muirfield for it last year but given it up this year as its at Walton Heath.
You can't beat Lytham on a mens Open week though and it's special when the world's sporting media descend. I do love the course and went last year for the UK Amateur. I'm really disappointed this time as I was sure it would come back for the centenary.
 
Big changes agreed at Royal Lytham AGM.
11th hole moving left after taking out trees and 7th hole moving right. New practise ground where the current 11th fairway and right hand rough is. All work agreed with R & A with the Open returning early 2030’s.
They have also purchased the playing fields of the school who will continue to use them but not when the Open is on.
So not all gloom and doom!
 
CAGU said:
Big changes agreed at Royal Lytham AGM.
11th hole moving left after taking out trees and 7th hole moving right. New practise ground where the current 11th fairway and right hand rough is. All work agreed with R & A with the Open returning early 2030’s.
They have also purchased the playing fields of the school who will continue to use them but not when the Open is on.
So not all gloom and doom!
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The entire holes or just the greens?
 
PNENIL said:
Lytham was always said to be respected by the players rather than loved. It's probably all those bunkers!
I still feel it will come back , maybe for one last time. They better get a move on or I'll be too old to walk round.
I'd actually take getting a Womens open again to be honest as its a lot more accessible watching and a great experience. Even that is not guaranteed anymore as they seem to be spreading their wings and using a lot more different venues. I went to Muirfield for it last year but given it up this year as its at Walton Heath.
You can't beat Lytham on a mens Open week though and it's special when the world's sporting media descend. I do love the course and went last year for the UK Amateur. I'm really disappointed this time as I was sure it would come back for the centenary.
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I also enjoyed the Womens Open in 2018. Obviously not as many spectators so could see everything and the course was in great condition. I remember free entry on Wednesday practice and the players were really interactive with the children.

Also the referee Mike Dean was caddying for someone and got a bit of good natured stick, not off me!!
 
Have some great memories of watching Opens, Ryder Cup and playing there. Hope it returns, great test esp if a gentle breeze like today.
 
I thought they said last time any significant event was played there..that it wouldn’t happen again as the course wasn’t long enough? Due to the newer players/clubs hitting so much further …?
 
Killingmesoftly said:
I thought they said last time any significant event was played there..that it wouldn’t happen again as the course wasn’t long enough? Due to the newer players/clubs hitting so much further …?
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Depends on whether the rough is up. They can turn out a very difficult course that will stand up to the World’s best players.
Much tougher than Hoylake and Royal St Georges.
Look at the winning scores since it’s been held there. The only time the players got the better of the course was when Tom Lehman won there when it was a dry Spring and the rough wasn’t penal.
 
PNENIL said:
Not getting the open in 2026 as hoped as it goes to Birkdale. All venues up to 2030 now been decided. Obviously Martin Slumbers isn't a fan as its tight for space. Money talks. The R & A say it's still on the roster so there is hope.
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And where have you seen or read about the venues from 2026 & beyond being confirmed and where are they ???
 
The change really has been to swap Hoylake in and take Lytham out.

Birkdale had Opens in my youth, and still has them now.

I think it’s unlikely that 3 North West courses will be on the rota at the same time, when you also have Scottish courses and Sandwich.

Clearly Hoylake has more space.

However I think that part of the reason for the change is lots of transformational public funding has gone into LIverpool City Centre over the last thirty years making it a better place to stay, whereas the towns of the North West have received far less.

Because when I visit Hoylake (mate lives there), there is very little hotel accommodation. I can only assume everyone gets the Merseyrail out to the course.

Happy to hear other views.
 
May be for the best for Lytham. The R&A are increasingly demanding as all the extra works at Hoylake show. They've made a right balls of the course in my opinion. Used to be a "sort of " links but increasingly turning into a cod Americana job with corporate facilities everywhere, watered fairways, nice little roads for the raspberry carts, and a ludicrous short hole novelty redevelopment. Just needs a few windmills and helter skelters and it will be a complete job. Still going Friday and Sunday though.....
 
seasidelytham said:
And where have you seen or read about the venues from 2026 & beyond being confirmed and where are they ???
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Sorry my mistake, in my disappointment I read the article wrong. The other years after Birkdale were speculative including St Andrews and Muirfield. Apologies.
 
PNENIL said:
Sorry my mistake, in my disappointment I read the article wrong. The other years after Birkdale were speculative including St Andrews and Muirfield. Apologies.
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Muirfield is not back on the Open Rota yet due to their previous ban on women members. StAndrews will more than likely get it in 2027 (was previously when the year ended in a 5 or 0) but that got out of sync due to the 150th Anniversary last year. So in keeping with alternating between Scotland & the remaining venues, then 2028 is up for grabs…..watch this space !! Work starts at Lytham this October…2026 was too soon for the course to settle and become Championship ready……2028 however is very different !
 
hampshire_exile said:
The change really has been to swap Hoylake in and take Lytham out.

Birkdale had Opens in my youth, and still has them now.

I think it’s unlikely that 3 North West courses will be on the rota at the same time, when you also have Scottish courses and Sandwich.

Clearly Hoylake has more space.

However I think that part of the reason for the change is lots of transformational public funding has gone into LIverpool City Centre over the last thirty years making it a better place to stay, whereas the towns of the North West have received far less.

Because when I visit Hoylake (mate lives there), there is very little hotel accommodation. I can only assume everyone gets the Merseyrail out to the course.

Happy to hear other views.
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As I mentioned above Hoylake was promised 3 Opens by the R & A and this year is the last of 3.
I expect Lytham to be back once the changes have been done and as already mentioned, 2028 is a possibility.
Royal Lytham have recently had an EGM to approve the changes proposed by Martin Ebert, the architect appointed by the R & A (so I believe)
 
CAGU said:
As I mentioned above Hoylake was promised 3 Opens by the R & A and this year is the last of 3.
I expect Lytham to be back once the changes have been done and as already mentioned, 2028 is a possibility.
Royal Lytham have recently had an EGM to approve the changes proposed by Martin Ebert, the architect appointed by the R & A (so I believe)
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Thanks for that. Very interesting
 
CAGU said:
As I mentioned above Hoylake was promised 3 Opens by the R & A and this year is the last of 3.
I expect Lytham to be back once the changes have been done and as already mentioned, 2028 is a possibility.
Royal Lytham have recently had an EGM to approve the changes proposed by Martin Ebert, the architect appointed by the R & A (so I believe)
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spot on !
 
CAGU said:
Big changes agreed at Royal Lytham AGM.
11th hole moving left after taking out trees and 7th hole moving right. New practise ground where the current 11th fairway and right hand rough is. All work agreed with R & A with the Open returning early 2030’s.
They have also purchased the playing fields of the school who will continue to use them but not when the Open is on.
So not all gloom and doom!
Click to expand...
Spot on, driving range to only be used during the Open… so that hospitality can utilise the current range.

3 future events factored in including the big one.

It’s coming home…
 
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