Paul McGinley holing that triumphant putt, Phillip Price shocking Phil Mickelson in the singles, Sam Torrance shedding tears of relief and joy, the 2002 Ryder Cup is one that a generation of European golf fans recall fondly.
But it was a long, long time ago now.
That showpiece at The Belfry also represented the last occasion that the event was staged in England, which appears to be an anomaly that is due for a correction. However, with Adare Manor and Camiral (formerly PGA Catalunya) confirmed as future hosts in 2027 and 2031, respectively, the next free date is 2035, which would mark 33 years since the Ryder Cup was played on English soil.
The question is, should the iconic match between Europe and the United States make its way back to England, where 14 of the first 16 contests on this side of the Atlantic were held, then which venue should be chosen?
Some would be intrigued by the nostalgia of returning to The Belfry for a fifth time, 50 years since its debut, which was argued in this article, but 52.4% of golfers polled on social media told us that they wanted to see the Ryder Cup go elsewhere.
Looking for suggestions, we asked the Golfshake Community on Facebook to pick out the English golf course that they would most want to see host the Ryder Cup in the future.
Including returning venues, classic championship layouts, and modern designs, the comments were illuminating and demonstrated the vast choice of locations that organisers have to choose from.
Here are just some of the ideas that golfers gave to us.
Ganton Golf Club
Ganton Golf Club in North Yorkshire was the host of the Ryder Cup way back in 1949, and it was suggested that the event should make its way back there.
It’s also welcomed the Curtis Cup and Walker Cup in recent decades, and those events seem far more likely to return here in the future.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
We now think of Royal Birkdale as being synonymous with the Open Championship, which is coming back in 2026, but it also twice hosted the Ryder Cup, in 1965 and 1969, the latter being most memorable for the concession involving Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin.
There is no doubt that Birkdale has the quality and ability to stage an event of the magnitude of the Ryder Cup.
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club
Due to logistical restrictions, Lytham hasn’t staged the Open since 2012, instead being deployed for the Women’s Open and Senior Open, but with changes made to the property, could it once again stage the Ryder Cup, which it did back in 1961 and 1977, the latter edition being the final one with the home side solely representing Great Britain & Ireland.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Having hosted the Open most recently in 2023, we know that Hoylake possesses the capability of housing the infrastructure of this massive event, but we have to look back almost 50 years since the Ryder Cup was last staged at a classic links course, or indeed a place more accustomed to staging golf’s oldest championship.
Royal St George’s Golf Club
Sandwich is one of England’s most historic venues and has hosted the Open Championship more than any other course outside Scotland, but the Ryder Cup has never made its way here, and despite the understandable clamour to see the event played across a links of this standing, it’s unlikely to happen.
Hillside Golf Club
Somewhat overshadowed by adjacent Birkdale, but a brilliant test of links golf in its own right, Hillside would be an intriguing choice of venue, but given the infrastructure parameters that are required these days, it’s more likely that we’ll see a Walker Cup here in the future.
Ultimately, with the Ryder Cup, it’s less about the quality of the course that counts, but instead the wider strength and potential of the location.
The Belfry
Departing from the seaside, let’s just get right into things and state that there are golf fans out there who want to see the Ryder Cup back at The Belfry, potentially 50 years after Europe’s iconic triumph on the Brabazon Course. We’ve seen this place more recently showcased during the British Masters, and there have been upgrades made to the hotel and facilities, but will that be enough to tempt back the Ryder Cup?
It would be cool to see, but there’s a strong chance that The Belfry’s rich history will remain just that, in the past.
Wentworth
Home of the DP World Tour, Wentworth staged the Ryder Cup back in 1953, and its status as an iconic venue has long been established after it hosted the World Match Play Championship for decades and has been the stage for the BMW PGA Championship every year since 1984.
Seeing these tree-lined fairways packed with spectators would be quite an image, the atmosphere would be tremendous, but would that be enough to justify taking the Ryder Cup back here?
Woodhall Spa
Lincolnshire’s Woodhall Spa boasts one of England’s toughest courses in the Hotchkin, and it’s also home to England Golf. This would be a traditional venue but a new host for the Ryder Cup, which would be a fascinating prospect, but we think it’s unlikely that vision will ever be realised.
Centurion Club
Opened in 2013 and one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the country, located in Hemel Hempstead, Centurion has staged LIV Golf events and some will recall the GolfSixes tournaments that were played here. This was suggested as a modern alternative to other venues, which might be more likely, but we reckon it’s not going to happen.
The Grove
Staying in Hertfordshire, The Grove, where Tiger Woods won a World Golf Championship almost 20 years ago, was suggested by several golfers, and this feels like a venue with potential, featuring an acclaimed course that is part of one of the most celebrated resorts in England.
Perhaps The Grove could one day welcome the Ryder Cup.
The Shire London
There is probably no one more visibly connected to the European Ryder Cup team than the late, great Seve Ballesteros, and The Shire was designed by the legendary Spaniard, who created a layout that is adaptable and seems ideal for match play, but while it could be fun, we probably won’t see the event come to this venue.
JCB Golf & Country Club
Regular host of LIV Golf UK, JCB is a modern course that has an allure of mystique about it as tee times are difficult to come by. Located to the west of Derby, JCB was a popular suggestion among the golfers who responded to us, but could we really see the Ryder Cup go there?
Royal Norwich Golf Club
The new course at Royal Norwich was launched in 2019, with Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter in attendance on the opening day, but that will probably be the closest that the showpiece event comes to this charming corner of Norfolk.
Remedy Oak Golf Club
This wasn’t a place that we had considered before, but Remedy Oak in Dorset was an interesting course mentioned, with this brilliant layout coming Highly Recommended by the Golfshake Community, but that dream killer question of infrastructure and the ability to host tens of thousands of spectators is another thing entirely.
St Mellion Estate
Cornwall’s St Mellion Estate feels like it could have been a Ryder Cup venue in another era, with its Jack Nicklaus-designed course and hotel facilities, but would that translate into being suitable for the modern event? That’s the question we have, but it was a fun suggestion that we received.
Rockliffe Hall
Moving all the way to the North East of England, Rockliffe Hall has the course and accompanying hotel accommodation, but does it possess quite enough to stage an event of the stature of the Ryder Cup? It’s certainly got the yardage – as the layout measures almost 7,800 yards from the very back tees!
Luton Hoo
Despite the appeals offered by many of the above venues, Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire is perhaps the most likely to become a reality. Plans were approved to build a championship-level golf course on the site in 2023, while major redevelopment work on the hotel and spa has also received approval.
The hotel’s owners, Arora Group, have declared their desire to host the Ryder Cup in either 2031 or 2035, with that later date now being the next available spot that could finally see the event make its way back to England.
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