Royal Lytham and St Annes: 2026 Access and Booking Update
One of the great Open links is back in the championship spotlight. Royal Lytham hosts the 50th AIG Women's Open in 2026 and returns to the men's Open rota in 2028. Here is what that means for visitors and how to book a round around the dates.
Photo via Google.
The news: a championship summer, and the Open returning in 2028
The big news for 2026 is that Royal Lytham and St Annes hosts the AIG Women's Open, and not just any edition: this is the 50th playing of the championship, scheduled for July 29 to August 2, 2026. A landmark major on a links of this pedigree puts Lytham firmly back in the spotlight, and it sets the calendar for anyone hoping to play the course this year.
Looking a little further out, the club has also been confirmed to return to the men's Open Championship rota in 2028, when it will stage the championship for the twelfth time. For the travelling golfer in 2026, the practical takeaway is straightforward: plan around the Women's Open week and the preparation that surrounds it, and book a visitor round outside that window. Below is what the course is and how to get on this year.
The course, and its place among the links
Royal Lytham is proof that a links does not need ocean views or towering dunes to be one of the world's finest. Founded in 1886 and on its present links since 1897, it sits inland behind suburban Lytham and the railway line with not a glimpse of the sea, and it defends par instead with its routing, its lightning fast greens and a staggering field of around 200 bunkers. It plays as a par 70 of around 7,100 yards, where accuracy and bunker avoidance matter far more than length.
The pedigree is immense. Lytham has crowned eleven Open champions, from Bobby Jones in 1926 through Seve Ballesteros twice to Ernie Els in 2012, and it famously opens with a par 3, one of only a handful of great courses to do so. It finishes with a brutal closing stretch beneath the red brick clubhouse that has decided major championships. Paired with Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Formby to the north, it sits at the heart of one of the strongest links clusters anywhere in the game.
How to play it in 2026
Visitor access at Lytham is limited and best arranged well ahead, with stay and play packages available through the club's dormy house. The single most important point for 2026 is timing: keep clear of the AIG Women's Open period in late July and early August and the course preparation around it, when visitor play will be curtailed. The indicative peak visitor green fee was around 410 pounds for 2025, with weekday and shoulder season rates also available; fees change by season and year, so treat any figure as indicative and always confirm current rates and available days directly before booking.
For the best of the course, aim for a weekday outside the championship window and combine it with the neighbouring links on the Lancashire coast to make a proper trip of it. Lytham rewards the player who drives straight and respects the bunkers, so leave the driver in the bag where position matters and play for the fat of the greens. Book early, because a championship year sharpens demand for tee times across the whole coast.
Our take
Our take is that 2026 is a fine year to have Lytham on your list, provided you plan around the championship. A links good enough to host the 50th Women's Open and return to the men's Open in 2028 needs no further endorsement, and the chance to play it in a major year, with the grandstands going up or freshly down, adds something to the round.
If you are planning a 2026 trip, book a weekday outside the late July to early August window, pair Lytham with Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Formby for a complete Lancashire links tour, and reserve early. Respect the bunkers, expect no easy pars, and confirm available days and fees directly before committing.
Plan your Lancashire links golf trip
From a round at Royal Lytham to Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Formby up the coast, with lodging and the tee times sorted around the championship calendar, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
What is happening at Royal Lytham in 2026?
Royal Lytham and St Annes hosts the AIG Women's Open in 2026, the 50th edition of the championship, scheduled from July 29 to August 2, 2026. Visitor access around championship week and the run up will be restricted, so plan a round outside that window. The club is also confirmed to return to the men's Open Championship rota in 2028.
Can visitors play Royal Lytham in 2026?
Yes, on limited days. Visitor access is restricted and best arranged well ahead, with stay and play packages available through the dormy house. Avoid the AIG Women's Open period in late July and early August 2026 and any preparation closures. The indicative peak visitor green fee was around 410 pounds for 2025; fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and available days directly before booking.
What is Royal Lytham like to play?
Royal Lytham was founded in 1886 and plays as a par 70 of around 7,100 yards, defended by roughly 200 bunkers. It sits inland behind houses and the railway with no sea view, relying on precise driving, bunker avoidance and fast greens rather than scenery. It famously opens with a par 3 and has hosted eleven Open Championships.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, championship history and the 2026 AIG Women's Open and 2028 Open dates verified June 2026 from the club, the championship organisers and golf news sources; access and fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.