This is disappointing, I was hoping they would take it to Deal.

Portrush, Waterville, or Dornoch.

Wow, after attending last year for the first time at Merion, I vowed never to miss another one. Might have to take 2015 off though. Looking forward to 2017 at LACC, but I'll be an old man by then. Wow.

I for one have long wondered how long Royal Lytham and St Annes would remain on the Open rota. Now that we have Hoylake back, and Birkdale, too, all within proverbial hops-skips-and-jumps.

It's just too short, and crowded, and (with apologies to Tom Friedman) flat. For instance, with current driving distances, bar a strong headwind, professionals just blast it pass the paired angled cross-bunkers on the last, and the hole can't be lengthened without massively shortening/changing the par three fifth, with which it shares a tee (they play in opposite directions).

Of course, as shown at Merion a few years' back, amateurs often hit it even FURTHER than (sensible) pros, but I digress! --

I fear a future will arrive in which RLASA will be an amateur venue predominantly (a la Merion, until its 'rehabilitation'). 'Tis a pity, as it's a wonderful place, and much harder, and more interesting (to my mind) than the much longer, bowling-alleyed Birkdale, with Lythan's magnificent crowned greens, and as fine a stretch as anywhere, starting on 12. And of course memories of Bobby Jones' heroics on that penultimate hole! (I'll take that over Ballesteros' block into the car park on 16.)

j-mack,

how bout the 65 Seve closed with in '88? - head to head with Faldo and Nicky Price, who's 67 equaled the low round of the championship to that point (Seve's first round)...he hit scads of fairways and just about holed out his second @ 16 (within a few inches) and then an exquisite up and down @ the 18th as Price stood by.

Better than some of the Ryder Cup venues they've selected in Europe. But I understand Geoff's point.

As in recent past, since the early 80s, I was hoping the R&A would continue to take the Walker Cup to the non-rota courses, preferably the links courses.

So I was hoping they might select Dornoch, Deal, or maybe Portrush as well.

Looks like Deal has the Amateur in 2013, but no love for Portrush since 1993 Amateur.

I learned my golf in Lytham so I'm biased but, after Carnoustie,Lytham is the best bunkered course in the UK and will provide a great test for the Walker Cup-after all it is rarely 'taken apart' in the Open.
I agree with the point made though-its a shame they didnt go for a different venue-Castle Stuart would be pretty darn good by then too.

I'm sure the R&A are hoping the US team will be distracted by the nearby delights of Blackpool.

RLASA is a wonderful course, and is certainly of the quality for a Walker Cup! Were there other venues that could have hosted it that we don't get to see very often, of course, but please, don't knock Lytham, it is a quality golf course

Royal Lytham is a fantastic golf course rich in history. As well as being the scene of Bobby Jones' first Open Championship victory in 1926, it has since the early '60's hosted one of Europe's premier amateur strokeplay tournaments - the Lytham Trophy.

How about Royal Cinque Ports?

Oh wait, someone already suggested Deal. Same difference as Cinque Ports. My bad.

Geoff
I take it by your comment, that you have played RLASA ?

At least they're making better picks than the Ryder Cup....

Old Head! Old Head!

How about Nairn - I hear they are lengthening it to try and get the walker cup back. Also recomend Dornoch - love to see how the top amateurs would play Foxy.

While I am not overly keen on Lytham, it has been a stalwart of amateur golf in Britain. I don't think any course has hosted more Amateurs and of course the highly touted Lytham Trophy has been hosted by Lytham since the mid 60's. So far as I know, only one inland course has hosted the Amateur - Ganton. There are not that many of the classic heathland designs which are considered robust enough to hold an Amateur. Off the top of my head, only Notts comes to mind. Perhaps the Walton Heath combo course is suitable. Some believe that many of the second tier "championship" links are not tough enough. Perhaps this is why we see Open courses used as the back bone for the Amateur. Additionally, there is a long history of Open venues being used for double duty.

Woodhall Spa is a fantastic inland test-but all you would get is that we had handed the initiative back to the USA by not going to a links!