Hillside and Southport & Ainsdale were this week unveiled as the hosts of next year’s R&A Amateur Championship.
The Lancashire venues follow hot on the heels of Royal Lytham and St Annes Old Links, which are co-hosting the blue riband event this week, although the following year, and for the first time, the Irish links of Ballyliffin in County Donegal will take a turn.
Today and yesterday the R&A has also announced a large proportion of its venues for competitions in 2023 and 2024 with Prince’s in Kent staging The 120th Women’s Amateur next year and then Royal Birkdale, a ten-time host of The Open, the year after.
Phil Anderton, Chief Development Officer at The R&A, said, “We want to reinforce The R&A’s amateur championships and international matches as pinnacle events in global elite amateur golf and attract the best players from across the world to compete.
“It is fitting to have our championships hosted at some of the world’s finest venues over the next two years. Continuing to stage some of our most notable amateur championships for both male and female players at the same time also allows us to showcase and promote the sport for all.”
Hallamshire’s Barclay Brown and South African Jonathan Broomhead top British Amateur qualifying
The match play stages of the R&A Girls’ and Boys’ Amateur Championships will be played simultaneously at one venue at Carnoustie in August for the first time and the same trend will follow over the next two years. Ganton will host match play for both championships in 2023 with Fulford and York hosting stroke play qualifying. Alwoodley will stage match play in 2024 with Moortown and Pannal hosting qualifying.