I played Royal Lytham & St Annes before the AIG Women’s Open – here’s what the pros will be up against.
The 50th anniversary of the AIG Women’s Open is coming up at the famous Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, where the world’s top female golfers will compete for the trophy.
A strong field of 144 players will go head-to-head, and the best amateur will win the Smyth Salver.
Royal Lytham is a classic links course, known for being a tough and strategic challenge. It features tight fairways, small greens, and deep bunkers that really punish inaccurate shots.
Since 1976, the AIG Women’s Open has been one of the five major championships in women’s golf, celebrating 50 years of highlighting the amazing women’s game. Now run by The R&A, this event plays a key role in growing golf for women and girls.
Thanks to this growth, Sky Sports will add extra early coverage on Thursday and Friday, with three more hours each day plus 14 hours during the weekend—all live!
The tournament runs from July 29 to August 2, 2026. Before it kicks off, I was lucky to visit the course to try it myself and put my 20+ handicap to the test.
Walking into the grand clubhouse, you really feel the place’s rich history. It’s like a golf museum, with original clubs used by past champions and even Bobby Jones’ famous club from 1926.
We got an excellent introduction to the course, clubhouse, and facilities, then headed to the range to warm up. After a quick chat with the friendly starter, it was time to tee off.
Starting on a tricky par-3 with a small crowd and the Women’s Open trophy right behind me definitely made my nerves jump. My first shot went way off line into the trees, but after a second try and a clever chip, I managed a bogey.
Even though the course is a bit inland, the coastal winds typical of links courses made things tougher, especially for an amateur. Luckily, the weather was dry, but the wind gusts hit 35 mph! Some par 4s felt more like par 5s that day.
Driver became my best friend, helping me avoid those huge bunkers and keep the ball in play. After some early double bogeys, I hit my best drive on the par 5 sixth hole, setting up a chance for eagle! Although my putts fell short, I earned a solid par.
The next par 5 wasn’t so kind—my second shot landed in a massive bunker, and after struggling to escape, I finished with a triple bogey.
I kept chipping away, scoring a bogey on eight before enjoying one of the most beautiful holes on the course, the par-3 ninth.
By the turn, I’d carded a 51—not great, but not too bad either. The halfway house offered some of Lytham’s famous sausage rolls—definitely some of the best I’ve ever had!
Though my score got higher on the back nine, my enjoyment never faded, as we navigated this beautiful, windy course.
At last, the iconic clubhouse appeared again as we approached the 18th hole. To add some excitement, our great photographer was ready to capture the moment.
Trying not to hit the photographer, I hit a perfect drive down the fairway, avoiding the bunkers. I finished with a bogey and a total score of 105, 34 over par—it felt like a great round! Golf sure is a funny game.
Now that I’ve played Royal Lytham myself, I can’t wait to watch the world’s best women golfers take on this stunning course. It promises to be one of the best events of the year!
The AIG Women’s Open happens from July 29 to August 2, 2026, at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Tickets start at £25 for adults; youth tickets are half price, and under-16s get in free.