'I've such fond memories of the Open Golf at Royal Lytham and St Annes and I hope it comes back in 2028'

Fylde coast business owners are relishing the prospect of the Open Golf championship possibly coming back to Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2028.

It’s 14 years since the world-famous course last hosted the game’s first and greatest tournament but it has been tipped by the world’s golf press to be a favourite for a long-awaited return in two years’ time.

Although golf’s governing body the Royal and Ancient is only saying the venue for that year will be named “in due course”, Royal Lytham and St Annes is thought to be in strong contention along with Royal St George’s in Kent, which last hosted the Open in 2021.

Since the Fylde course’s last hosting, the potential benefits to a local economy of the Open coming to town have rocketed, with the latest figure said to be £280 million in total economic impact, including direct expenditure and marketing benefits.

Major benefits include record-breaking tourist crowds — 278,000 attended at Royal Portrush last year—driving substantial spending in hospitality, transport, and local businesses.

The Open at Royal Portrush generated £89 million in direct, immediate economic benefit to Northern Ireland and the growth of economic benefit over time is illustrated by the fact that The Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023 showed a 35 per cent increase in benefit for the Wirral compared to 2014.

“It will be wonderful for the Fylde economy if it comes back in 2028,” said St Annes restaurateur Veli Kirk of the Anatolia Seaview eaterie.

“I was running our previous smaller premises when it was last here in 2012 and we were so busy throughout.

“I remember one evening, we had a party of seven Americans in and they said they had enjoyed the food and could we make room for 100 people the following evening.

“They were from a US TV network and the 100 did indeed come along. We served them in three sittings and were there into the early hours.

“It would be great so have that kind of benefit again and it would be so welcome right across the hospitality industry, as we are still recovering economically from the Covid lockdown.

“Fingers crossed it will be back in 2028.”

Andrew Whitaker, who owns the Mode hotels in Lytham and St Annes, said: “It would be so good to have it back to give the local economy a real boost.

“It is certainly the case we are still recovering from the pandemic and that would be a wonderful tonic for everyone.

“We have people in this summer who are going to the Open at Royal Birkdale and to pay the courses around here and that is just a small taste of what is possible.”

Two years ago, improvement work was carried out at Royal Lytham to allow the hosting of future championship tournaments and it is hosting the AIG Women’s Open this summer.

The remodelling works included a new practice ground and practice tee; building of a new tee on the 14th hole; alterations to reroute the 11th fairway; and works to improve the road system to provide access around the course.

Royal Lytham and St Annes had hoped to host The Open this year, 100 years after its first Open, when Bobby Jones won. But Birkdale was given the honours instead.

The Royal and Ancient has said: “Royal Lytham and St Annes is an important venue and remains very much part of our thinking for The Open, alongside other venues that stage the Championship,” an R&A spokesperson said in 2023.

“We consider a wide range of factors when we decide on future venues and there are many reasons why we select a particular venue at a particular time. We look forward to returning to the Fylde coast again in future.”

The 156th Open in 2028 will be held from July 30 to August 6 to accommodate the Olympic golf competitions.