While the R&A calls its big event the Open Championship, the truth is that the tournament is closed, at least when it comes to venue.

Unlike the USGA, which has been willing to experiment with different sites for the U.S. Open, the R&A’s rota for its Open is a tightly knit circle of nine tradition-laden links in Scotland or England—it truly is a British Open.

The R&A may be golf’s governing body for 126 countries, but it has only taken its championship outside Britain once, in 1951. That year, it didn’t really wander very far—across the North Channel to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

The last time a new course was introduced to the Open rota was 1977, when Turnberry hosted for the first time. And it has never been played on a non-links. If golf truly is a global game, as seems to be the prevailing wisdom, it would be great to see the Open Championship played around the world—there are plenty of worthy venues in countries like Australia, Japan, Spain and South Africa.

While that notion may be far-fetched for now, it isn’t unreasonable to expect the R&A to take the Open to some new layouts closer to home. Click the link below for a list of 10 quality courses in Great Britain and Ireland that deserve consideration for golf’s oldest championship.

If the R&A expands its vision and its borders—especially to one of the worthy links in Ireland—the tournament truly could deserve to be known as the Open Championship.

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