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The British Open by Private Jet, Birkdale to St Andrews
The British Open: Birkdale 2026, St Andrews 2027
The 2026 edition is the 11th hosted by Royal Birkdale, in Southport, the previous one dating back to 2017. In 2025, the 153rd Open was played at Royal Portrush, in Northern Ireland, won by Scottie Scheffler, four strokes clear of Harris English. What comes next is already known: the Old Course at St Andrews will host its 31st Open from 11 to 18 July 2027, one hundred years after amateur Bobby Jones's victory in 1927, then Royal Lytham & St Annes will stage the 2028 edition in the week of 30 July to 6 August, moved to avoid the Olympic golf tournament in Los Angeles. The return to St Andrews will be the first since the 150th Open of 2022 and its record 290,000 spectators.
A history born at Prestwick in 1860
The first Open was played on 17 October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club, on the Ayrshire coast, over three rounds of a twelve-hole links; Willie Park won ahead of Old Tom Morris. Prestwick hosted 24 editions between 1860 and 1925. In 1873, the tournament left Prestwick for the first time and was played at St Andrews, the second host course in history: Tom Kidd became the first champion to receive the Claret Jug there. By tradition, the Old Course hosts The Open roughly every five years; the St Andrews Links site has seven public courses in total.
The rota courses and their airports
Ten courses sit on The Open rota, two of them dormant: Turnberry, without an edition since 2009, and Muirfield, without one since 2013. The table below pairs each links with its business-aviation airport.
| Course (region) | Business airport | Indicative drive time |
| Old Course, St Andrews (Fife) | Dundee (light jets) or Edinburgh | about 25 min · 1 h to 1 h 15 |
| Carnoustie (Angus) | Dundee | about 25 min |
| Royal Troon (Ayrshire) | Glasgow Prestwick | about 10 min |
| Turnberry (Ayrshire) | Glasgow Prestwick | about 40 min |
| Royal Birkdale (Southport) | Liverpool John Lennon | about 45 min |
| Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) | Liverpool John Lennon | about 45 min |
| Royal Lytham & St Annes | Blackpool or Manchester | 10 to 15 min · about 1 h |
| Royal St George's (Sandwich, Kent) | Lydd (light jets) or Biggin Hill | about 1 h · about 1 h 30 |
| Royal Portrush (Antrim) | City of Derry or Belfast International | about 40 min · about 1 h |
Scotland: St Andrews, Carnoustie and Ayrshire
For St Andrews and Carnoustie, the closest airport is Dundee (DND/EGPN), about 25 minutes by road from each. Its 1,400 m runway does impose a performance limit: it suits light and midsize jets (Phenom 300, Citation), not heavy aircraft, which land at Edinburgh, about 80 km from the Old Course. See our Edinburgh destination. Carnoustie, where golf has been documented since the early sixteenth century, has hosted eight Opens, from 1931 to 2018.
On the west coast, Glasgow Prestwick (PIK/EGPK) is the gateway to Ayrshire, with a 2,987 m main runway open to all aircraft types and a dedicated business-aviation terminal. During the 2024 Open at Royal Troon, the tenth hosted by the club, the airport handled 138 private flights, from helicopters to the Global 7500. Royal Troon is about ten minutes away, and Turnberry, four Opens with the last in 2009 and no return scheduled to date, about 40 minutes. A nod to history: Prestwick Golf Club, the birthplace of The Open, is a few minutes from the airport.
England: Birkdale, Hoylake, Lytham and Sandwich
In the north-west, Liverpool John Lennon serves both Royal Birkdale, the 2026 host, and Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), thirteen Opens since 1897, about 45 minutes from each. During tournament week, road closures and shuttles lengthen journeys noticeably: it pays to plan ahead. For Royal Lytham & St Annes, the 2028 host, Blackpool airport, reopened to business aviation, is a few kilometres from the club, with Manchester as the alternative for heavy aircraft. In Kent, Royal St George's, fifteen Opens, more than any other course outside Scotland, is reached from Lydd (light jets, about one hour) or from Biggin Hill: see our London airports.
Northern Ireland: Royal Portrush
The stage for The Open's return to Northern Ireland in 2019, a first since 1951, Royal Portrush did it again in 2025 in front of a record crowd. The course is reached from City of Derry, about 45 km away, or from Belfast International, about an hour by road. To extend a golfing stay in Ireland, see our Dublin destination.
Which private jet for the British Open?
From Europe, Scotland is a short hop: about 1 h to 1 h 15 from London, in the order of 1 h 20 to 1 h 30 from Paris and 1 h 45 to 2 hours from Geneva, to be confirmed depending on the aircraft and winds. The choice of aircraft depends above all on the arrival runway: a light jet lands closest to the course (Dundee, Lydd, Blackpool), while Prestwick, Edinburgh and Liverpool accept every category of our private jet fleet. We handle the flights, the slots and the ground handling; see the role of the private terminal (FBO).
Planning your golf week with IBC Aviation
Attending The Open, or stringing together the legendary links between editions, is planned like an itinerary: the flight, the transfers, the tee times, the accommodation. We handle the flights and coordinate everything with our concierge service. Go further with our selection of the finest golf courses in Europe, our Wimbledon by private jet article and our private jet charter offer.
Private jet charter with IBC Aviation:
Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and requirements, and arrange your journey to or from every course on the rota. Available 24/7:
- France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
- Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
- Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
- Bangkok: +66 81 808 2866
- Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com
Frequently asked questions
Where is the 2026 British Open being played?
The 154th edition is at Royal Birkdale, in Southport, England, with championship rounds from 16 to 19 July 2026. It is the 11th Open hosted by the club.
Where will the 2027 British Open be played?
On the Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland, from 11 to 18 July 2027. It will be the 31st Open played on the Old Course, one hundred years after Bobby Jones's victory in 1927.
Which airport for St Andrews by private jet?
Dundee is the closest, about 25 minutes by road, but its 1,400 m runway limits it to light and midsize jets. Heavier aircraft land at Edinburgh, about 80 km from the Old Course. IBC Aviation arranges charters to or from these airports.
Which airport for Royal Birkdale?
Liverpool John Lennon, about 45 minutes by road from Southport. During Open week, road closures lengthen journeys: it is advisable to plan ahead.
Can you reach every course on the rota by private jet?
Yes. Each links has a business-aviation airport of reference: Dundee or Edinburgh for St Andrews and Carnoustie, Prestwick for Troon and Turnberry, Liverpool for Birkdale and Hoylake, Blackpool for Lytham, Lydd or Biggin Hill for Sandwich, City of Derry or Belfast for Portrush.
