Muirfield set to host British Boys

Muirfield and its neighbouring club, The Renaissance, will welcome some of the world’s brightest rising stars when they host the Boys Amateur Championship for the first time in 2016.

The announcement came as the R&A confirmed the venues for its main events in the same year that golf returns to the Olympic fold.

Muirfield, venue for Phil Mickelson’s thrilling Open Championship victory earlier this summer, has staged been used to host several R&A events down the years, including 11 editions of the Amateur Championship.

However, the staging of the Boys Amateur Championship will be a first in the East Lothian links’ long and distinguished history.

Announcing the course as a co-host of the tournament, taking place from August 9-14, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: “Muirfield is one of the finest links courses in the world and will provide a stern challenge for the leading boy golfers in the Boys Amateur Championship.”

The Renaassance, meanwhile, situated right next door to Muirfield, will stage its first-ever R&A championship. The club only opened in 2008 and, over the past two seasons, has undergone some notable upgrades, including course improvements and the construction of a new clubhouse. It has proven such a big hit so quickly that it is being widely touted as a future host venue for the Scottish Open.

“Muirfield is one of the finest links courses in the world and will provide a stern challenge for the leading boy golfers in the Boys Amateur Championship.” – Peter Dawson

The Boys Amateur Championship is one of the most prestigious events on the international amateur schedule and has been contested by the likes of Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia (who won the Amateur Championship at Muirfield in 1998), Graeme McDowell and Luke Donald down the years.

The 2012 champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick, went on to win the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at this year’s Open Championship, as well as the US Amateur Championship and the McCormack Medal as the world’s leading male amateur player.

Other venue announcements made for 2016 by the R&A will see Royal Porthcawl host the Amateur Championship for the seventh time in its history, with the preliminary strokeplay rounds being played at Pyle & Kenfig. The Boys Home Internationals will take place over Ballyliffin’s Glashedy Links, with the Seniors Open Amateur Championship heading to Formby.

The St Andrews and Jacques Leglise Trophies, meanwhile, will be held at Prince’s Golf Club in Kent.

Muirfield’s championship history

Muirfield has staged numerous high profile events down the years. Here’s a brief run-down:

Open Championship

1892, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1912, 1929, 1935, 1948, 1959, 1966, 1972, 1980, 1987, 1991, 2002, 2013

Senior Open Championship

2007

Amateur Championship

1897, 1903, 1909, 1920, 1926, 1932, 1954, 1974, 1990, 1998, 2010

Walker Cup

1959, 1979

Ryder Cup

1973

Home Internationals

1948, 1956, 1988, 2008

Scottish Amateur Championship

1923, 1928, 1938, 1949, 1955, 1962, 1968

British Mid Amateur Championship

2005

Scottish Strokeplay Championship

1967, 1977

Scottish Ladies Championship

1914

Vagliano Trophy

1963

Curtis Cup

1952, 1984

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor