Royal Cinque Ports has been named as one of four golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland as new venues to stage final qualifying for The Open.

Based in Deal, Royal Cinque Ports, along with Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links and West Lancashire, will host qualifying events.

They will start next year and run until 2026 when tour players, club professionals and elite amateurs compete for places in golf’s original championship.

Royal Cinque Ports first staged The Open in 1909 when John Henry Taylor won the championship for a fourth time before George Duncan lifted the Claret Jug at the Kent links in 1920.

It has previously been a venue for final qualifying, as well as staging The Amateur Championship on three occasions in 1923, 1982 and 2013.

It hosted the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship last year, which was won by Jack Bigham.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director - championships at The R&A, said: “We have selected four renowned venues to host final qualifying from 2023 and each of them has an outstanding reputation for having held championships and international matches.

“We look forward to working with them to stage a series of exciting events in which golfers will compete for a sought-after place in The Open.

“We have enjoyed working with Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links to organise final qualifying events at these venues in recent years and I would like to thank them for their support.”

Final qualifying is contested by a combined field of 288 players, including those who have been successful in regional qualifying events, with a minimum of 12 places in The Open available.