Chart Hills Golf Club in Kent has been selected by The R&A as one of 16 venues across Great Britain and Ireland to host Regional Qualifying for The 154th Open, further underlining the Kent venue’s growing reputation as one of England’s leading championship courses.
Taking place on June 22, Regional Qualifying will see amateur and professional golfers compete for a place in Final Qualifying and the opportunity to earn a coveted spot in The Open at Royal Birkdale.
Chart Hills was added to the original list of venues in response to a surge in applications, with more than 2,100 golfers expected to compete across 16 venues.
Designed by Sir Nick Faldo, Chart Hills presents a demanding test of golf, combining undulating fairways and strategic bunkering. Renowned for memorable holes including the famous ‘Anaconda’ par 5 5th and island green par 3 17th, the course has established itself as one of England’s most distinctive championship layouts.
The selection by The R&A represents another significant milestone for the club following its return to Golf World’s Top 100 Courses in England ranking after a programme of continued investment over the last few years.
Anthony Tarchetti, General Manager at Chart Hills, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have been selected by The R&A as a Regional Qualifying venue for The 154th Open. To host one of golf’s most prestigious qualifying events is a testament to the quality of the golf course and the hard work of the entire team at Chart Hills. We’re looking forward to welcoming competitors from across Great Britain and Ireland and showcasing Chart Hills to some of the game’s most talented amateur and professional golfers.”
The full list of 16 Regional Qualifying venues is: Bearwood Lakes, Caldy, Chart Hills, Craigielaw, Enville, Ferndown, Fulford, Gog Magog, Hesketh, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Lindrick, Minchinhampton, Moor Park, North Hants, Rochester & Cobham Park, The Island.
Successful Regional Qualifying players will progress to Final Qualifying at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, or West Lancashire on June 30.
A new event, the Last-Chance Qualifier, will be held at Royal Birkdale on Monday, July 13, where 12 invited players will compete over 18 holes for a single place in the 154th Open Championship.