From 12 to 19 July 2026, world golf converges on Royal Birkdale, the links course on the Southport coast, for the 154th edition of The Open Championship — the oldest major in the world, and the most European of the four. Rough that punishes every stray shot, wind that shifts direction hole after hole, a crowd walking the fairway a few steps from the players: it is the kind of spectacle that reminds you, every summer, that golf, watched closely, is one of the most tactical sports there is. And then, right on cue, comes the urge to pick up a club and give it a real go.
For anyone who has not played in years, or never started, the problem is almost never the course. Europe is not short on golf courses — from Scotland to Portugal, through Spain and France, there are thousands open to anyone willing to book a tee time. The problem is finding the right people to play them with.
Royal Birkdale and golf's European heartland
Royal Birkdale is not just any course. It is a classic links, laid out among the dunes of the Lancashire coast, where the wind dictates strategy more than the layout itself — low punch shots, ball running along the ground, reads that change from one hour to the next. It has hosted The Open ten times since 1954, and in 2026 it does so again, with the eyes of world golf fixed on England for a full week.
But Royal Birkdale is only one piece of a much wider culture. Golf was born in Scotland, at St Andrews, and has stayed a shared inheritance across Europe ever since: the Irish links along the Atlantic coast, the year-round courses of Spain's Costa del Sol, Portugal's Algarve with its long playing season, the historic clubs of northern France such as Chantilly and Le Touquet. It is not an imported niche sport — it is as European as football or cycling, just told less often.
The real obstacle isn't the green — it's the flight
Golf is almost always played in a group — a flight, typically two, three or four people playing eighteen holes together. That is a huge part of the appeal: hours of conversation, light competition, time spent outdoors together. But it is also the most concrete obstacle for anyone wanting to start, or start again.
Finding a flight means finding people free on the same day, at a compatible level — nobody wants to slow down a more experienced group, and nobody wants to feel judged while learning — and willing to split the green fee. Friends who play are usually already booked into their regular group. Clubs help, but mostly if you are already a member. Anyone approaching golf from outside, without an existing network in the sport, often gets stuck before ever booking that first tee time.
How it works on PlaySportMate
PlaySportMate is free and covers 150+ sports, golf included. Every profile lists the sports someone plays, their level (handicap if they have one, otherwise an honest estimate), city, and availability. The search is built exactly for this problem: finding compatible partners by level, area, and schedule, with no need to already be inside a club.
Go to /cerca, choose Golf, set your city — Rome, Milan, Turin, or any other European city. You will see golfers with their level and availability, message them directly in chat, and put a flight together.
- Profile with sport, city, level/handicap, and availability
- Search by sport + city, across Europe
- Direct contact in chat — no intermediaries
If you want to build a regular group — the same threesome or foursome every weekend — you can create a Crew. It is a shared space to organise the next round, confirm who is playing, and run the group chat, instead of keeping a WhatsApp group alive by hand. And if you would rather have a more structured challenge than a casual round with friends, you can follow the community's amateur tournaments.
What The Open cannot give you
Watching Royal Birkdale on television is a pleasure. But trying to read the wind on a real green, hearing the rattle of the ball dropping after a long putt, walking eighteen holes with three other people and a bit of light competition — that is a completely different experience.
Golf is not a sport for the few. You need a set of clubs — rentable, to begin with — a bookable course, and the right people. The first two are easier to sort in Europe than most people think. The third is what PlaySportMate helps you find.
If you enjoyed this read, check out how to find a tennis partner — the logic is the same. And if you are not familiar with PlaySportMate yet, see what it is in two minutes. Looking for a club near you instead? Take a look at the directory of golf clubs in Rome.
Find your golf flight now
Join PlaySportMate, select Golf and find partners at your level in your city. The Open gives you the spectacle — PlaySportMate gives you the flight.
Find golf partners →Frequently asked questions
How do I find golf partners near me on PlaySportMate?
Go to /cerca, select 'Golf' as your sport and set your city. You will see golfer profiles with their stated level (handicap, if they have one) and weekly availability. Direct contact via chat, no middlemen and no need to already belong to a club.
What is a flight, and how many people do you need to play?
A flight is the group you play eighteen holes with, usually two to four people. Two players are enough to start, but a threesome or foursome makes the round livelier and easier to keep together when someone drops out last minute.
Do I need an official handicap to play with others on PSM?
No. An official handicap is handy for gauging each other's level quickly, but on PlaySportMate an honest self-rating is enough — beginner, intermediate, advanced. What matters is being upfront, so the flight stays enjoyable for everyone.
Does PlaySportMate work for other sports besides golf?
Yes. PSM covers 150+ sports: tennis, football, running, padel, cycling, swimming and much more. The same partner-finding system works for any sport, completely free.
Can I set up a fixed group to play every week?
Yes, by creating a Crew at /crew. It is a shared space to organise the next round, confirm who is playing, and run the group chat, without keeping a WhatsApp group alive by hand.