There is no doubt that this summer is going to be a wonderful sporting festival with 2012 seeing the world’s best sports people heading to these shores for an amazing selection of sporting events.

Of course  headlining the summer sporting events is the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, but in addition to that there is Royal Ascot (kicking off this week), Wimbledon, Cowes Week, the British Grand Prix and The Open Golf Championship.

The British Open, known as The Open, is one of golf’s 4 majors and the only one held outside of the United States.  Played on Links courses in England and Scotland (courses are on rotation) the Championship in 2012 will be at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club which is in Lancashire, North West England.  Practice rounds start from the 15th July with the Championship concluding on the 22nd July.

Lytham St Anne’s is on the northwest coast of England, not far from Blackpool and within reach of the popular holiday locations of the Lake District/Cumbria, Yorkshire Dales/West Yorkshire and the Peak District.

It is not often that you have the opportunity to see the world’s top golfers up close and get a chance to explore this wonderful part of England and so why not make a weekend break, short break or holiday of it in a holiday cottage, apartment or holiday lodge?

Find out more about the British Open Golf Championship cottage breaks