If the primary criteria is course strength and challenge..look no further than Lahinch..truly one of the toughest links courses.
On a normal day it would test the best, when tinkered and set up for an Open it could be brutal.
However, it also gives you the "off the mainland' problem, so it will never happen.
If the Open is to leave the mainland, it would probably be the result of a course related to deep pockets....somewhere the R&A could get some serious cash incentive.
As most of those particular course developments are not links courses, I do not see it happening any time soon.
In all honesty I can not see the R&A moving to a "newer" venue any time soon...at least this years venue is an old links!!!
That is another topic altogether.
I am not a great lover of Hoylake, I found the course rather mundane.
A fine test in the wind, but not an intersting golf course, however it has been along time since I played there, and if I rememebr I did not play that well....in fcat I missed the cut in the British Youths there....so undoubtably that has some input in my opinion