"British Open Championship Golf" was a commercial failure. Following its release, Looking Glass ceased self-publishing operations and closed a division of the company, laying off a group of employees that included Warren Spector. Writing for "Maximum PC", T. Liam McDonald called the game "a costly bomb that bled the company." Looking Glass employee Tim Stellmach later characterized it as "a disaster". However, it was generally well received by critics. A reviewer for "Next Generation Magazine" hailed it as "one of the best golf games in years", praising the atmosphere and calling the graphics "among the best ... around." The writer cited the game's lack of a course editor as its main downside, and summarized, "If you are looking for a golf simulation, this one delivers." "PC Magazine"s Shane Mooney highlighted its "outstanding graphics" and detailed course reproductions, and noted that it " players in a realistic tournament atmosphere." The writer considered the inclusion of only two courses to be the game's "one major drawback".