Royal Troon Golf Club
Royal Troon Golf Club | Troon
Few names in golf carry the weight of Royal Troon, a course that has hosted The Open Championship nine times, with its next return set for 2024. The Old Course is defined by two of the most iconic holes in championship golf: the Postage Stamp 8th, a tiny par 3 carved into the dunes where Gene Sarazen famously made a hole-in-one in 1973, and the Railway 11th, a brutally narrow par 4 running tight against the stone boundary wall.
But Royal Troon is more than just highlights—it’s a complete championship test. Its outward nine tempts players with scoring opportunities, only to demand every ounce of precision and grit on the inward stretch, which ranks among the toughest finishes in The Open rota. Legends like Palmer, Watson, and Weiskopf have found glory here, while others have discovered heartbreak, most memorably Greg Norman in the 1989 playoff.
The final holes capture the club’s timeless atmosphere: the par-3 17th framed by the historic Marine Hotel, and the 18th finishing beneath the stately Royal Troon clubhouse. Playing here is to stand in the footsteps of champions, immersed in one of golf’s most traditional and revered settings.
Course Stats | Royal Troon Old Course
Par: 71
Yardage: 7,208 yards (Championship tees)
Course Rating: 75.6
Slope Rating: 139
Designer: Originally laid out in 1878; later refined by Willie Fernie, James Braid, and Alister MacKenzie
Type: Traditional championship links
Signature Holes:
8th (Postage Stamp): Legendary short par 3, one of the most famous holes in golf.
11th (Railway): Demanding par 4 playing tight to the stone boundary wall.
17th: Picturesque par 3 with the Marine Hotel as backdrop.
18th: Classic finishing hole against the historic Royal Troon clubhouse.
Championships:
The Open Championship: 9 times (most recent 2016; next in 2024).
Women’s Open: 2020 AIG Women’s Open.
Other: Host to Amateur Championships and Open Qualifying.
Season / Best Months to Play
Overall, Scotland is a year-round golf destination, but conditions vary dramatically:
May – September: Prime season with firm fairways and longest daylight hours.
June – August: Warmest weather, peak conditioning, and dramatic Firth of Clyde views.
September: Still mild with fewer crowds, ideal for an immersive luxury experience.
