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Royal Troon Old Course
Royal Troon holds a place in most avid golfers hearts, From the humble beginnings to the 145th Open Championship in 2016 won by Henrick Stenson (plus a further eight open Championships) and of course the world-famous ‘Postage Stamp.’
Royal Troon is a bucket list course for all the right reasons and will forever be a favourite.
Humble Beginnings
Royal Troon was opened for play in 1878 as a five-hole golf course following a local pub lunch between golf enthusiasts. How good is that?
A Few of Charlie Hunter’s original greens are still in play today, and that makes it ultra special to us. In 1923 James Braid and Willie Fernie took what was on offer and completed a full redesign of the course. And Today we have a course that is regularly used as part of the Open Championship rota.
Royal Troon will next host the famous Championship in 2023.
Royal Troon is a simple 9 out and 9 back, links course and starts with a nice gentle few opening holes before reaching the sixth which is the longest hole over the Open Championship rota. The 6th (Turnberry) is a true 3 shot par 5 at 601 yards unless the hole is playing most will layup downwind on this narrow fairway. The 7th (Postage Stamp is the shortest hole on the Open Rota) and our signature hole.
Now, in all honesty, Troon does not possess the photogenic delights as its neighbours Turnberry or Prestwick (Excluding the 8th) and is an entirely different golf course to the aforementioned. Royal Troon is simplicity at its finest and one for the purists.
Troon is a tough test of true links golf and scoring well requires accuracy and precision and an understanding of how the land will influence your golf ball’s finishing position. You will have to play almost every shot in the book to beat this Par 71. The Standard Scratch plays 75 from the Championship Tees!
Signature Hole
The 8th (Postage Stamp) is the shortest Par 3 on the Open Rota and at just 123 Yards sounds like it should be a doddle The Postage Stamp is one of the most famous short holes in the world and certainly an iconic piece of Scotland.
The green is set in a large sandhill and plays downhill from the tee, often taking off further yardage. You have no choice but to land and stop on the green. Five of the deepest bunkers guard the green, and famously in 2016, Rory Mcilroy took 6 strokes in his practice round to escape the coffin bunker. 123 Yards wrecking tour players scorecards is unheard of, Perhaps similarly to the 7th at Pebble Beach, it entirely depends on the wind conditions as to how hard this hole can play. And of course your ability to find the middle of the clubface.
The Postage stamp is one of the world’s greatest golf holes.
