Royal Troon Golf Club is a links golf course in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, hosting the 2024 Open Championship.
The club, which only had five holes when it opened in 1878, has seen the best golfers in the world go into battle on many occasions.
The Open has been held at Royal Troon nine times previous to this week, while The Women’s Open Championship was also played there in 2020.
Legends of the sport, such as Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, have lifted the Claret Jug there, and yet, you could have the opportunity to play the course yourself.
The Golfing Gazette tells you everything you need to know about Royal Troon Golf Club below.
Royal Troon Golf Club location
Royal Troon Golf Club is located in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The town of Troon is on the West coast of Scotland, around 30 miles from the country’s largest city, Glasgow.
Nearest airport to Royal Troon
Royal Troon is only a 10-minute drive away from Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). However, Glasgow Airport (GLA) is much larger and more likely to have flights to and from your location. It is still only around 45 minutes away from the golf course by car.
How to play Royal Troon Golf Club
Can anyone play Royal Troon?
Royal Troon is open to the public but only to men with a handicap of 20 or less and women with a handicap of 30 or less. Tee time availability at this time of year, especially with the buzz around The Open, is likely to be an issue.
How many courses are there at Royal Troon?
There are 45 holes at Royal Troon, across three courses. The most famous is the Old Course, which is used for The Open and other elite competitions. The course plays 7,276 yards and the par score is 71.
Portland is the second 18-hole course at the club. It is also a par 71 but its yardage is only 6,289, making it much less of a challenge than the Old Course.
The Craigend Course is a nine-hole course consisting of par 3 holes, meaning its total par is 27. The length of Craigend is 1,191 yards, at an average of 132 yards per hole.
What is the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon?
The Postage Stamp is the name of the eighth hole on the Old Course at Royal Troon. It is one of the most iconic par 3s anywhere in the world, compared to the 12th at Augusta National and the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
The reason for its name is the small area of the green that players have to aim for. Landing the ball outside of this area will usually result in it finding its way to one of the several treacherous bunkers around the green.
Royal Troon Golf Club Prices
How much is a membership at Royal Troon?
Membership at one of the United Kingdom’s top courses does not come cheap. Indeed, it costs £5000 to become a member at Royal Troon, as well as an annual fee of £2750, according to GolfLists.com.
How much is it to play a round at Royal Troon?
It costs a fee of £365 to play the Old Course at Royal Troon. That is unless you are a PGA member, in which case the fee is reduced to £285.
A round on the Portland course costs much less – £125 for most and £95 for PGA members. Caddies are also available at a price of £65 per round.
Who designed the Royal Troon Golf Club?
The Old Course at Royal Troon was initially designed by George Strath and Willie Fernie. It was later redesigned and lengthened by five-time champion James Braid in 1923 – the year that it hosted The Open for the first time.
The Portland Course was also designed by Willier Fernie, in 1895, and later redeveloped by Alister MacKenzie in 1921.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
