Royal Troon — Old Course

Golf at Troon dates to 1878 when five local men agreed to lease land from the Duke of Portland and lay out a five-hole course designed by George Strath, a St Andrews professional. The club expanded rapidly, adding holes and refining the course under the stewardship of Willie Fernie, who served as club professional for over three decades from 1887 and was largely responsible for shaping the course into the configuration recognisable today. Royal patronage was granted by King George V in 1978, one hundred years after the club's founding. The Open Championship first came to Troon in 1923, when Arthur Havers claimed victory, and the course has since hosted some of the most memorable moments in Open history. Tom Weiskopf won there in 1973, the same year the elderly Gene Sarazen aced the Postage Stamp. Greg Norman's record-equalling 63 in 1989, Arnold Palmer's devastating collapse in 1962, and Tom Watson's triumph in 1982 are all part of the Royal Troon narrative. The 2016 Open saw Henrik Stenson produce one of the greatest individual performances in major championship history, shooting a final round 63 to defeat Phil Mickelson by three shots. The club controversially voted to admit women members in 2016, ahead of hosting that year's Open, ending a 138-year male-only membership policy.

The eighth hole, the Postage Stamp, is Royal Troon's most celebrated feature and one of the most photographed holes in golf. At 123 yards from the championship tee, it demands a precise iron or wedge to a green barely 25 yards wide, framed by four deep bunkers and steep rough-covered banks that funnel anything less than perfect to an almost unplayable lie. The 11th hole, nicknamed the Railway, is the longest par-5 on the course at 481 yards, running tight along the railway line on the right with out-of-bounds threatening every drive. The closing 18th is a demanding par-4 of 457 yards into the prevailing wind, with the grandstand and clubhouse framing an approach to a green that tests even the most composed finisher. The first hole, Cole, sets the tone immediately with a drive that must split narrow fairway corridors to set up the best angle in.

The Ayrshire coast enjoys relatively mild conditions by Scottish standards, moderated by the Gulf Stream. The best window for visitors is May through September. June and July offer the longest days and most settled weather, though the prevailing westerly wind off the Firth of Clyde is almost always present to some degree, which is part of the course's character. In Open Championship years, visitor access is restricted during the weeks surrounding the event. Autumn rounds in September and October can be spectacular in terms of light and course conditions, with fewer visitors competing for tee times.

Royal Troon is a private club and visitor access is restricted to Tuesday and Thursday mornings only, typically before 9:30am. Players must be members of a recognised golf club and hold an official handicap certificate — men to 28, ladies to 36. Groups can be no larger than four players. Caddies are available and recommended. Green fees are among the highest in Scottish golf and include a round on the adjoining Portland Course. The town of Troon offers several good accommodation options, and the course is 30 minutes by train from Glasgow Central, making it accessible without a car.