Royal Troon

Ayrshire

4.6

843 reviews

4.6(843 Google reviews)

About Royal Troon

Royal Troon is one of Scotland's great championship links, stretching along the Ayrshire coast with views across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and the rocky outline of Ailsa Craig.

Founded in 1878 and granted Royal status exactly a century later in 1978, Troon's Old Course runs out along the coastline before turning back into the prevailing wind for a punishing homeward nine. The course is perhaps best known for the Postage Stamp, the 8th hole, a par 3 of only 123 yards that is one of the shortest holes on the Open rota yet capable of yielding both double eagles and double figures in the same round. Troon has hosted nine Open Championships, with Xander Schauffele claiming the most recent title in 2024.

Royal Troon

Craigend Rd, Troon KA10 6EP, UK

01292 311555

royaltroon.com/

Get Directions

Scotland's Ayrshire coast is rich with golfing heritage, and Royal Troon's Old Course is the jewel of that coastline. The layout follows a classic out-and-back routing: the outward nine runs downwind towards the far boundary of the course, lulling players into a false sense of security before the homeward nine turns directly into the prevailing south-westerly wind. The transformation in difficulty is striking, and it is the back nine, particularly from the 11th hole onward, where Open Championships are invariably decided.

The Postage Stamp has generated more drama per yard than almost any hole in championship golf. Its tiny green, defended by deep bunkers left and right, reduces the world's best players to a guessing game in the Ayrshire wind. The surrounding holes, particularly the long par-4 11th known as the Railway, are among the sternest on the entire Open rota. Together they form a finishing stretch that separates genuine champions from those merely leading at lunchtime.

Visitor access at Troon is deliberately limited to protect the experience for members and to maintain the course's condition ahead of each Open cycle. Those who do secure a tee time on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning will find a club that takes justifiable pride in its presentation and a layout that rewards local knowledge and patient course management. The combination of sea air, Highland views and genuine championship turf makes a day at Troon one of Scottish golf's enduring pleasures.

Opening Hours

Monday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

What Golfers Say About Royal Troon

A selection of recent visitor reviews from Google.

MAX KIM
6 months ago
Royal Troon is a must-play classic in any Scottish golf journey. Like many great courses, it's tough—but for me, this was one of the most demanding I've played. Each hole presents a different kind of challenge and character, constantly making you wonder, 'What’s coming next?' That sense of anticipation is part of what makes it so special. The course doesn’t give you anything easily, and yet it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s the kind of place that frustrates you and thrills you at the same time. Course conditioning was flawless—exactly what you’d expect from a club with a global reputation. Royal Troon doesn’t just test your game, it pulls you into its tradition and prestige. A stern, beautiful, and truly memorable links experience.

David Hester
10 months ago
Though it is a magical place and you feel the history as soon as you drive into the car park and the staff make you feel special and that you are playing in the foot steps of greats . The course for me was a little underwhelming some great holes from the 6th onwards. The outward and inward stretch felt average. I scored my best score of the week 38 points off 6 with no blobs I enjoyed Muirfield, Prestwick and Royal Liverpool more. Sorry but disappointed. My son even got a birdie on the postage stamp.

Sam Zhong
10 months ago
Royal Troon offers a legendary links experience, known for its iconic “Postage Stamp” 8th hole and challenging coastal winds. The course is impeccably maintained, with fast greens and strategic bunkers. The historic clubhouse and welcoming staff complete an unforgettable golfing experience in Scotland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon?

The Postage Stamp is the 8th hole on Troon's Old Course, a par 3 of approximately 123 yards that is among the shortest holes in Open Championship golf. The green is tiny, perched above deep bunkers on three sides, and the Ayrshire wind can make club selection almost impossible. In the 1973 Open, German amateur Gene Sarazen aced the hole at the age of 71, having first played the Open Championship there fifty years earlier.

When was Royal Troon's most recent Open Championship?

Royal Troon hosted The Open Championship in 2024, when American Xander Schauffele won his first major title. The club has hosted nine Opens in total, the first coming in 1923. Previous champions at Troon include Arnold Palmer (1962), Tom Weiskopf (1973), Tom Watson (1982), and Henrik Stenson, whose remarkable duel with Phil Mickelson in 2016 is regarded as one of the greatest Open Championship final rounds ever played.

Can visitors play Royal Troon's Old Course?

Visitor access to the Old Course is available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings only, and must be booked in advance by contacting the club directly on 01292 311555 or through royaltroon.com. Visitors play as part of an organised package that typically includes a round on the Portland Course. A current handicap certificate is required and green fees reflect the championship pedigree of the venue.

What can you see from the fairways at Royal Troon?

The Old Course at Royal Troon sits directly alongside the Firth of Clyde, and from the outward nine, on a clear day, golfers can see the Isle of Arran in the middle distance and the distinctive rock formation of Ailsa Craig, the granite island also known as Paddy's Milestone, further south. The views form one of the most memorable backdrops in Scottish golf, with the Highland hills visible on the distant horizon.