Royal Troon Golf Club (Old Course)
- Scotland
Course Architect:
Par: 71
Course Length: 7385 metres
Royal Troon is a study in the classic "out-and-back" links routing, a design philosophy that dictates strategy based almost entirely on the prevailing north-westerly winds. It is a tale of two nines: a seductively shorter outward half that runs south along the Firth of Clyde, often downwind, followed by a brutal inward nine that turns north into the teeth of the wind.
The course is renowned for its specific agronomic character. The fairways are lined with deep rough and gorse, punishing inaccuracy severely. The bunkering is pot-style, deep, and revetted, often requiring a splash out sideways rather than an advancement of the ball. The most significant recent changes occurred prior to the 2024 Open, where several tees were lengthened, extending the course to a formidable 7,385 yards.
-
The opening hole runs alongside the sea, dangerously close to the high-water mark. Named after the offshore rocks where seals bask, the fairway is straight but guarded by bunkers left and right. The green is slightly raised and protected by bunkers, demanding an accurate lofted iron approach.
-
A short par 4 requiring precision over power. Three fairway bunkers patrol the landing zone, demanding a specific line off the tee. The approach must navigate four greenside bunkers.
-
A burn crosses the fairway, forcing longer hitters to lay up or risk a precise carry. The fairway is narrow, flanked by bunkers on the left. The green slopes away from the player.
-
A dogleg right with a bunker at the elbow to deter corner-cutting. The green is two-tiered, and approach shots must favor the left to avoid a steep bank on the right.
-
A stern test, often played with a long iron or hybrid. The prevailing wind from the sea can knock balls down into the front bunker or push them into the three bunkers guarding the left.
-
The longest hole in Open Championship golf. It is a straight march south parallel to the beach. The fairway is lined by dunes on the left. The green is narrow and protected by bunkers short and right.
-
The course turns inland here. The dogleg right features a blind drive over dunes. A bunker sits at the elbow. The green is long, narrow, and sandwiched between sandhills.
-
Iconic. The shortest hole in Open golf. Played from a high tee over a gully to a long, incredibly narrow green set into a sandhill. Two deep bunkers guard the left, and a large crater bunker protects the front.
-
A dogleg left with two bunkers on the corner. The fairway is narrow and undulating with heavy rough. The green is elevated and two-tiered, often rejecting approaches that lack sufficient spin.
-
This hole features a blind tee shot over large sandhills. The drive must avoid a gully on the left and gorse on the right. The green is a plateau set into the hillside.
-
Consistently ranked the toughest hole in major championship golf. The active railway line runs intimately along the right side (Out of Bounds). The fairway is blind from the tee and lined with gorse on the left.
-
This slight dogleg right requires a drive left of center to avoid a ridge of rough and gorse. The green is raised and two-tiered, falling away to the left.
-
A relentless par 4 playing directly into the prevailing wind. The fairway is bunk-less but undulating and notoriously difficult to find. The approach is to an elevated green.
-
A long par 3 that plays deceptively short visually but requires power. Bunkers left and right constrict the entrance.
-
A massive par 4. The drive must favor the left to open the angle to a flat green situated in a hollow. Bunkers protect the front.
-
The only par 5 on the back nine. A burn (the "Well") bisects the fairway, forcing a decision on the second shot. The green is well-protected by bunkers.
-
A brute of a par 3. The tee shot can require a driver into the wind. The green sits on a plateau that falls off sharply on both sides. Deep bunkers guard the front and flanks.
-
The finisher requires a drive threaded between bunkers left and right. The green is deep and guarded by bunkers. The clubhouse and Out of Bounds loom immediately behind the green.
Related Tours
No results found.