Royal Troon Golf Club: 10 things to know before you go

Royal Troon Golf Club is links golf in its most raw and elemental form.

Out on the Old Course here, the soundtrack is rich and familiar: the call of gulls, the whisper of wind through marram grass, the distant hum of trains along the boundary line. But this is also a place where you notice the silence. Not the absence of sound, but the kind of quiet that clings to old places — where the walls remember and history reverberates through the corridors of the clubhouse.

Royal Troon has never chased attention but it has certainly earned it — through the quiet menace of a links that rewards nerve and nous. This is a course shaped by the wind, tested by champions, and guarded by the sea on one side and a railway line on the other, with cavernous bunkers, and a par 3 the size of a shoebox— a hole so small and brutal they called it the Postage Stamp. But the beauty of Royal Troon has always been in the small details: in the long shadow the clubhouse casts on the 18th green. In the wit of the caddies.

To help you prepare for a visit to this storied Open Championship venue, we’ve put together a guide that blends insight, information and, hopefully, a little entertainment. Enjoy. 

1. Royal Troon Golf Club: Steeped in History

Founded in 1878, Royal Troon began, as many of the best things do, with a meeting at the local pub. On March 16th of that year, a gathering took place at the Portland Arms Hotel and Troon Golf Club was born. At the outset it consisted of only six holes, laid out by Charlie Hunter — a protégé of Old Tom Morris and greenkeeper at nearby Prestwick, where the first Open Championship had been played just 18 years earlier. George Strath, Troon’s early club professional, expanded the course to 18 holes by 1884. Willie Fernie would later introduce a second course, and in the 1920s, the legendary Dr Alister MacKenzie gave it its enduring shape — the Portland Course. Around the same time, James Braid made key alterations to the Old Course ahead of its first Open Championship in 1923. More recently Martin Ebert has put his stamp on Royal Troon to great effect. 

Troon has also long been a home for women’s golf. The Ladies Golf Club was founded in 1882, and by 1904 it was hosting the Ladies British Amateur Championship. The club also boasts an extraordinary amateur heritage. In 1914, J.L.C. Jenkins became the only Royal Troon member to win the Amateur Championship — also collecting the Silver Medal at The Open that same year. A decorated soldier and quiet gentleman, he returned from World War I to represent GB&I in the informal forerunner to the Walker Cup, later captaining Troon after the Second World War. The club was awarded its Royal Charter in 1978 to commemorate its centenary, adding prestige to a place already rich in tradition. The red-brick clubhouse, filled with portraits and memorabilia, feels like a living museum of Scottish golf.

2. Championship Pedigree – The Open at Troon

Since 1923, Royal Troon has staged The Open no fewer than ten times. The finishes here have often been close and dramatic: Arthur Havers holing out from a bunker to beat Walter Hagen by one. Bobby Locke winning by two. Tom Watson by one. And both the 1989 and 2004 editions were decided in playoffs.

Arnold Palmer’s commanding victory in 1962 was the exception. Royal Troon has also hosted the Women’s Open in 2020. Arguably the most dramatic day in Royal Troon’s history came at the 2016 Open Championship in what many now call the “Duel of the Sons,” Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson produced one of the most captivating final rounds in major championship history. Stenson shot 63 to close at 20-under — a new Open record — three clear of Mickelson, and 14 shots ahead of third. It was golf at its finest. Royal Troon at its most majestic. For decades, the Claret Jug had travelled home in American hands — from Palmer and Tom Weiskopf to Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton. It took ten birdies from a Swede on a Sunday to finally break that run.

3. The Railway Line – your hands will shake

The railway line isn’t just a scenic boundary at Royal Troon — it’s a psychological presence. Since the 1830s, trains have run along the right edge of the property, and today ScotRail still clatters past, just a few paces from the edge of the 11th hole. Known simply as The Railway, this 482-yard par 4 is as terrifying as its name suggests.

From the championship tee, which sits hard against the tracks, the line is fully in view. A four-foot-high stone wall separates the hole from the railway, but it offers no comfort. Anything too far right is out of bounds. Anything left — or just slightly offline — disappears into gorse so thick it may as well be gone forever. Arnold Palmer, en route to winning The Open at Troon in 1962, described it as “the most dangerous hole I have ever seen.” That same year, a young Jack Nicklaus — making his Open debut — racked up a 10 here after driving into the gorse, air swinging, and then watching his ball clatter onto the railway line.

Originally a par 5, it was converted to a par 4 ahead of the 1997 Open — immediately becoming the most difficult hole on the course. In 2004, it played to an average of 4.41 across the field. During the first round of the 2016 Open, it was even tougher: the 156 players who teed it up combined for 108 over par on this one hole alone, with an average score of 5.78. Only six players made birdie — including past champions Mark Calcavecchia and Justin Leonard. At Royal Troon, The Railway isn’t just part of the scenery. It’s the stuff of legend.

4. Postage Stamp: Golf’s Most iconic Par 

Some 123 yards of pure terror define Troon’s signature hole. Known as the Postage Stamp, this tiny par-3 boasts a green barely 2,635 sq ft and is flanked by steep revetted bunkers — most notoriously the “Coffin” — ready to bury the scorecards of even the most seasoned professionals. Designed by Willie Fernie in the late 19th century, the hole has remained virtually unchanged for over a century — and for good reason. It is perfect.

What makes the Postage Stamp so feared is its contradiction: it is short, yes — but never simple. In the wind, it becomes almost impossible. Miss by a few feet left or right and you’re in deep trouble. Miss long and you’re scrambling from thick marram. Get too cute from the sand and you might stay there — as German amateur Hermann Tissies discovered at the 1950 Open. He famously needed five attempts to escape one bunker, carding a catastrophic 15 on the hole — the highest score in Open Championship history. Tissies is not alone in his suffering. In 2016, even Tiger Woods — perhaps the most clinical short-iron player of his generation — made a triple-bogey six here during the final round. That same week, Henrik Stenson managed a safe two. In a showdown for the ages with Phil Mickelson, it helped swing the Claret Jug his way.

And then there’s Gene Sarazen, who made an ace at the Postage Stamp during the 1973 Open, at the age of 71 — the stuff of pure romance. Moments like these are what make the hole not just infamous, but iconic. It may be the shortest hole in Open Championship golf. But it always long on drama. 

5. Caddie Culture at Royal Troon Golf Club

Troon’s caddies are more than bag carriers — they’re storytellers, comedians and an intrinsic part of the experience. Many have been on the course for decades, memorising its nuances and building a tight-knit camaraderie with golfers. They’re known for being professional, friendly and dry witted. Good caddies don’t just know tell you where to aim; they remember you. It is not unusual for golfers to return to Royal Troon years after their last meeting and for the caddie to remember their name – although that may depend on how well you tipped on your last visit! Connections like this are why a taking a caddie on a round at Royal Troon will make it feel less like a visit and more like stepping into a hidden chapter of the club’s story.

Caddies can be requested in advance, subject to availability. The fee is £70 per round for a single caddie, or £100 for a forecaddie, with gratuities offered at the golfer’s discretion. Like everything else at Troon, the experience is rooted in tradition and service — and it shows.

6. Monty – Royal Troon’s Favourite Son

Few golfers are as closely tied to a club as Colin Montgomerie is to Royal Troon. He grew up just five doors down from the Championship links on South Beach Road. His father, James, was once the club captain and later secretary. The course was his backyard, his playground, and eventually, the stage for some of the most meaningful moments of his career. As Monty himself puts it: “This is where I started playing. This is home.”

It all began on Troon’s children’s course – six-year-old Monty striking his first shots with his family. A life in golf followed, shaped by the winds and fairways of Ayrshire. And while a Claret Jug never came his way, few players have left a deeper emotional imprint on the game — or on this course. His first experience of The Open was as a ten-year-old spectator in 1973 when Tom Weiskopf lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Troon.  He played in three Opens at Royal Troon — in 1997, 2004, and 2016. The last of those, at age 53, saw him honoured with the opening tee shot. It was a symbolic passing of the torch, and for many, a fitting farewell.

7. The Clubhouse – the Walls Remember

Royal Troon’s clubhouse is understated on the outside but rich in atmosphere within. As you enter, you will see a large replica of The Claret Jug, the trophy for the winner of The Open Championship, directly in front of you, next to a small desk with a visitor’s book on it. The carpets are blue, the walls white and there is a delightful blend of the traditional and the modern. Portraits of past champions, hand-written scorecards tell stories that books can’t. From the dining room to the locker room, tradition lingers.

Few clubhouses in world golf feel more authentic. There are trophies everywhere, and as you walk down the trophy corridor towards the men’s locker rooms, you pass sets of hickory golf clubs, plenty of silverware, letters and images of a glorious past. The Ailsa room is a wonderful place to spend time and looks out across the links and the nearby 18th green. So too does the traditional dining room and the clubhouse bar, which is small and cosy but typically and wonderfully Royal Troon. 

8. The Wind – Troon’s greatest Defence

Forget rough and bunkers. The wind is Royal Troon’s oldest and most loyal guardian. It doesn’t always shout — but it always speaks. And when it decides to bare its teeth, this links becomes something entirely different. Traditionally, Troon’s front nine is considered the more forgiving side, offering early scoring chances before the back nine begins to bite. But that rhythm can flip overnight. What might have been a helpful breeze during on one day, can turn the front nine into a gauntlet overnight changing club selection entirely making what is normally a place for easing into your round into test of control, calculation, and patience. Crosswinds at Troon are relatively rare but when they come they bring a kind of chaos only the canniest survive. There are courses where wind is a factor. Then there are links like Royal Troon, where wind is the story. It shapes the lines, shifts the yardages, stirs doubt, and separates those who play from those who can truly score. This is not a place for guessing. This is a place for golfers who listen carefully — and trust what they hear.

9. Royal Troon: what visitors need to know

Royal Troon may carry the airs of a championship venue, but it welcomes visitors with a distinctly Scottish sense of pride and hospitality — as long as you know how to navigate its traditions.

🕰️ When to Visit

The visitor season at Royal Troon typically runs from April to October, with tee times limited — especially in peak summer months. Early booking is essential, particularly if you’re hoping to play the Old Course.

💷 Green Fees

• Old Course: £325 (Mon–Thurs), £355 (Fri)

• Portland Course: £110 (all days)

• Winter Rates: Available from November to March, though weather is less predictable

While those numbers might cause a pause, they reflect both the course’s major pedigree and its immaculate conditioning. For many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime round. Combine it with nearby gems like Prestwick, Western Gailes or Dundonald Links, and it becomes part of a world-class itinerary.

👕 Dress Code and Etiquette

Royal Troon maintains a traditional dress code:

• On the course: Collared shirts, tailored trousers or shorts, golf shoes

• In the clubhouse: Jacket and tie required in certain areas; smart casual elsewhere
  Mobile phones are to be used discreetly and never on the course or in the dining room.

Respect for the club’s long history goes a long way — but you’ll find the welcome warm and unpretentious, especially from the caddies, staff, and members who take pride in sharing their course.

📅 How to Book

Visitor tee times must be requested in advance via the club’s website or by email. You can request to play with a caddie (subject to availability), which we highly recommend for both course strategy and experience.

• Single Caddie: £70 per round

• Forecaddie (for groups): £100 per round

• Gratuity: At the golfer’s discretion (typically £20–£40)

🧭 Getting There

Royal Troon is located on the Ayrshire coast in southwest Scotland, roughly:

• 40 minutes by car from Glasgow

• 5 minutes from Prestwick Airport

• A short walk from Troon railway station, which connects to Glasgow via a scenic coastal route

🏨 Where to Stay

There are excellent accommodation options nearby. They include:

• The Marine Hotel, Troon – Classic seaside lodging with views over the course

• Old Loans Inn – Cosy, traditional inn just a few miles inland

• Lochgreen House Hotel – Elegant country house retreat nearby

10. What’s Nearby? Golf, Beaches & Whisky

To play Royal Troon is to step into the spotlight — but it’s far from the only show in town. Ayrshire is a kingdom of links. A coastline sculpted by wind and tide. A place where golf still feels like a game shaped by nature, not blueprint.

A short iron away sits Prestwick Golf Club,, the birthplace of The Open. Its fairways are narrow, its bunkers are deep, and its soul is unmistakably old-world. Every shot feels like a page turned from history. Then there’s Western Gailes, quiet and understated — but a jewel of routing and rhythm. Ask any purist: it’s one of Scotland’s finest tests.

Dundonald Links, just up the road, represents the modern counterpoint — a Kyle Phillips design that has matured beautifully, hosting the Women’s Scottish Open and growing in reputation with every season. Barassie, Gailes Links, and Kilmarnock all add depth, offering something for every level of player. And don’t sleep on Irvine, with its charm and challenge tucked into the dunes.

What binds these courses together is more than geography. It’s the wind off the Firth of Clyde. It’s the scent of gorse in bloom. It’s the sense that golf here is elemental — shaped by nature, preserved by tradition, and made richer by time.

So yes, come for Royal Troon. But stay for Ayrshire. Because once you’ve seen the light bounce off these fairways at sunset, once you’ve felt the pull of the place, you’ll understand why so many never want to leave.

ROYAL TROON: FINAL THOUGHTS

Few places in the world blend championship pedigree with such quiet beauty. Royal Troon doesn’t announce itself loudly – it doesn’t need to. It’s a course that reveals itself slowly, shot by shot, gust by gust. And for those lucky enough to play it, the memory will never fade. 

*For more information and to book tee times visit RoyalTroon.co.uk