Royal Troon – The 2024 Open Host

The Club, which now has a total of 45 holes, was founded in 1878, initially with five holes. It lies adjacent to the Firth of Clyde. George Strath was appointed in 1881 as the club’s first golf Professional and, together with 1882 Open champion Willie Fernie, designed the original course, expanding it to 18 holes by 1888. The two were assisted by Charlie Hunter, greenskeeper of the neighbouring Prestwick Golf Club in Troon’s early days.

The Club’s property lies between the Firth of Clyde on the west, adjacent to Prestwick Golf Club and a short drive to Glasgow Prestwick airport. Many a day the aircraft of the RAF can be seen overhead doing their stuff.

Royal Troon was redesigned for its first Open Championship in 2023 where five-time Open Champion James Braid, lengthened, and redesigned many of the holes. Granted Royal status in 1978, which coincidentally was during its centenary, what is played today is very much reminiscent of Braid’s work all those years ago. Take a look around the historic clubhouse which houses many club artifacts.

Designed in the traditional out-and-back manner of the Old

Course at St Andrews, Troon’s test begins with a gentle opening through some of the most striking links land to be found at any of the Open venues and concludes with a back nine as tough as any finish in the world. Troon most recently staged The Open in 2016, when Henrik Stenson prevailed in a stunning duel with Phil Mickelson.

Royal Troon is home to both the longest and shortest holes in Open Championship golf. Regarded as one of the top holes in the world, the par-3 8th hole (“Postage Stamp”) measures a scant 123 yards (112 m), but its diminutive green measures a mere 2,635 square feet (293 sq. yd; 245 m2). Two holes earlier, the par-5 6th (“Turnberry”) extends to a lengthy 601 yards (550 m).

The 11th hole (“The Railway”) is one of the most difficult holes in Major Championship golf. Now a long par-4, a blind tee shot has a long carry over gorse with out of bounds all along the railway on the right. The lengthy approach shot is to a small green that falls away, with nearby out of bounds.

The Open

The Open Championship, is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club, Scotland. Later the venue rotated between a select group of coastal links golf courses in the United Kingdom and managed by the R&A Limited.

Royal Troon joined The Open rota in 1923 and has hosted The Open nine times. The 152nd Open will be Royal Troon’s 10th hosting pleasure.

It is called The Open because it is in theory “open” to all,

Open Trivia

i.e. professional and amateur golfers. In practice, the current event is a professional tournament in which a small number of the world’s leading amateurs also play, by invitation or qualification. The success of the tournament has led to many other open golf tournaments to be introduced around the world.

PaR nz Golfing Holidays was at St Andrews in 2022 when Cameron Smith (Australia) was crowned The Open champion, and will be hosting a group of keen golfers this year at Royal Liverpool. Smith won with an aggregate score of 268, 20 under and one shot ahead of Cameron Young (USA).

• The first Open was held at Prestwick in 1860, with a field of just eight players.

• The largest margin of victory in the British Open was 13 strokes by Old Tom Morris in 1862.

• The record for the most victories is six, by Harry Vardon. He won in 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911 and 1914.

• The oldest winner was Old Tom Morris, who won in 1867, aged 46 years and 99 days.

• The youngest winner was Young Tom Morris, who won in 1868, aged 17 years 5 months 8 days. Young Tom Morris was also the youngest competitor when he competed in the event in 1865, aged 14 years 4 months, 25 days.

• The oldest competitor was Gene Sarazen, who was aged 74 years, 4 months, 9 days in 1976.

• The only time The Open was played outside England and Scotland was 1951, at Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The tournament returned there in 2019.

• The 2020 Open Championship was cancelled due to the coronavirus, the first time the event has been cancelled since WWII.

• The 2022 event was the 150th edition of the championship, which started in 1860, 162 years previously.