Le Royal Troon Golf Course, Troon, South Ayrshire
© Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Group
Royal Troon’s Old Course was founded in 1878, expanded to 18 holes 10 years later and re-designed by five-time Champion Golfer James Braid ahead of its first Open in 1923.
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.
Le Royal Troon Golf Course, South Ayrshire
Troon is perhaps most famous for its stunningly picturesque eighth hole, known as the Postage Stamp. The shortest par-3 used for The Open, it has been the scene for many dramatic moments, from holes-in-one for the likes of Gene Sarazen (at the age of 71!) and Ernie Els to nightmarish scores suffered by those who came to grief in the many fiendish bunkers surrounding a small putting surface.
Past Open Champions at Troon include legends of the game such as Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, while Todd Hamilton pulled off a huge shock in 2004 as he edged out Els in a dramatic play-off.
