Royal Troon Golf Club

Colin Montgomerie’s father dedicated over 60 years of his life to playing and serving Royal Troon in Scotland. He was incredibly passionate about the links – believing it should be ranked among the greats on any Scottish Golf Tour.

A must on any Ayrshire Golf Trip, the list of Open Championship winners at Royal Troon Golf Club is a ‘who’s who’ of golf – including Arnold Palmer, Bobby Locke, Tom Weiskopf, and Henrik Stenson. And we can expect another fine tournament when the 152nd Open is contested across Royal Troon’s Old Course in July 2024.

Stenson’s victory, shooting 63 over Phil Mickelson’s 65 in the final round of The Open in 2016 was a classic for the ages, battling Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus’ “Duel in the Sun” at Turnberry, for the best final round in modern Open Championship history. 

Colin Montgomerie, having the honor of hitting the opening tee shot in 2016, himself gave his father and the crowds at Royal Troon that year a thrill when he led The Open after his first nine holes at 3 under before relinquishing the lead with a bogie at No. 11. Expect another win for the ages when the 152nd Open is contested across Royal Troon’s storied Old Course in July 2024.

Tam Arte Quam Marte – as much by skill as by strength – is the Club’s motto and is indicative of how to play the course for the best score. Gene Sarazen, himself an Open Championship winner, famously made a hole-in-one on the infamous Postage Stamp hole at 71, playing in the 1973 Open.

With Royal Troon Golf Club founded in 1878, another classic hole on Royal Troon is the 405-yad, par 4, 7th. It was named “Tel-El-Kebir” after an epic 1882 battle in Egypt between the British and Egyptian military, where like in real warfare, it requires the golfer to attack with military precision in order to reap the rewards of a good score.

The second Troon golf course, Portland, makes this famous Scotland golf venue a strong 36-hole day of Ayrshire golf. Conveniently located within walking distance of several quality accommodations including The Marine Troon and Piersland House, the former home of Johnnie Walker.

The short 124-yard, par 3 hole, known as the “Wee Beastie” is home to the devilish “Coffin” bunker where Rory McIlroy took 6 shots to get out of jail in his practice round. If you miss the green not only “The Coffin” but 4 other deep bunkers are positioned around the green to swallow your ball.