2024 Regal Royal Troon’s Championship Layout Evolution

One of Scotland’s links treasures, Royal Troon opened in 1878 with five holes bordering its lengthy seashore. Today, Royal Troon has 45 holes of superb links golf adored by golfers globally. The “Old Course” is the Open Championship test. Hosting 2024’s Championship July 18-24, US’s Xander Schauffele claimed the  Claret Jug with a superb Sunday closing birdie blitz leaving the numerous weather beaten chasing pack in awe. UK’s star Justin Rose and US’s Billy Horschel survived the elements finally for joint runner-up.

2024 Royal Troon welcomed its 10^th Open

The initial Open Championship was 102 years ago in 1923. In 1923 the Old Course was enhanced for championship play by famed James Braid revamping its initial 18-hole championship layout by George Strath and Willie Fernie in the 1880’s. Braid added to Troon’s challenge with bunkering, adding many greenside bunkers plus other strategic enhancements.

In 1923 Surrey Club Professional Arthur Havers surged into the lead with “Sir Walter” Hagen battling for his second Claret Jug; Haver’s holed his 72^nd hole bunker shot for the W; Hagen couldn’t match him.  A century of amazing golf history followed at Royal Troon….Bobby Locke’s second successive Claret Jug, Palmer’s victory opening a tide of US players coming to conquer here – Tom Weiskopf’s superb victory in 1973 was a highlight like Tom Watson’s. Sweden’s Henrik Stenson’s superb shootout victory over Phil Mickelson in 2016 ended the US victory streak at Troon until 2024.

2024 Royal Troon Golf Course offers new tests

Players from Tiger Woods to winning Nairn amateur had to battle not only  devilish, turbulent winds, torrential rains but new enhancements to this Championship layout – par-71, 7385 yds. Royal Troon is the third longest course in Open history (adding 195 yds since 2016’s Open). Troon’s 8^th hole  – famed Postage Stamp – is the Open’s pool shortest hole –  a mere 123 yards.

Teeing it up on “Seal” Troon’s opening hole is exciting – with barking seals galore, shoreline on the right as far as one can see. Bunkers dot the left fairway with a new one added for errant shots on this par-4, 365 yds. Play well—the opening nine offers the helping prevailing winds …easier scoring!

“Black Rock” – par-4, 389 yds –  second hole and the third “Gyaws” – par-4, 376 yds – both demand precise tee shots to avoid penal bunkers. Beware Gyaws’ green is one of Troon’s most sloping. A new tee on the fourth – “Dunure”  (par-5, 599 yds) extends this hole by 60 yds. being further right brings the bunkers more into play from the tee with a long carry to this narrow fairway. The left greenside bunker becomes more dangerous too.

Greenan’s new tee is 50 yds right closer to the sea and further back, demanding a carry of front right cavernous bunker, and the green is enlarged with more pin positions. A dell has been added behind the green on the left. In windy conditions, the fifth is treacherous, more difficult than in 2016. The  sixth “Turnberry” – par-5, 623 yds. –  is the longest hole of Open sites with an additional ten yards from the tee. Long hitters beware, a new bunker on the left awaits with the fairway feeding right to left. The green contours both left and right, beware when attacking this green;  plus a new right bunker  added to others greenside lurks. This narrow green isn’t forgiving…3-putts galore.

“Tel-el-Kebir”  – par-4, 403 yds. – is one of the most alluring holes on this exceptional layout with the sea, topography, dunes elements clearly highlighted. Bunkers off the tee – beware. Dunes outline perfectly the green;  testing bunkers left and right as well as famed  8^th hole “Postage Stamp” host poor shots.  

Watching “Big Easy” Ernie Els’ languid swing this year on “Postage Stamp” brought back memories of his amazing hole-in-one in 2004.  “Postage Stamp” reminds me of Pebble Beach’s stunning 7^th hole and Augusta’s amazing 12th. With spectator bleachers adjacent now, the sea breezes are blocked on the tee giving the players added difficulty to hit this green 123 yards away with a drop down to the green of 20+ feet. This world famed 8^th hole is always exciting…heartbreaking for many ending up in “Coffins” bunker left, or others elsewhere – bogey is then a great score.

Usually the toughest hole outward, “Monk” the 9^th – par- 4, 440 yds – starts from a new elevated tee creating new angles to its exacting test. Dunes and gorse galore on the right plus bunkers left to be missed; laying up short of the bunkers sets up a blind shot to the green which is flanked by a dune and  gorse galore. Driver must carry the left bunkers – tempting, risky.  The initial challenge coming home, “Sandhills” a par-4, 450 yds, has a challenging blind tee shot into the wind over a spectacular dune at a testing angle to the fairway. A pull left is a lost ball. The elevated green rolls right; hill and bushes left of the green, spell disaster.

“Railway” is globally famed as Jack Nicklaus’ “hardest hole I’ve played in championship golf”. New tee increases this par-4’s length to nearly 500 yds. Usually into the wind, a blind tee shot plays at difficult angle – many feel “Railway” is one of the Open’s most difficult of all the rota courses. The railway line runs close on the player’s right plus fronting; no escape exists. Two great shots are “musts” for par. A wall plus the railway welcome greenside…

“The Fox” -the 452 yds, par-4, 12^th has a new angle off the tee but no  major changes after; it is normally downwind. “Burmah”, par-4 473 yds into the wind, has  an enormous sand dune blocking adding zest to the blind tee shot. The elevated green drops off on right, left, and back. Major adjustments to the green allow new pins with testing run-offs; a monster hole the 13th.

“Alton” par-3, 200 yds, challenges the best with its new tee. Sloping front to back this green needs to be hit in the center; short can kick to one of the bunkers; the new tee has added zest on the 14^th. The par-4,  502 yds “Crosbie”  undulating fairways intimidate plus its length; bunkers on left must be missed. Finally, a flat green…

The ”Well” offers a slight birdie hope. Par-5 stretching 572 yds, the 16th has a burn at 280 yds from the new tee, inciting players to lay up as the fairway narrows dramatically. Attacking the green, one must avoid the right bunkers.

An exciting new elevated tee adds to the flair of “Rabbit”, par-3, 242 yds. A thick rough behind the 17th green plus  the drop-off’s on both sides to huge bunkers – many deeper than St. Andrew’s storied Road Hole – doom par. Think long – better than short.

Storied “Craigend” par-4, 458 yds has been stretched from the tee, demanding tee shot needed to avoid the bunkers. The green tests with OB and undulations, touch putting essential for a score – a fitting finish to the Old Course!

Woods’ affirmed, “Great layout, have to score going out” and other players added “pray on the way back, Rahm added “quite incredible to win on this layout”. One of the world’s top seaside links – memorable Royal Troon !

Compliments Royal Troon , R&A Open images, compliments 2024 Open