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The Home of Ayrshire Golf

By: Golfshake Editor | Fri 08 Jul 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


TROON is a fairly unremarkable town on the west coast of Scotland - unless, that is, you happen to have even the remotest interest in the game of golf.

This town with a population of just 15,000 people is home to the Old Course, one of the best links in Scotland and the venue for the 2016 Open Championship. It also boasts the Portland Course, originally designed by the Troon professional William Fernie, winner The Open in 1883. It was originally opened for play in 1895 and redesigned by Alister MacKenzie in the early 1920’s. Although a links course, the Portland is more sheltered than its more famous big sister. The holes meander through terrain filled with gorse and broom and features five par threes and five par fives, four of which are on the back nine.

Head into town and you will find three municipal golf courses, Lochgreen, Darley and Fullarton. The first tees to all three courses sit side by side and the opening holes then meander off, largely running parallel to one another before the courses go their own way.

Throw into the mix the fact that Troon is only a stone's throw from the magnificent Prestwick Golf Club and is located just up the coast from Turnberry and close to Ayr, a holiday town that is home to its own superb golf courses, and you quickly realise that this is a little piece of golfing heaven.

(Image Credit Kevin Diss)

In truth, Royal Troon, which was opened in 1878, is not the prettiest of links courses and in calm weather nor is it the most challenging. But the wind is sure to play its part in any Open Championship played in this part of the country and when you throw in the gorse, the thick rough and the bounces that are part and parcel of links golf then it goes without saying that the man who wins this year's Open will be the one who is best able to cope with the bad breaks that will surely come his way.

The course measures 7,202 yards and scores are made on the front nine, which is considerably easier and shorter than the homeward stretch - the front nine measures just 3,462 yards while the back nine is 3,740yards

The most famous hole is The Postage Stamp, a par three that measures just 123 yards from the championship tee and is officially the easiest hole on the course. The tee is elevated and the shot is played over a gully to a long, narrow green set into the side of a large sandhill. Two bunkers protect the left side of the green while a large crater bunker shields the approach. Any mistake on the right will find one of the two deep bunkers with near vertical faces. Many top players have come to grief at this innocuous little hole.

The tournament is likely to be won or lost over the closing four holes. (Course Flyover)

The 15th is an awesome par four measuring 500 yards. The first of the demanding finishing stretch calls for a drive to the  left half of the fairway to open up the second shot to a flat green which rests in a hollow. The 15th is well bunkered and is certain to see some shots being dropped at crucial moments.

The 16th is a terrific par five that runs to 553 yards from the back tee. Players drive to a flat fairway and will lay up short of a burn that not even Dustin Johnson will be able to carry. Gorse and rough lie in wait for any wayward shot, and the green is well protected by bunkers but somebody will make an eagle that could stand the tournament on its head.

The 17th is another par three, but this one measures almost 220 yards and if the wind gets up then expect to see most of the field hitting a three wood or even a driver. It is played to a plateau green that falls away sharply on both sides and is well guarded by bunkers. 

And so to the closing hole, a par four measuring 464 yards. The ideal drive is straight down the middle, avoiding bunkers left and right. Bunkers short of the green should not come into play. The green sits directly in front of the clubhouse and is protected by bunkers on both sides. A path just behind the green is out of bounds.

If watching The Open whets your appetite and you decide that you want to go out and pit your wits against Royal Troon, it will cost you a cool £220 to do so.

 


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Tags: The Open 2016 open



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