Royal Troon sits on the dunes 31 miles north of Girvan. The Old Course runs out along the shore on gentle holes and comes home inland into the wind on a back nine that wrecks scorecards; the 123-yard eighth — the Postage Stamp, a tiny green ringed by five bunkers — is the most famous short hole in the game, and the sixth was the longest hole in Open history in 2024 at 623 yards. Willie Fernie laid it out, James Braid toughened it, and it has staged the Open ten times. The Portland, Fernie's 1895 relief course redesigned by Alister MacKenzie in 1921, is shorter, more sheltered and a fine links in its own right; the nine-hole Craigend is for juniors and families.
Visiting: the rules
- Visitors play on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only (not public holidays), from mid-April to early October.
- Handicap limits: 20 for men, 30 for women; certificates may be requested. Minimum age 12.
- Yellow tees are the tee of the day; single-figure players may request the whites.
- Published 2025 fees: Old £365 (£285 PGA member) · Portland £125 (£95) · Day ticket, one round on each, £420 (£340). The club had not published a 2026 tariff at the time of writing; remaining 2026 times are by phone or email only and 2027 bookings open by email.
- Caddies £75 per round; fore-caddie £100 (two golfers) to £140 (four). Request in advance.
- Buggies only with a medical certificate; trolleys and limited hire clubs via the pro shop.
Dress and clubhouse
Tailored trousers or shorts on the course; no denim, cargo pants, tracksuits, T-shirts, trainers or sliders anywhere. Casual golf wear and clean soft-spikes are fine in the Club Bar, Ailsa Room and Dining Room (no waterproofs or hats); jacket and tie for gentlemen in the Smoke Room. Clubhouse catering 8.30am–5pm. Phones silent. No changing in the car park.
Who it suits
Single-figure and low-teens golfers on a pilgrimage who can plan months ahead. If your handicap or dates don't fit, the Portland alone is an excellent, much cheaper alternative, and the council's Lochgreen next door shares the same dunes.
Getting there and combining
45 minutes by road from Girvan, or an hour by train via Ayr (Troon station is a mile from the club). Pair with Prestwick (six miles south) or Western Gailes (four north); Troon's beach, marina and the Arran ferry for the rest of the party. The Open Links of Ayrshire package through Trump Turnberry includes a Royal Troon round.
