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| Royal Troon |
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Royal Troon Golf Club © 2006, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla Tam Arte Quam Marte No, it's not a misprint, it's the motto engraved on the crest of the Royal Troon Golf Club-- As much by skill as by strength. Believe it. At 6,641 yards off the medal tees you will not overpower this golf course. This is one tough layout which demands the usual accuracy off the tee, plus the deft short game that all great links courses demand. But in addition you will need lots of patience and a heavy dose of good course management. Throw in a modicum of luck and you'll have a great day. Royal Troon Golf Club is a classic "out-and-back" links layout. Much like St. Andrews Old Course, the front nine are pretty much all one way out from the clubhouse with the sea a constant companion at your right for the first six holes (slicer's beware--no, no, forget I said that!). The front nine is where to make your score because the prevailing winds will be at your back. Coming home, eight holes will play directly into the prevailing wind--and that wind can be a two to three club wind which will not only knock your ball back, it will exaggerate any slice or hook.
The course starts out gently enough with a 357 yard par 4. All you have to do is to keep the ball in the fairway for a good chance at birdie or par. Take advantage of this gift, you won't get many more. There are two fairway bunkers on the left and, of course, the sea to your right. But as with virtually all the holes on this golf course, if you keep your ball in the fairway--even if you're not long--you greatly increase your chances for a good round because the rough is so punishing. You are looking at an automatic bogie if you stray from the fairway. A judicious use of your 3 wood on certain holes is recommended. Better to be short in the fairway than trying to hit out of gorse. As I said, good course management is critical. Everyone mentions the 8th hole, a short 126 yard par 3. With a stroke index of 18 it's supposed to be the least difficult hole on the golf course. Don't believe it. Sure, it's only a wedge but it's called "Postage Stamp" for a reason. Did you ever see a large postage stamp? Exactly. It's tiny. Not only is it tiny, it is surrounded by 5 intimidating bunkers--one of which is called "The Coffin Bunker"--and the edges are severely sloped so that anything that doesn't hold the green leaves a delicate chip with a pretty good chance of ending up in bogie or worse. Tiger Woods took a 6 here in his first Open Championship and it's the only hole Greg Norman bogies when he set the course record with a sizzling 64. In fact, he birdies the first 6 holes, parred # 7 and then bogies the "easy" Postage Stamp. I can't understand why this hole get's such little stroke index respect but then par 3s hardly ever are rated highly, no matter how difficult they are. (There's an interesting story told about #8 when, in the 1973 Open Championship Gene Sarazan played the hole 2 times in a total of 3 shots and never used his putter. The first day he had a hole-in-one. The second day his tee shot went into one of the bunkers and he holed it out with a sand wedge.) By the way, this hole is the shortest hole of all the Open Championship courses.
Holes number 6 and 11 are also worth mentioning. Tam arte quam marte aptly apply to them both because both need strength and skill--with emphasis on the skill. Number 6 is 544 off the medal tees and 599 off the championship tees with strategically placed bunkers on both sides of the fairway. (In fact measured to the back of the tee box, it measusres 601 yards!) It is the longest hole of any Open Championship course. The tee shot must be acccurate and long to put yourself in a position to get there in two. I'm not a long enough hitter to ever get there in two but, with the wind behind you--as it will be on most days--a long hitter can make it. Most players will be laying up but, again there are two bunkers and curves and undulations to contend with. It's quite a hole.
Eleven is the number one rated hole. It's 421 yards from the medal tees and 488 from the championship tees. There's only one bunker and that's near the green. However, gorse and broom line the narrow fairway and bumps and hills and valleys populate it. It's the kind of hole you can get a decent drive on only to find you're facing a downhill and/or sidehill lie for your second shot to a inverted saucer green. Oh, and don't forget the wind. It will probably be blowing in your face. It's a par 4, but 5 is not a bad score here. Royal Troon Golf Club certainly has the credentials of a great golf course: 7 Open Championships, 10 amateur championships, 4 International Championships, and 4 Ladies Open Championships have been played on its links. The 133rd Open Championship was played on it in 2004. If you watched the Open on TV you got an idea of what a magnificent golf course this is. Of course watching on TV doesn't give you the full impact of the heavy gorse and broom rough . Nor will you feel the fierce wind or try to read the undulating greens. And you won't get to experience the punishing bunkers or navigate a treacherous fairway. This is some special golf course.
The Golf Nook Scotland rating -- BIRDIE Scorecard
Miscellaneous Information: There is another golf course on the leeward side of the championship course, called the Portland Course. It's shorter than its big brother and shares some of the topography. There are five par 3s and four par 5s. All the par 5s are on the back nine. I have not played this course, so I don't know much about it but it does look to be quite a bit easier. There is a very nice, very traditional clubhouse which visitors can use. Showers and changing room are available. However, this is a bit more formal a clubhouse than most. Jackets and ties are required in all but the Club Bar and for lunch in the Ailsa Lounge. Ladies need to wear a dress, skirt or formal slacks in the Dining Room. And be sure you dress appropriately on the golf course too. You will not be allowed to play in jeans, short shorts, shirts without a collar, sneakers, sweatsuits... You know the drill--just dress appropriately. Mobile phones are NOT allowed on the golf course, nor are cameras or video equipment. Be sure to bring a handicap card. Men need a maximum handicap of 20, women 30. There is a nice practice ground--a rarity for Scottich courses, especially the links courses. Booking Information: Tee times are available for visitors 9:30 AM to 11 AM and 2:30 PM to 4PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Composite green fees: Troon is not cheap, so be warned. One round each on Championship & Portland Course including use of practice facility, morning coffee and lunch - £180 Two rounds on Portland Course including use of practice facility, morning coffee and lunch - £100 per day. Club hire - £25/40 There is a non-refundable deposit of £50 per player to reserve a tee time. The balance must be paid two months prior to your day of play to confirm your reservation. e-mail: bookings@royaltroon.com Caddies: Caddies are a good idea. Get in touch with the caddiemaster Mike McCallum. He'll set you up with the right caddie for your game. Mike is a wealth of information about the golf course and about the history of Troon. And he's a true gentleman to boot. Caddies per round £30 Trolleys per day £3/5 Troon Golf Club Craigend Road Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6EP Scotland Tel: (0)1292 313555 (from the USA dial 011 44 1292 313555) Fax: (0)1291 318204 Professional: Tel: (0) 1292-313281 Secretary / Manager: Mr. Jan W. Chandler Caddiemaster: Mr. Michael McCallum Club Steward: Mr. Denis Maddison Course Manager: Mr. William D. T. McLachian Professional: Brian Anderson For What To Do All Day, please see the Ayrshire page. |
