[George Pazin]

I have played:
The Old Course
New Course
North Berwick
Muirfield
Carnoustie
Turnberry
Glen Eagles Kings
Kingsbarns
Castle Course

Can't comment on Royal Dornoch

I enjoyed all of these courses for different reasons. Probably had the most fun at North Berwick. Felt the most goose bumps at The Old Course. Loved the terrain at Glen Eagles.
I wish I could describe what it felt like walking the Old Course at Troon. Playing #7 with the specter of #8 just to the right. Landing my approach to #10 20 yards short of the green to keep it from bouncing over. The railroad tracks right of #11. It all came together for me there. Those who wanted a detailed discussion of architectural features will be disappointed with my response. Maybe I should not have made the original post. However, I will never forget how I felt that day. Here's hoping it happens for you, wherever it may be.

Don't ever feel guilty for a post like this or the previous one. Amazingly well said, Jeff.

I developed a new appreciation for Troon with my HDTV. The land and bunkering looks fantastic. I hope to see for myself someday.

[Niall Hay]

Royal Troon is a much better course than it gets credit for being. Once one gets past those first 5 holes, there are few better. The first set of holes are good but just bland.

Completely agree Tiger. The 1st few holes ease you into the round so perhaps are not as memorable, but from the 6th on there are few better.

[Niall Hay]

The bunkering IS fantastic.

[jeffwarne]

yes but we all know Jeff is a reverse snob 

Brian,
I tend to play places that will allow your cargo shorts

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

I might add if I could only play 18 more holes or say had to pick an all world 18 holes. 7 and 8 would be on the short list. I am saying that remembering 8 to be the postage stamp. And 7 the great par 4 before it.

[Niall Hay]

Completely agree, we took several groups out there and while all loved the Postage Stamp (# , nearly all thought the coolest hole (and view) as well as tee shot was Tel-el-Kebir (# 7). 6, 7, 8 are all incredible in a row. Then 11 on in is great!

[John McCarthy]

Todd Hamilton won there in 05 or so.  The NY Times website had a fantastic picture from Todd's home course, a muni in western Illinois.  It was taken from underneath the tv set showing the hometown guys going nuts when he holed the putt to win. 

The cool thing was the table closest to the photog had something like 20 empty Busch Lights on it.  With two guys sitting there, at about 11am local time.

[Niall Hay]

2004

[Anthony Gray]

My favorite of the Scotland courses.

  How could this be?

  Anthony

[Niall Hay]

the Portland course (a MacKenzie course that is good but not great, not helped by the set up)

Have we ever confirmed this? If so, what is the detail? What level of involvement did the Good Doctor have at Royal Troon? Portland only?

[Matthew Rose]

Boost for Troon as Royal course set to host 2016 open
 
 Royal Troon is set to host the 2016 Open Championship

 Businesses in Troon can look forward to a boost, after it was revealed that Troon Golf Club will host the 2016 Open Championship.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has yet to officially announce the decision, but the whole of Troon’s Marine Hotel is already believed to have been booked out for the week, and senior members of the club are said to have been informed of the decision.

The 2016 championship will mark the ninth occasion that golf’s top event has been played over the Troon links, and the first since 2004 when Todd Hamilton became the sixth consecutive US player to win over the course.

This year’s championship will be played at Royal Lytham, before Birkdale in 2013, Hoylake in 2014 and St Andrews in 2015 before the return to Troon.

It's not scheduled for Birkdale in 2013, it's  at Muirfield.  Having played them all, Troon falls under the least memorable of them for me.  Having said that, it is still a fantastic golf course.  It just lacks the same warm welcome that the others did for me. 

I was going to say.... had it gone Sandwich, Lytham, Birkdale, Hoylake, then that's four straight in England, which they'd never allow to happen.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Niall thanks for filling in the details. Yes 7 is a hole that is really special. I could play it all day long.

[Niall C]

the Portland course (a MacKenzie course that is good but not great, not helped by the set up)

Have we ever confirmed this? If so, what is the detail? What level of involvement did the Good Doctor have at Royal Troon? Portland only?

Niall

Its a definite MacKenzie. The course has seen more than one version. Version 1 was laid out by Fernie as a nine holer (I think). Then got stretched to 18 by Fernie. MacK totally redesigned it with new routing in 1921 ish although several years later Fernie was called in to alter 2 or 3 of the greens that they weren't happy with. I've only played it two or three times, the first time being nearly 20 years ago and I have really fond memories of the game. The more recent games were a bit disappointing, I suspect because of the memory of my first visit built it up too much, but also because the set up was a bit basic. Straight fairway lines with definite edging rather than any real transition into the rough, that sort of thing. Clearly the old course gets most of the attention from the green staff.

Niall

[Melvyn Morrow]

Troon has never lived up to my expectations. Yes it’s a fine course, but there are many a fine course scattered around, but it just does not have that something that makes the difference. My point being that if I am or was in that part of the country I was more drawn to Prestwick (http://www.prestwickgc.co.uk/) or her sister course Prestwick St Nicholas (http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/) than a little trek down to Troon. My father, from memory was of a similar opinion.

Perhaps it’s the feeling of that old world comfort and charm which for some reason seems to have been turned off at Troon – but then that’s just my opinion

Melvyn

[Bob_Huntley]

Melvyn,

How right you are.  I feel that Prestwick and Western Gailes give you as good a test of golf and certainly a warmer welcome.

Bob

[Jason Topp]

Melvin:

I played Prestwick and Troon on the same day.  At Prestwick, my caddie asked if we were playing again that day.  When we told him we were going to Troon he responded "I'm sorry -- Boring golf."

[George Pazin]

Melvin:

I played Prestwick and Troon on the same day.  At Prestwick, my caddie asked if we were playing again that day.  When we told him we were going to Troon he responded "I'm sorry -- Boring golf."

Wish we had a few more such boring courses near me...

[Niall C]

Bob/Melvyn,

The issue of how hospitable Royal Troon is to visitors has been a topic of discussion on here before. Personally I haven't had a problem as have quite a few other posters however some have. I've mentioned this to a good pal of mine who is a member of long standing and while I don't know whether the club felt there was an issue of whether it was an issue to be addressed and quite what they did about it etc etc, I really don't know. I've never followed up that particular conversation but I think I'm right in saying that the "problem" seems to have disappeared in recent years. Possibly all it took was a change of personnel at front of desk I don't know.

I do know that as a club they look to cater for visitors. I believe the extension of the clubhouse was with that in mind. Architecturally the new enlarged clubhouse works well but I do agree its lost a bit of charm due to the scale of the place. In fairness to the club also they put on a show of their history even if they are still coming to terms with how rich that history is.

Now to the course ! This is where you two numpties should be made to do extra homework    Its a real members course in that a lot of the nuances and subtledy of the course don't come to light with one play or even a few plays for that matter. I find that quite refreshing compared to the crash bang wallop what a picture school of architecture.

Niall  

[Tim Nugent]

I agree with Tiger's assessment.  Don't know about the atmosphere thro as we played on a day when the course seemed to be closed.  I think I only saw one other group and only a couple of staff memebers.  It was a glorious, sunny day with a gentle breeze.  Aside from the golf, I think the Black Rock House between 2 and 16? is perhaps one of the coolest things in golf.  I'm so jealous of the chap that gets to live there!

[Niall C]

Melvin:

I played Prestwick and Troon on the same day.  At Prestwick, my caddie asked if we were playing again that day.  When we told him we were going to Troon he responded "I'm sorry -- Boring golf."

Jason

Is the sales rep for Pepsi likely to recommend Coca Cola ?

Niall

[Melvyn Morrow]

Niall

As per your taste in women, could I too call you a numpty because of your choice. As I was actually referring to the course in my post.

I will again try to convey my feeling first for the course “Troon has never lived up to my expectations. Yes it’s a fine course, but there are many a fine course scattered around, but it just does not have that something that makes the difference. My point being that if I am or was in that part of the country I was more drawn to Prestwick”    

Secondly, The club itself has “the feeling of that old world comfort and charm which for some reason seems to have been turned off at Troon”

Trust that clears up my opinion, as for its history, come on Niall what history compared to Prestwick let alone Prestwick St Nicholas who share Old Tom’s 12 Hole course at Prestwick in the early years. History nearly by passed Troon compared to the above mentioned Prestwick clubs.

Just an old numpty’s opinion, yet the younger pups are still I suspect not far from their mother’s teat for all their worldly wisdom (right Niall )

Melvyn

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jason

I wish some of you guys would play a full days golf at each club/course, by that I mean 36 Holes rather than shoot off to play another course. You get a better understanding and feel for the course. You correct errors from the morning’s game, perhaps even see the course in better light, if not from the previous round certainly by the different light filtering through to the course in the afternoon.

It does, I believe enable the golfer to experience each course to its fullest giving a far better golfing holiday rather than cramming in just so many courses that you hardly understand let alone experience their real quality as a course and test of your skills.

So all this travelling, please do yourselves a favour, take your time and savour the time at each course, after all it has cost you enough in time and money so why not relax into the games rather than travelling all the time.

Its golf not a Marathon, so savour each moment to the fullest, you will thank me upon your return home - anyway it gives you an excuse to return and play the courses you missed this time.

Melvyn

[Niall C]

Melvyn

All three clubs (Prestwick, Prestwick St Nick's and Royal Troon) have fantastic histories so it would be a bit pointless getting into a discussion on that but then as discussing golf on the internet is a bit of a pointless endeavour anyway, here goes.......

St Nick's, one of my favourite courses, HOWEVER (I know I shouldn't shout) someone once said, Henry Cotton I believe, that St Nick's was like an Open championship course in miniature. A very apt description really. Not dissing it as such, just putting it in its place. I could also add that the clubhouse lacks charm, even by Troon standards, and the members have illusions of a grandeur that the club simply doesn't have IMO. The fact that Old Tom was a member in the early days when the club borrowed a course from Prestwick GC and then laid out the original St Nick's course which like most Old Tom courses has now been radically altered doesn't really compare with the other two clubs. So that's St Nick's kicked into touch.

Then there's Prestwick itself. Fantastic place. I've a great empathy with a club that resolutely refuses to make concessions to the modern politically correct outlook. Its as if time stopped in 1925, which in a sense it did, that being the last time they staged an Oen. When you look at it most of their history is pre-historic in golfing terms and indeed 1925 was the only Open the course hosted in its present format. In comparison to Troon which has had more rounded evolutionary development with fantastic history of great competitions that didn't involve hickory shafted clubs, Prestwick has done nothing in the last 90 years as I'm absolutely certain you'll agree when you stop to think about it.

So there you have it Melvyn, Royal Troon really is the west of Scotlands golfing Mecca 

Niall

[Melvyn Morrow]

Niall

I keep saying that game has gone to the dogs,     as for your history, it still does not match the Prestwick clubs even if you exclude Old Tom. Perhaps the club house at St Nicks leaves a little bit to be desired, but then Troon leaves a big space to be regrettably not desired by this guy, so Troon is what it is in my book, an also runner, it can never match the IMHO the other two, so I will continue to pass by Troon for Prestwick.

But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder and add the history - Troon has no Hunters either, so further delegated IMHO  

Melvyn

Mecca, watch what you write Niall, you may find John K and his Special Forces at your door - Scotland is already a No Go, let alone a No Fly zone for him. But then Troon is no St Andrews of the West either

[Niall Hay]

Niall

I keep saying that game has gone to the dogs,     as for your history, it still does not match the Prestwick clubs even if you exclude Old Tom. Perhaps the club house at St Nicks leaves a little bit to be desired, but then Troon leaves a big space to be regrettably not desired by this guy, so Troon is what it is in my book, an also runner, it can never match the IMHO the other two, so I will continue to pass by Troon for Prestwick.

But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder and add the history - Troon has no Hunters either, so further delegated IMHO  

Melvyn

Mecca, watch what you write Niall, you may find John K and his Special Forces at your door - Scotland is already a No Go, let alone a No Fly zone for him. But then Troon is no St Andrews of the West either

Sing it Niall!

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()