Royal
Troon was the last of the Royal Golf Clubs to be so honoured,
gaining its title during its own centenary year of 1978. Troons
Royal Title remains the only one to be granted by Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth II.
The club had the whole hearted support of the Scottish Golf
Union when it wrote to the Secretary of State for Scotland
in April 1978 requesting that a formal application be placed
before the Queen. One month later confirmation was received
by the clubs Secretary, that Her Majesty had been Graciously
pleased to accede to the request. Troons motto
reads Tam Artequam Marte meaning As much
by skill as by strength a very apt motto for a course
so demanding and testing of ones golfing talents.
The
links of Royal Troon are perhaps now the most important, in
the West of Scotland, since Prestwick gave up any hopes of
staging the Worlds Greatest Championship. Founded in
1878 Royal Troon lies at the southern end of the Ayrshire
coastline where Golf was played long before Troon was founded.
There is evidence in Ian Mackintoshs history of Troon
that four or five holes date back as early as 1870, when the
holes were cut with a knife and neither round nor square,
but were large enough. Over the years the course has
evolved into one of the toughest in Open Championship history
boasting both the longest and shortest holes on the Open rota.
The shortest is the world famous, or infamous, 8th hole known
as The Postage Stamp.
Several famous course architects have left their marks at
Troon, Willie Fernie, James Braid, Alistair Mackenzie and
Frank Pennink, although in Braids case his contribution
was restricted to advice on bunkering. Many illustrious names
appear on the Claret Jug after victory at Troon,
the most significant being that of Arnold Palmer who in 1962
spread-eagled the field with scintillating performance. Only
six rounds under 70 were recorded in 1962, three of these
belonging to Arnold. During Tom Watsons winning year
of 1982 Royal Troon honoured Arnold Palmer with life membership
for his contribution of Golf, and his help in re-establishing
The Open as the premier event in world golf.
There are very few days on which the wind does not blow across
this exposed links, and the battle out is a fierce one against
the prevailing wind. Then you turn for home and onwards to
the famous Troon finish, not for the faint of heart, and regarded
by some as the toughest finishing stretch anywhere.
Two
of the most famous holes at Royal Troon, the 577 yard. 6th,
currently the longest hole in Open Championship golf and the
8th hole The Postage Stamp all 126 yard, have
claimed many victims over the years. The 6th hole ending the
challenge of one Bobby Clampett, an American, who spread-eagled
the field in the 1982 Open, only to find a sandy grave short
of the green on the final day. In the 1950 Open a German player
named Herman Tissies single putted the 8th hole, The
Postage Stamp unfortunately it had taken him 14 strokes
to reach the putting surface of the infamous par 3 hole. One
of the most popular and memorable triumphs on the eighth
belongs to one of golfs gentlemen, Gene Sarazen, a winner
of all four major championships, then in his seventies playing
in the 1973 open Gene holed his tee shot with a five iron
in round one, then in round two followed up his ace with a
two, holing a bunker shot for his birdie. His total for two
rounds at the Postage Stamp was THREE strokes, and he hadnt
used his PUTTER !!! Greg Norman and Tiger Woods hold the course
record around the links of Troon, Gregs round notable
for six straight birdies on the opening holes, and Tigers
for propelling him back into contention during the 1997 Open
after all seemed lost.
One of the abiding memories of a visit to Royal Troon, apart
from the golf course, is dinner in the club restaurant, surrounded
by the wonderful oil paintings looking down from the paneled
walls listening to both the tales of woe and glory from golfers
visiting, from different parts of the globe.
Royal Troon is a course worthy of the game, and is a challenge
not to be missed by any golfing enthusiast.
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Royal
Troon Golf Club
Craigend Road
Troon
KA10 6EP
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Founded:-
1878
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Type
of course:- Links
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No
of holes:- 18
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Distance:-
7101 yds
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Par:-
71 (SSS 74)
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Designer:-
Wullie Fernie, James Braid
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Location:- Ayrshire |
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