One of Scotland's six major courses, an Open venue, host to the Open for 1997. A true links layout, 9 holes out and 9 back through the dunes. The middle six holes are recognized as some of the most difficult and interesting in golf.

Old Troon has both the longest and the shortest holes of the Open rota. The 6th is 577 yards long and is where in 1982 American Bobby Clampett came to grief, carding an 8, having been leading by five strokes after 36 holes, leaving Tom Watson to claim the title. The notoriously difficult 126 yard 8th hole, called the Postage Stamp, is where the 71-year-old American Gene Sarazen holed in one in the 1973 Open, having been an Open winner at Troon in 1932. Bobby Locke of South Africa won Troon's second Open in 1950. American Arnold Palmer won his second consecutive Open there in 1962. In the same year, Jack Nicklaus played his first Open and carded a 10 at the difficult 11th hole which runs alongside the railway line, to start with a round of 80. The Troon club became Royal Troon in centenary year of 1978, the most recent of the Royal clubs and the only one to have been so honoured by Queen Elizabeth II. The motto of the club - Tam Arte Quam Marte (more by skill than effort) - concisely sums up sound golfing technique.