A century of history
The 152nd Open Championship returns to Royal Troon Golf Club in 2023. This date is a significant one in the history of this course, which was founded in 1878, with it marking the 100th anniversary of the 1st time The Open Championship visited this classic links in the West of Scotland.
The 10th Open Championship at Royal Troon
The Open at Royal Troon will take place between 16th – 23rd July 2023 and will see the world’s best golfers do battle over The Old Course at Royal Troon. With fast-running fairways, coastal views and a golf course that measures 7,208 yards off the Championship tees, The Open will be sure to welcome a worthy Champion Golfer of the Year in 2023.
Located on the picturesque West Coast of Scotland, Royal Troon shares the coastline with other Open Championship golf courses including Trump Turnberry, which last hosted The Open in 2009, and Prestwick Golf Course, which last hosted The Open in 1925. This rich golfing region is considered to be one of the very best in the world and is sure to attract hundreds of thousands of golfers from across the world.
The economic impact of the last Open Championship at Royal Troon is said to have given “…£110 million worth of benefits to Scotland” according to Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick. With easy access from both Glasgow (40 minutes drive) and Edinburgh (1 hour 40-minute drive), golfers are expected to combine their trip to The 2023 Open Championship with the many excellent golf course found at The Home of Golf.
Recent Open Championship history at Royal Troon
With past Open Champions including Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf and Tom Watson, Royal Troon has enjoyed a rich golfing history that few golf courses can compete with.
It was the most recent staging of The Open at Royal Troon that is sure to live long in the memory. Henrik Stenson became the first Swedish golfer to claim the Claret Jug with a stunning performance of -20 for 4 rounds which included a final round of 63 (-8).
The final round saw Stenson do battle with Phil Mickleson, who was looking to claim his 2nd Open Championship having triumphed at Muirfield in 2013, in what many consider to be the best final round of an Open Championship since The Duel in the Sun at Turnberry. Mickelson’s 65 saw him take 2nd place which was 11 shots better than 3rd placed J.B. Holmes, showing the distance between them and the chasing pack that week.
Our thoughts on Royal Troon
With many avid golfers in our office, we wanted to share our thoughts on Royal Troon and what it’s like to play it –
Alan Reid, Scotland Product Manager
“One the best back 9’s in Open history, where as the front 9 is much less taxing. The famous postage stamp allows Royal Troon to have one of the shortest holes on the Open rota but in turn one of the most intimidating.
Having competed in many events over the Troon Links, the best memory was playing from the Championship tees and hitting the 11th fairway. The 11th is a very underrated golf hole due to the Postage Stamp being 3 holes earlier. The 11th tee shot, one of the scariest in golf and with the railway line down the right handside, there is no room for error.
Royal Troon offers any golfer the opportunity to achieve greatness, make par on the postage stamp, hit the 11th fairway, play like an Open Champion. Different shots for all golfers, bucket list venue at it’s best.”
Steve Smith, Golf Travel Specialist
“One of the best courses on The Open rota and in recent memory the best final round I have ever witnessed with Stenson prevailing over Mickelson in what has to be two of the highest quality final rounds in any Open Championship.
My favourite memory of playing at Royal Troon was when I competed in the Scottish Amateur Championship at the venue back in 2009 and was lucky enough to play a practice round with the eventual winner and good friend David Law (current European Tour member).
I’d recommend Royal Troon to anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of some of the greats and try your hand at keeping it on the dancefloor and making a 3 (or better) at the 8th…2nd pot on the right particularly horrendous from memory!”
Your Golf Travel, an Authorised Provider for The Open, can provide a host of different packages including tickets for The Open, hotels and golf courses to play as part of your next visit to The Open. Alternatively, if you’d like to play Royal Troon before The Open, please get in contact or view our Scotland Golf Tours.
