The Open brings the best players to some of the world's finest golf courses. But where does Royal Troon rank among Open courses? Neil Tappin takes a detailed look at its position and what 2016 might mean for this historic old course
This year the Open returns to Royal Troon for the first time since 2004. Troon has been on the Open rota since 1923, hosting the Championship eight times (2016 will be the ninth). The roll call of winners produce by this fearsome west coast challenge is dominated by Americans – Palmer, Weiskopf and Watson are all on the list. This begs the question, where does Royal Troon rank among Open courses?
Turnberry – 4
Royal Birkdale – 5
Carnoustie – 6
Royal St George’s – 7
Royal Lytham & St Anne’s – 9
Royal Portrush – 11
Royal Liverpool – 12
Royal Troon – 29
Muirfield – 1
Royal Cinque Ports – 56
Prince’s – Did not make the Top 100
As you can see, Troon is the only current Open course, not in our current Top 15. But given its impressive reputation, why? The answer is complicated. Firstly, and without question, Royal Troon is the most under-stated of all the Open venues. The club does not court publicity and as such rarely features in any absolute ‘must-play’ lists. Troon also sits in the shadow of Turnberry. Just 25 miles between them, Turnberry is one of the greatest, most visually appealing golf courses on the planet. Furthermore, the recent wave of changes made since the property was acquired by Donald Trump has, according to Golf Monthly’s contributing editor Jeremy Ellwood, significantly imprived both the challenge and the aesthetics of the layout.
Finally, Troon is very flat. Now, the same can be said of a few of the Open courses but Troon doesn’t offer the sea views of some of the others and the landscape is certainly less photogenic.
The 2016 Open will place Royal Troon back in the spotlight for the first time since 2004. If it is an exciting tournament, Troon will come out with its reputation and position within the game enhanced further still. Finding itself at the centre of the golfing universe may well help Troon’s position among its class of Open courses. We shall wait and see!
