Beginner’s Guide to The Open at Royal Troon 2024
The Open is golf’s most historic annual major tournament, dating back to 1860. Each year, the world’s best golf players converge on a different legendary links course in the UK to battle for the iconic Claret Jug trophy.
In 2024, the action unfolds at the revered Royal Troon Golf Club in South Ayrshire, Scotland from the 18th to the 21st of July. The bespoke golf studio designers and golf simulator providers here at Golf Swing Systems are here to give you a beginner’s guide to the immense drama and challenges that await yet another unforgettable Open golf tournament.
Royal Troon Golf Links Course: a Historic Host Venue
Royal Troon is no stranger to hosting the Open. The 2024 event will mark the 152nd Open and the tenth time that the famed links course has staged golf’s original major championship.
Royal Troon was designed initially to mirror the out-and-back manner of the Old Course at St Andrews, another one of the UK’s most iconic golf venues.
The course was first host to the Open in 1923 after a groundbreaking redesign by five-time golf champion James Braid. It has since welcomed some of golf’s greatest legends to capture Claret Jug glory, including Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Justin Leonard, to name just a few.
One of the Most Memorable Opens: the 2016 Edition
Those familiar with the Troon golf course know it features a tough-as-nails back nine that has been the undoing of many world-class golfing pros. But in 2016, we witnessed an absolute masterclass rarely seen in the beautiful game.
If you thought the ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in 1977 was a sight to behold, then the 2016 Open final round could arguably surpass it.
8 years ago, eventual Champion Henrik Stenson engaged in an epic pairing on the final day with Phil Mickelson, firing a final round 63 to set the low aggregate scoring record at 20-under par. Mickelson went round in 65, but it wasn’t enough to catch the red-hot Swede. Will the stars align for similar drama and emotion in 2024?
A Tale of Two Nines
What makes the Royal Troon course such a supreme test for golfing experts is its two contrasting nines. The front half is by no means a walk in the park but is a prime opportunity to seize valuable points by playing straightaway from the clubhouse. The course truly bares its teeth when the time comes to face the back nine.
The back nine starts with two long par 4s at shy of 500 yards, dubbed “Sandhills” and “the Railway”, the latter of which is considered one of the trickiest and toughest holes in all of golf. It’s fair to say that a par here will feel like a trophy in itself.
The Postage Stamp – Troon’s Signature Test
The most famous hole in all of Troon and one of the most iconic in all of gold, the eighth hole dubbed “Postage Stamp” can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned golfing pros. At just 123 yards, this hole has seen its fair share of golfing triumphs and disappointments, with it often influencing a golfer’s performance in the tournament.
With bunkers surrounding a tiny target, it is one of the most revered – and potentially disastrous – short holes in championship golf. Those unfortunate enough to encounter the cavernous golf bunkers must punch out sideways, as even slightly askew golf swings can see the ball tumbling down into more steep slopes, weather dependent. Put simply, most golfers will relish this being a par 4.
Experience Troon on a Golf Simulation System
The 152nd Open at Troon promises to serve up another hefty portion of unforgettable moments that only golf’s original championship can truly provide.
Struck by Troon fever yet? While scoring a tee time at Royal Troon can be a challenge, Golf Swing Systems offers the next best thing – the ability to experience and master this iconic golf course from the comfort of your own home or purpose-built golf garden studio.
Our industry-leading golf simulators accurately recreate every devilish slope, undulation and hazard with picturesque realism. Paired with ultra-high-speed sensors and real-time ball tracking, you can hone every facet of your golf game – both long and short – to slice through the most challenging golfing conditions.
From tackling the Postage Stamp to navigating the fearsome back nine, these golf simulation systems give you unlimited reps and data-driven feedback to take on golf’s ultimate tests like never before. Conquer them, and those bucket list tee times get a lot more appetising. Get in touch today, and we’ll outfit you with the ultimate home golf system to take your game from the living room to the world’s grandest stages. What better way to experience the Open all year round?
