Royal Troon (Portland)

Royal Troon Golf Club was formed in 1878 by local golf enthusiasts with its original design conceived by George Strath. Royal Troon is the only golf club in Great Britain to have been granted Royal status by Queen Elizabeth II.   The Portland Course was the second layout to be designed and constructed at the Royal Troon Golf Club, originally opened in 1895. Willie Fernie was the brains behind the original design of the layout.  Like the Old, the Portland went through renovations and redesigns in the 1920s. The great Alister MacKenzie was the man behind the changes of the Portland Course.

The Portland Course, which is named after the Dukes of Portland, sits inland from the western coastline of Scotland, with the Old Course between the Portland and the Irish Sea. The Par 71 course is lop-sided, with all four of the par 5s on the layout coming on the back nine, including in back-to-back holes at 11 and 12. The course is laid out in two loops, and measures just shy of 6,300 yards. The railway line will be your nemesis at points throughout the front nine.  It is a very tricky start to the Portland Course, with the opener being a par 4 of more than 450 yards. There is space left, bar the small fairway bunker, while there are two greenside bunkers to the front right of the putting surface. The 2nd brings the railway line into play. It runs down the left side, but there is a wide fairway to be found. At 425 yards, it is slightly shorter than the opener, but if you can start with a pair of pars, you’ll be a very happy golfer. The 3rd is only 350 yards, but plays as a dog-leg left around thick gorse bushes. Four fairway bunkers are in play depending how far you hit your tee shot.  The 4th is the opening short hole on the course, but it isn’t all that short. It is 195 yards from the tips, but there is a large surface to find. 5 and 6 run opposite to each other, with the 6th bringing the train line back into play. The 5th is only 340 yards and offers the first real birdie opportunity, while 6 hits the 400-yard mark. 7 also runs down railway line, with the green just a few yards from the tracks. The 8th is one of three par 3s on the course around the 150-yard mark, and plays slightly downhill to a small green. The 9th brings you back to the clubhouse for the first time, and there are five bunkers within the last 40 yards of the hole that must be avoided.  The back nine begins with a short par 3, one that has three bunkers surrounding the putting surface. Those back-to-back par 5s come next, and neither are more than 490 yards. The 11th has an S-shaped fairway, while the 12th is arrow straight. Both provide scoring opportunities, especially for those that have the power to reach the green in two. The 13th is one of just two par 4s on the back nine of the Portland Course, and at just 345 yards, it is another birdie chance. The fairway is wide, especially if you’re only taking a fairway wood or long iron for position.  The longest of the five par 3s begins the closing stretch on the Portland. At more than 200 yards from the tips, the 14th plays to a long and narrow green, with a bunker on either side. The 15th is another short par 5, but a trickier one that those that have come before it. There is a burn that runs across the fairway, so you will have to decide whether to try and hit your tee shot past it, or stay short and turn it into a three-shot hole. 16 is the last par 3, and another of the 150-yard variety, while the penultimate hole is just over 300 yards. The closing hole on the Portland is another par 5, the fourth on the back nine. There is not much trouble, if you don’t hit your tee shot too far wide. Make birdie and take a well-earned drink in the clubhouse.

Joss Powick: A very good test and possibly under-rated being Royal Troon’s second course. Very memorable and playable with options on many holes.

David Walker: Often overlooked but should not be - wonderful turf excellent par 3s and the 2nd is good enough to be one of the best on the whole property.

Jim Marshall: Way more sheltered from the elements and shorter than the World Class mains course. Five very decent par 3s and a back nine containing all four par 5s.

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Where is Royal Troon Golf Club located?
The Royal Troon Golf Club is situated on the western coastline of Scotland, in somewhat of a golfing paradise in Ayrshire. The club is just south of the town of Troon, and sits just off the B749. The A78 – which runs from Greenock and Morton – is just a couple of miles east of Royal Troon. The city of Glasgow is around 30 miles to the northeast of the venue. Troon Rail Station is just a mile away from Royal Troon. The station sits on the main line between Glasgow Central and Ayr, with services running in both directions every hour. For those coming to Scotland by air, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is just ten minutes to the southeast from the club, but Glasgow Airport – which is 40 miles north – provides a much wider array of flights and destinations.   How many courses are there at Royal Troon?
The Portland Course is one of two 18-hole layouts at the venue, with Royal Troon also playing host to the Old Course as well. The Craigend Course is a 9-holer, that takes Royal Troon's collection to 45 holes of golf. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?
Along with both the Old Course and the Portland Course the Ayrshire coastline has several stunning venues that all make the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. The likes of Dundonald Links, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Gailes Links, West Kilbride, and Trump Turnberry - with its Ailsa Course and King Robert the Bruce Course - are all on the same stretch of coastline.

What golf facilities does Royal Troon offer?  
As you would expect from an Open Championship venue that has 45 holes of golf, the practice facilities are first class at Royal Troon. There is a full-length driving range, along with a short game area and a putting green to hone your skills.
  What are the green fees at Royal Troon?
The price of a green fee at Royal Troon changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.  For more information on current green fees at Royal Troon, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).

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