Troon (Darley)

The Darley Course at Troon Links has changed somewhat in recent years, but it maintains a punch for all levels of golfer. 

The first course to be founded at Troon Links, the Darley pushes past the 6,300-yard mark from the tips, and has plenty of hazards to be avoided throughout a round. 

The Darley is one of three courses at the venue, with Troon Links also being home to the Lochgreen Course and the Fullarton Course.  

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The Darley Course was the first of the three layouts to be constructed at Troon Links, and was originally name Troon Municipal No.1. 

The Ministry of Defence took over the land for both World Wars, and although golf was played in between, the course then only opened as an 11-hole layout in 1947, following the Second World War. The start of the 1950s saw it extended back to 18 holes.  

Since the turn of the 21st Century, the 3rd has been shortened due to safety concerns over the nearby primary school, and there has been extensive gorse clearance and remodelling of the middle part of the layout.

Thanks to its recent changes, the Darley Course is slightly easier than it used to be, but that doesn’t mean that you will have an easy day out there. As with all three layouts at Troon Links, the opening and closing holes of the course are by the clubhouse, with the Darley Course then making the turn north. For those driving over the railway bridge by Barassie Station, you can see both the Darley Course on your left and Kilmarnock Barassie’s clubhouse on your right. The Darley pushes past 6,300 yards from the tips, playing as a par 71 with a trio of par 5s, two of which bookend the layout. 

The opening hole is one of those three par 5s, and at 495 yards, it is one where you might be tempted to make it in two to give yourself an eagle putt at the first. Avoid the fairway bunkers and there is a chance of just that, while there are no prizes for anything going long of the 1st green. After crossing the road and turning north, you will get nothing for going right on the next run of holes. 2 and 3 both have OOB running down their right side, but both can offer scoring chances if you find the fairway. The latter is only 270 yards following those recent changes, and as long as your drive carries the diagonal burn, you’re in good shape. 

The first of four par 3s comes at the 4th, and it is the shortest hole on the course. At 140 yards, it is a low or mid iron for most, with the single bunker in front of the putting surface being the main danger. The 5th – a 425-yard par 4 – is the Stroke Index 1 on the Darley Course. With large sandscapes on the right and thick trees on the left, accuracy is crucial off the tee on 5. The toughest stretch on the course continues with the longest hole – the 543-yard par 5 6th. A large bunker down the right side is the main trouble to avoid off the tee, while anything further right than that will see you reaching int your bag for another golf ball. Short is better than longer on the approach, which for most, will be at least the third shot. 

Two more tough par 4s follow at 7 and 8. The former sees you make the turn south, so double check the wind direction. It is a slight dog-leg right, with the bunker on the inside corner making the turn more pronounced as you aim out to the left. The 8th is almost 400 yards, and requires a solid drive to cover the large amounts of sand in front of the tee box. Sand also plays a big factor on the par 3 9th. The longest of the par 3s at 166 yards, it is all carry over the sandscapes to reach the putting surface. The back nine begins with two tricky par 4s, at 10 and 11. Both tee shots must carry a burn to reach their respective fairways, with the 11th being one of three par 4s of more than 420 yards on the back nine. 

The short 12th is the respite in the middle of the closing half on the Darley. There are four pot bunkers guarding the green, which is 160 yards from the back tees. The longest par 4 comes next – the 452-yard 13th. Like many a hole on the Darley, right is not your friend on 13. This is one of those holes where bogey may well be a good score to keep your card going. 14 is another tough par 4, measuring just shy of 430 yards from the tips. A burn comes somewhat into play on the approach, but it runs diagonally across the fairway, some 30 yards from the green. Anything long, and you’ll be close to the 4th green. A solitary fairway bunker is the trouble to be avoided on the 15th – a par 4 of less than 350 yards. After the tough stretch you have just been through, this is a good scoring chance. 

The closing stretch on Troon’s Darley Course finishes 3, 4, 5. The 16th is the easiest hole on the course, despite the pot bunkers that surround the green. An accurate iron shot is required to give yourself a birdie putt. 17 is a medium-length par 4, and another hole on the Darley where the miss is left, and definitely not right. The last is the third and final par 5 on the layout. At 477 yards, it is the shortest of the three par 5s. Again, off the tee, anything to the left is absolutely fine, as you will find yourself on the 1st fairway. For many, getting home in two is something that will be thought about on the last tee box.

Where is Troon Links located?  

Troon Links is situated at the heart of the town of Troon, on the western coastline of Scotland. Troon Beach, which overlooks the Irish Sea, is just a third of a mile from the entrance to the golf club, while the A78 – which runs from Greenock to Monkton – also runs close by the eastern side of Troon Links. 

Troon Station is just a hundred yards from the entrance to the golf club, with the station sat on the Ayr-Glasgow line; services running regularly throughout the day. The nearest airport to Troon Links is Glasgow Prestwick, just five miles to the south of the venue. Glasgow Airport, the second busiest airport in the country, is 30 miles to the northeast.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  

Royal Troon’s Old Course – host of the Open Championship on many occasions – is less than a mile from Troon Links. The Ayrshire coastline is a hotbed for stunning links courses, with the likes of Kilmarnock Barassie, Dundonald Links, Western Gailes, Gailes Links and Prestwick all within just a few miles.

What golf facilities does Troon Links offer?

Along with the three courses – the Lochgreen, Darley and Fullarton – the venue also has practice facilities, including a putting green and a short game area for you to hone your skills before taking to either of the three 18-hole layouts.

What are the green fees at Troon Links?

The price of a green fee at Troon Links 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 Troon Links, visit their website here.