A Tale of Two 'Nines'
For the first sixty years of the Open’s history, the Championship’s visits to west Scotland were confined to Prestwick. In 1923, that changed when Muirfield passed up the opportunity to host so Troon was invited to step up instead. It has become a regular venue ever since having hosted the Championship on ten occasions. It’s a fair accomplishment for a club that began in 1878 and used a reconditioned railway carriage for a clubhouse
Make your score out, and defend it in, is the received wisdom, and in truth it usually holds up. The prevailing wind can often sucker you into wondering how Royal Troon hosts Open’s as you breeze through the first half dozen holes. Once you turn for home however, the smile becomes a growl, and from the tenth onwards the course will sink its teeth in and begin biting back
How to include Troon
Visiting golfers normally play Troon on a Scottish Golf Trip in a combination with Turnberry and Prestwick as part of a regional cluster in Ayrshire.
Glasgow is a nearer airport than Edinburgh, but Edinburgh isn’t so far away as to make this a material consideration
Royal Troon is a private members club and only permits visitor play on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They also operate a handicap threshold of 20 for gentleman and 30 for ladies (but needn’t be 100% rigid in their application of this)
8th - 'The Postage Stamp'
It took a 1909 article written in Golf Illustrated with more than hint of palpable protest about it rather than affection to work the trick. Willie Park Jnr described the eighth hole at Royal Troon as “A putting surface skimmed down to the size of a postage stamp”. It’s fair to say the name stuck.
Protected by a phalanx of deep pot bunkers, two right, two left, and one centre front, this 123 yd, par 3 is all about the target. It measures just 9yds at it’s narrowest, and 14 yds at it’s widest (front bulge). In 1923 Gene Sarazen took a double and ultimately lost to Arthur Havers by one. The American legend had to wait until 1973 to take revenge, when at the venerable age of 71 he duly took a 5-iron to ace it.
10th - Sandhills
The tenth begins a trio of holes around the turn that makes for one of the hardest in championship golf and is demonstrably more difficult than somewhere like Augusta’s Amen Corner.
A difficult tee-shot often played into the prevailing wind, and semi-blind over a sand dune to a concealed fairway beyond. An errant shot is punished by gorse on the right and a large gully on the left.
To reach this green in two shots you must hit a searching iron to a plateau green set into the side of a hill with a sharp drop on the right.
11th - 'The Railway Hole'
No hole on the Open championship rotation destroys like ‘the Railway’. A dog-leg right, the tee invites you to clear a sea of gorse to a distant fairway on a 45 degree angle. Too much club though and you’ll continue through the fairway into more gorse on the other side. Almost certainly a lost ball.
The approach is right on the ragged edge of reachable. An out-of-bounds railway line runs down your right, whilst the left side is guarded by bunkers. In 1962 Jack Nicklaus took a 10 here. In 1997 the British press reported “Tiger in the Jungle” as the newly crowned Masters Champion signed for a 7 on his first encounter.
No hole taxes golfers for more triples or worse, and in 2016 some new illustrious names were added to the list of victims
Bubba Watson (7) Dustin Johnson (7) Rickie Fowler (8) and Louis Oosthuizen (9)
12th - 'The Fox'
The twelfth is a slight dog-leg with the drive played over a rise into the narrow neck of the fairway. The tee-shot should be played left of centre to avoid the ridge of rough and phalanx of gorse bushes on the right.
The second shot is played to a slightly raised two-tiered green falling away down a bank to the left and guarded by a bunker on the right.
The twelfth was the key hole for Mark Calcavecchia in 1989 when he chipped in for a birdie when saving par would have been considered a good outcome.
15th - 'Crosbie'
The longest par 4 on the links being just a yard short of 500, and played the second most difficult on the course in 2016. The drive is slightly blind to a plateau fairway and should favour the left half to open up the second shot to a flat green which rests in a hollow. This hole is well bunkered on the approach and the emphasis is on an accurate second shot. Only two mighty and truly hit shots will do.
In 2016 this was the hole where daylight first opened up between Stenson and Mickelson. Stenson had come to rest some 40 feet requiring a tricky putt across the width of the green to set up a par and to maintain his then one shot advantage. With the final roll of the ball, the ball just tip toed over the threshold and dropped. For the first time, he held a two shot lead
We can include Royal Troon as follows
Testimonial
From BB Canada
“I told Alun the courses I was interested in playing and he prepared a stay and play package with 14 days of outstanding golf, but also tremendous site seeing opportunities for my wife.”
From JC Illinois
“His attention to detail is amazing--I think our travel plan booklet ran to forty-eight pages, with gorgeous descriptions of cities and sights, plus maps showing where to go to catch trains, or walk from trains to hotels, sights and golf courses, etc.”
From DF Alabama
“I will cherish the memories for a long time- especially the wonderful times spent on and off the golf course with two of my brothers and brother-in-law. None of the memories and golf would have been possible or enjoyed without your tremendous planning and logistical support.”
AS from Colorado
“Alun and Faraway Fairways created possibly the most memorable golf trip we have ever experienced. EPIC is the only word that comes to mind.”
AC, From Florida/ New York, 2025
“We were hopeful to secure a 4 ball at St. Andrews while avoiding the massive expense other operators had quoted. He was very clear about the plan for achieving a tee time at the Old Course through the ballot, including detailed instruction on how it could be done, and what our odds were. He suggested mid- to late April as the best chance of success and advised that this is also the least rainy part of the year. We took his advice and trusted the process. Well, he was right on all counts!”
From SB, Minnesota
“We wholeheartedly recommend Alun and Faraway Fairways if you’re looking for a golf trip that is effortless, enjoyable, and truly unforgettable—even for a non-golfer in the mix! My husband and I will be daydreaming about this trip for years to come. 5.5 stars!”
From JB, California
“The best part was that the service was surprisingly affordable. They were thousands of dollars below other quotes that I received, in fact the prices were very similar to what I would have paid if I would have booked everything on my own.”
From JCA, Maryland
“I would and will highly recommend your company to anyone looking to plan an unforgettable golf trip. Thank You for putting together a fantastic trip for J.C. and me”
From WF Connecticut
“I think all eight of us would agree that Alun at Faraway Fairways did an absolutely wonderful job of putting this “golf vacation of a lifetime” together for us. His focus on the details was extraordinary from the choice of courses and the timing of the tee times, the amazingly beautiful accommodations along with some excellent meal selections, and the transportation options he provided to get us from place to place.”
From DR South Carolina
“You are about to tee it up in your Major. Seek wisdom, integrity and professionalism. Alun Davies and Faraway Fairways will not disappoint you. They cannot assure a calm sunny day with temperatures in the 70’s on the Old Course.”
From MM, California
“One fantastic trip you organized, and more importantly took ownership of in terms of daily communication and stewardship during our 2+ weeks in Scotland and Ireland. The logistics were spotless…100% of the transports were on time and excellent, the lodging choices spectacular and the golf was off the charts in terms of quality and arrangements made”
DH from California
“You cannot go wrong with the support Faraway Fairways offered. I did this trip solo and all last minute but I have already begun to plan the next trip which will include my best golfing buddies.”
Enquiry
We don't need to make this an ordeal by 101 filtering questions! In reality there are probably little more than half a dozen things we need to know to build out a proposal. The guidance below might help you frame answers
Duration - usually best expressed as a range up to a maximum
Time of year - can be anything from a specific date range to a named season
Travel class - Faraway Fairways uses 'Luxury', 'Premier' or 'Affordable' for generic purposes. You might choose to reference the international 'star' rating system. We're only looking for something to help steer us into the right sector
Self drive or hired driver - In broad terms, self driving is normally less expensive, and much more flexible, but some folk just don't want to do it
Must play courses/ must do places - a few name checks is all that's needed