Royal Troon’s Old Course is a true Open Championship classic, dating back to 1878 and known for its contrasting halves. The front nine plays downwind and relatively open – score while you can. The back nine, turning into the prevailing wind, is a brutal stretch of tight landing zones, thick gorse, and savage rough. The famous 8th hole, “Postage Stamp,” is the shortest hole in Open rota golf at just 123 yards – but with a minuscule, elevated green and deep bunkers, it’s a test of precision, not power. The 11th, “The Railway,” is a terrifying par-4 with out-of-bounds right, wild gorse left and a narrow, unforgiving fairway. The closing stretch demands elite ball control and mental resilience. Fairways run tight and true, and the bunkers are punishingly steep. Greens are fast, undulating, and well-defended. Every shot counts here. Royal Troon is pure links – unadorned, uncompromising, and brilliant. It’s a course that tests skill, strategy, and temperament in equal measure.