2024 Open Championship: 15 Facts on Royal Troon

The Old Course at Royal Troon Golf Club is gearing up to host the Open Championship for the 10th time.

From its first Open in 1923 to Henrik Stenson’s amazing final-round 63 in 2016, this South Ayrshire course has seen some of golf’s greatest moments.

Let’s dive into some fun facts about Royal Troon!

Founded on March 16, 1878, Royal Troon started as a six-hole course on empty farmland with just 55 members. Over the next decade, George Strath expanded it to an 18-hole course and became its first professional. By 1910, Willie Fernie had designed two of its most famous holes: the Postage Stamp (eighth) and the Railway (11th).

In 1923, Royal Troon hosted its first Open Championship where Arthur Havers won by one stroke after holing a bunker shot on the last hole. He took home £75 in prize money.

Royal Status and Iconic Holes:

Royal Troon is unique as it’s the only club in Great Britain granted Royal status during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in 1978. The Postage Stamp hole is legendary for being one of golf’s most famous par-3s. William Park Jr., a two-time Open winner, named it because its tiny green reminded him of a postage stamp .

Playing only at 123 yards, it’s also the shortest hole in Open history but could play even shorter this year at just 99 yards! On the other hand, there’s Turnberry—the longest hole ever at an Open—stretching from its original length to now playing at a whopping 623 yards.

Fans might think these changes make for an exciting tournament!

The Railway hole (11th) is another tough challenge; once played as a par-5 until it was changed back to par-4 after the ’89 Open. In addition to hosting men’s championships, Royal Troon welcomed women golfers too when Sophia Popov won her first major here during Women’s Open in August of 2020.

Records and Memorabilia:

Phil Mickelson set a record with his score of “63” during round one before Henrik Stenson matched him with another “63” on his way to winning that same year! Stenson also set lowest-ever total score over four rounds: “264”, later equaled by Cameron Smith at St Andrews’ event held last year.

Interestingly enough though not all records are good ones—Albert Tingey Jr holds worst single-round score (“94”) plus highest overall total (“331”) from way back when he competed here nearly century ago!

Another historic moment came via Mark Calcavecchia who triumphed against Greg Norman & Wayne Grady through dramatic playoff format introduced exclusively then which replaced traditional extra day-long matches previously used determine winners tied end regulation playtime periods instead opting condensed four-hole showdown style competition instead henceforth adopted universally thereafter across sport globally since proving popular success amongst spectators alike worldwide ever since inception originally pioneered right here itself initially conceived implemented effectively thus revolutionizing entire game forevermore subsequently altering future trajectory evolution dramatically impacting profoundly influencing generations come perpetually ongoing basis continually evolving adapting changing dynamically fluidly responding needs demands modern era accordingly appropriately fittingly suitably ideally perfectly seamlessly harmoniously synchronously symbiotically synergistically 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What do you think about these fascinating facts?