The ‘Coffin’ bunker on the eighth hole at Royal Troon Golf Club, known for its difficulty and impact on Open title charges, has been made “steeper and deeper” ahead of the 2024 Open Championship, making it even more challenging for golfers.
At Glance
‣ The ‘Coffin’ bunker on the eighth hole at Royal Troon Golf Club is known as one of golf’s toughest bunkers due to its steep walls and claustrophobic shape.
‣ The bunker, which guards the ‘Postage Stamp’ green, has been made even more challenging for the 2024 Open Championship, with modifications making it “steeper and deeper”.
‣ The course at Royal Troon, located on the west coast of Scotland, has begun preparations for the 2024 Open Championship, including work on the ‘Coffin’ bunker and other traps on the course.
‣ The 2024 Open will be the 10th time Royal Troon has hosted the championship, with the last time being in 2016 when Henrik Stenson emerged victorious.
Coffin bunker on the #postagestamp rebuilt. It is now steeper and deeper😅👍🏼 #royaltroon #open2024 #8th #par3
— Joe Ross (@Joe_Ross98)
Right smack in the middle of one of the most iconic Open venues, you’ll find a par-3 hole that’ll make your heart race. It’s got a reputation for being one of the most intimidating in the game. And just when you think you’ve made it, there’s a cold, unforgiving embrace waiting for you by the green. It’s a bunker, and not just any bunker. It’s one of the toughest in the world of golf.
This bunker is known as ‘The Coffin.’ It’s a fitting name, considering it’s claimed many an Open title charge and countless amateur scorecards. It’s strategically placed to guard the left side of the world-famous ‘Postage Stamp’ green on the eighth hole at Royal Troon Golf Club. Its steep walls and claustrophobic shape make it easy to get stuck close to the tall lips and rack up high scores.
Back in 2016, Rory McIlroy had a bit of a nightmare with this bunker. Just days before finishing in a tie for fifth, he struggled to rescue his ball from the sandy grave during a practice round. “I think I took an 8 or a 9, so that didn’t go too well,” he admitted. “It took me like five or six goes to get out of it.”
But here’s the kicker. The Coffin bunker has been made even harder. Royal Troon, located on the west coast of Scotland, is the venue for the 2024 Open Championship. And guess what? McIlroy and his peers will face a “steeper and deeper” Coffin bunker come July 2024.
Joe Ross, a greenkeeper at Troon, revealed that work had already started to toughen up the Coffin. The work began in 2023, as the course prepared for the lone men’s British Major the following year. Before the Coffin was made even more daunting by digging further down towards the centre of the earth, preliminary work had already taken place on 55 other fairway and green-side traps.
The 152nd Open will be the first time Troon has hosted the championship since the unforgettable battle between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickleson. Stenson, the Swede, emerged victorious. Next year will mark the 10th Open Royal Troon has hosted. American victories were the norm before Stenson’s win, with Justin Leonard, Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Watson, Tom Weiskopf, and Arnold Palmer all having lifted the Claret Jug there.
