The Old Course is a classic Scottish links, you have to contend with a characteristic wind off the Ayrshire coast in addition to deep rough, broom and gorse.

The course measures 7,208 yards from the championship tees and locals will tell you to make your score on the front nine because battling home after the turn against the prevailing wind is often a case of damage limitation.

The Old Course at Royal Troon can claim to have the longest par five in Open Championship golf, the 6th at 601 yards as well as the shortest par three on the Open circuit, the “Postage Stamp” 8th at 123 yards.

The signature hole is the par-3 8th, named the ‘Postage Stamp' for obvious reasons; standing on the tee with a strong cross-wind, the golfer is faced with a tiny green, flanked by cavernous pot bunkers.

This is surely one of the most famous shots in golf and it was here, during the 1973 Open, Gene Sarazen managed a hole in one at the age of 71. He also holed out from the bunker the following day, what an amazing return to Royal Troon for Sarazen, who was in the field for Troon’s inaugural Open in 1923.

In addition to the famous Old Course, Troon can offer a good test on the Portland Course, named after the Dukes of Portland who helped with the construction of the docks at Troon Harbour and the coal mines in nearby Kilmarnock.

Opened for play in 1896 it was thought to have been slightly reworked by Alister MacKenzie after it’s sister course held The Open in 1923. Although shorter and less fearsome than its neighbour, a quirky mixture of par-3s and par 5-s make the Portland a genuine challenge for most, especially given the proximity of the dreaded gorse.

The course consists of two loops of nine that return to two clubhouses that are separate from the main Royal Troon clubhouse, one of which is exclusively for ladies. As well as the gorse notable obstacles on the Portland course include the railway line, ditches and cleverly positioned bunkers which all combine to produce a fair test to the visiting golfer.

Royal Troon has held The Open ten times and was the fifth Scottish course chosen to hold the event.

Royal Troon Golf Club is situated 8 miles north of Ayr off the A78, just 1 mile from Troon train station

Address: Craigend Road, Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA10 6EP