Royal Troon countdown: 18 days to go

1st, Seal – 367 yards , par 4

At no other Open venue is the 1st tee located as close to the beach as it is at Royal Troon. In fact, the opening hole on the Old Course could not be any closer to the shore. The Championhip tee has been enlarged to make the most of this wonderful setting.

With a wind from the north west, The Open competitors will be able to get close to the green if they dare so it will be interesting to see what strategies are adopted.

While the hole may seem innocuous, there is a certain pressure attached to the golfers being keen to make a fast start to their rounds and it was actually ranked the 11th most difficult during The Open in 2004.

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The hole name… (Seal)

The chain of rocks named Seal lie only a few yards from the high water mark of the Spring Tides.

Hole changes

Championship tee made longer.

Architect Martin Ebert explains..

“A straightforward opening hole that bends slightly to the left with a great view from the back tee, which is one of many we have enlarged at Troon in preparation. Another bunker has been put in front left of the green and the best angle of approach is slightly to the right of the green, but this is a steady start in any wind.”

Moment in history..

The first ever four-hole play-off took place in 1989 – Greg Norman, as he did earlier in the day, birdied the 1st. Mark Calcavecchia and Wayne Grady parred it.

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Tom Irwin

Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.