Played by NCG: Royal Troon
What’s it like to play an Open Championship venue in the full glare of the grandstands? Did Steve Carroll doff a metaphorical cap to the crowds. Did he conquer the difficult 11th?
It’s the latest instalment of our video series where we discuss courses recently #PlayedbyNCG in depth.
This week, NCG publisher Tom Irwin questions Steve on the delights of Royal Troon, which he visited in June a few weeks before Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson played out one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the Claret Jug.
It was a memorable experience as Steve gatecrashed the Mercedes-Benz Patrons’ Day, hosted by Gary Player.
But did Royal Troon live up to the hype and how did Steve get on when he negotiated the famous Postage Stamp par 3?
We take a look at how to trim some of the fat off your visit once you’ve made an investment in paying the green fee and Tom grills Steve on his Troon Open knowledge. Will he pass the test?
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
