The Portland Course is the second 18-hole layout at Royal Troon Golf Club, one that sits slightly inland from the western coast of Scotland. 

 

The layout was first designed by Willie Fernie, opened in 1895. The great Alister MacKenzie then made changes to the course in the 1920s, and it has remained pretty much the same ever since.  

 

The venue is also home to the Old Course – the championship offering at Royal Troon – which has hosted the Open Championship on ten occasions, most recently in 2024. 

 

  

Visit the Royal Troon (Portland) website here. 

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Royal Troon Golf Club was formed in 1878 by local golf enthusiasts with its original design conceived by George Strath. Royal Troon is the only golf club in Great Britain to have been granted Royal status by Queen Elizabeth II. 

  

The Portland Course was the second layout to be designed and constructed at the Royal Troon Golf Club, originally opened in 1895. Willie Fernie was the brains behind the original design of the layout. 

 

Like the Old, the Portland went through renovations and redesigns in the 1920s. The great Alister MacKenzie was the man behind the changes of the Portland Course. 

The Portland Course, which is named after the Dukes of Portland, sits inland from the western coastline of Scotland, with the Old Course between the Portland and the Irish Sea. The Par 71 course is lop-sided, with all four of the par 5s on the layout coming on the back nine, including in back-to-back holes at 11 and 12. The course is laid out in two loops, and measures just shy of 6,300 yards. The railway line will be your nemesis at points throughout the front nine. 

 

It is a very tricky start to the Portland Course, with the opener being a par 4 of more than 450 yards. There is space left, bar the small fairway bunker, while there are two greenside bunkers to the front right of the putting surface. The 2nd brings the railway line into play. It runs down the left side, but there is a wide fairway to be found. At 425 yards, it is slightly shorter than the opener, but if you can start with a pair of pars, you’ll be a very happy golfer. The 3rd is only 350 yards, but plays as a dog-leg left around thick gorse bushes. Four fairway bunkers are in play depending how far you hit your tee shot. 

 

The 4th is the opening short hole on the course, but it isn’t all that short. It is 195 yards from the tips, but there is a large surface to find. 5 and 6 run opposite to each other, with the 6th bringing the train line back into play. The 5th is only 340 yards and offers the first real birdie opportunity, while 6 hits the 400-yard mark. 7 also runs down railway line, with the green just a few yards from the tracks. The 8th is one of three par 3s on the course around the 150-yard mark, and plays slightly downhill to a small green. The 9th brings you back to the clubhouse for the first time, and there are five bunkers within the last 40 yards of the hole that must be avoided. 

 

The back nine begins with a short par 3, one that has three bunkers surrounding the putting surface. Those back-to-back par 5s come next, and neither are more than 490 yards. The 11th has an S-shaped fairway, while the 12th is arrow straight. Both provide scoring opportunities, especially for those that have the power to reach the green in two. The 13th is one of just two par 4s on the back nine of the Portland Course, and at just 345 yards, it is another birdie chance. The fairway is wide, especially if you’re only taking a fairway wood or long iron for position. 

 

The longest of the five par 3s begins the closing stretch on the Portland. At more than 200 yards from the tips, the 14th plays to a long and narrow green, with a bunker on either side. The 15th is another short par 5, but a trickier one that those that have come before it. There is a burn that runs across the fairway, so you will have to decide whether to try and hit your tee shot past it, or stay short and turn it into a three-shot hole. 16 is the last par 3, and another of the 150-yard variety, while the penultimate hole is just over 300 yards. The closing hole on the Portland is another par 5, the fourth on the back nine. There is not much trouble, if you don’t hit your tee shot too far wide. Make birdie and take a well-earned drink in the clubhouse.  

Where is Royal Troon (Portland) located?  
The Royal Troon Golf Club is situated on the western coastline of Scotland, in somewhat of a golfing paradise in Ayrshire. The club is just south of the town of Troon, and sits just off the B749. The A78 – which runs from Greenock and Morton – is just a couple of miles east of Royal Troon, providing good road links. 

 

For those not travelling by road, Troon Rail Station is just a mile away from Royal Troon. The station sits on the main line between Glasgow Central and Ayr, with services running in both directions every hour. For those coming to Scotland by air, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is just ten minutes to the southeast from the club, but Glasgow Airport – which is 40 miles north – provides a much wider array of flights and destinations.  

 

Royal Troon is not the only well-known golf club in the area. The likes of Prestwick, Dundonald Links, Western Gailes, Gailes Links and Kilmarnock Barassie are within a short drive from Troon.  

What golf facilities does Royal Troon (Portland) offer?  
Along with the Portland and Old Courses, Royal Troon is also home to the 9-hole Craigend Course. The club also has stunning practice facilities, including a driving range and short game area.  

What are the green fees at Royal Troon (Portland)?  
The price of a green fee at Royal Troon (Portland) changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Royal Troon (Portland) visit their website here. 

 

  

Visit the Royal Troon (Portland) website here. 

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