Royal Troon: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Two summers on from hosting the 2024 Open, the Ayrshire links is back to limited visitor days. Here is who can play in 2026, the handicap rule, the price picture and how to book.
Photo via Google.
The news: limited visitor days, book well ahead
The 2026 news at Royal Troon is about availability. Two summers on from the 2024 Open, won by Xander Schauffele, the club is back to its usual rhythm of welcoming visitors on a tight set of days through the warmer half of the year. Tee times open from roughly mid April to October, generally on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they go quickly, so the practical advice is to enquire early and stay flexible on dates rather than fix on a single morning.
There is a handicap condition to clear. Royal Troon asks visitors to hold a recognised handicap, recently around 20 for men and 30 for women, and to bring a certificate. The Old Course is the one everyone wants, but most visitor bookings pair it with the shorter Portland course or lunch in the famous clubhouse, which is worth building into your plan and your budget.
An Open rota links of the highest order
Royal Troon has hosted the Open Championship ten times, most recently in 2024, and the Old Course is a par 71 of roughly 7,175 yards along the Ayrshire coast. It is a true out and back links: a gentler opening stretch downwind, the tiny par 3 eighth known as the Postage Stamp, then a brutal homeward run into the prevailing wind that has decided Opens. The card flatters and the second nine punishes, which is exactly what makes it one of the great championship tests in Britain.
It sits on a coast thick with Open history, a short drive from Prestwick and Turnberry. The full facts box, signature holes and our verdict sit on our Royal Troon course page, and our Old Course 2026 update goes deeper on the championship layout.
Indicative 2026 green fees and access
Open rota links price at the top of the market and Troon is no exception, with fees moving by season and usually quoted as part of a package. Treat the guide figures below as indicative and confirm the exact price and conditions for your dates when you book.
| When | Round | Indicative 18 holes |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor days, mid April to October | Old Course | from around 250 pounds |
| Peak summer | Old Course | toward and beyond 300 pounds |
| Day package | Old plus Portland | premium, on request |
Indicative 2026 guide rates; a recognised handicap and certificate are required and visitor days are limited. Prices, packages and access change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Troon sits in the heart of Ayrshire, about 40 minutes from Glasgow and its airport, which makes it one of the most reachable Open links in Scotland. The smart play is to base yourself on the coast and string Troon together with the other Ayrshire greats over a few days.
Our take
Our take is that Royal Troon is a bucket list round you should plan around, not squeeze in. The limited visitor days and the handicap rule mean it rewards golfers who book early and treat it as the centrepiece of an Ayrshire trip rather than a casual add on. Play it with the wind up, take your medicine on the back nine, and you will understand why it keeps returning to the Open rota.
Pair it with Turnberry and the rest of the coast using our best golf courses in Ayrshire ranking and the best Open Championship venues list. Set the base with our Ayrshire golf hub and Scotland golf holidays, then use plan my trip to put it together.
Plan your Ayrshire golf trip
Royal Troon anchors a classic Open coast week. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs a trip around the region's courses and hotels, with no obligation.
Questions
Can visitors play Royal Troon in 2026?
Yes, on limited days. Royal Troon takes visitors from roughly mid April to October, generally on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with tee times booked well ahead through the club. Demand is high in the season after the 2024 Open, so the best advice is to enquire early and be flexible on dates.
How much does Royal Troon cost in 2026?
Indicative 2026 visitor green fees on the Old Course start from around 250 pounds for a midweek round, rising toward and beyond 300 pounds at peak summer, often as part of a package that includes the Portland course or lunch. These are guide prices that move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking.
Is there a handicap limit at Royal Troon?
Yes. Royal Troon asks visitors to hold a recognised handicap, recently a limit of around 20 for men and 30 for women, and to bring a certificate. Limits and conditions change, so confirm the current requirement with the club when you book.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, Open history, handicap conditions and indicative fees verified June 2026 from club, golf travel and ratings sources; rates, seasons and access change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.