Royal Troon Old Course: 2026 Access and Booking Update
The Old Course at Royal Troon is a championship links on the Ayrshire coast, home of the famous Postage Stamp 8th and host of the 2024 Open. Here is where it stands in 2026, what has changed this year, and how to play it.
The news: post Open demand and limited 2026 times
Royal Troon heads into 2026 still riding the wave of hosting the 2024 Open, and the practical effect for visiting golfers is simple: demand is high and tee times are tight. The club has released its 2026 visitor season with limited availability remaining, so the window to lock in a round on the Old Course is narrower than usual, particularly across the prime summer weeks.
Beyond that, the structure is familiar. Visitor rounds are offered on selected days, handicap limits apply, and the day ticket pairing the Old Course with the neighbouring Portland course remains the smart way to get the most golf out of a visit. For 2026, the message is to book early and stay flexible on dates.
The course itself
The Old Course plays as a par 71 of around 7,175 yards from the visitor tees, stretching to over 7,300 yards for the Open. It runs out along the Firth of Clyde and turns back into the prevailing wind, a classic out and back links that gets progressively harder on the homeward stretch when the breeze is up.
Its most famous hole is the 8th, the Postage Stamp, the shortest hole in Open golf at around 123 yards, a tiny target ringed by deep bunkers and steep falloffs that has humbled the best in the world. The closing run from the 10th, into the wind and over rumpled ground, is where Opens are won and lost, and where most visitors discover exactly how demanding honest links golf can be.
How to play it in 2026
On access, the Old Course is open to visitors on selected days, with handicap limits in place, generally under 20 for men and under 30 for women, so come prepared to show your record. Royal Troon sits in South Ayrshire, around a 40 minute drive from Glasgow and minutes from Prestwick airport, which makes it an easy anchor for an Ayrshire links trip taking in Turnberry and Prestwick.
On cost, indicative recent visitor pricing is around 365 pounds for a single round on the Old Course, with a day ticket including a round on the Portland course around 420 pounds. Treat these figures as indicative, they change by season, so always confirm the current rate, the handicap requirement and availability directly before booking.
Our take
Our take is that Royal Troon is one of the great Open tests and a must play on any serious Ayrshire trip, a course where the Postage Stamp alone is worth the journey and the closing holes deliver genuine drama. Coming off the 2024 Open it is in demand, so the planning effort is real, but the payoff is a round on a course at the very top of the championship rota.
If 2026 is your window, book as early as you can, take the day ticket to play the Portland as well, and build the trip around the wider Ayrshire links cluster. It is a clear yes for low handicappers who want to test themselves against an Open venue at its most honest.
Plan your Royal Troon and Ayrshire trip
From a round on the Old Course to Turnberry, Prestwick and the wider Ayrshire links, tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs the trip, with no obligation.
Questions
What has changed at Royal Troon Old Course for 2026?
Fresh off hosting the 2024 Open, Royal Troon has released its 2026 visitor season with limited tee times remaining, so early booking matters more than ever. Visitor rounds are offered on selected days, handicap limits apply, and the day ticket pairing the Old Course with the Portland course remains the way to get the most golf out of a visit.
How much does it cost to play Royal Troon Old Course in 2026?
Indicative recent visitor pricing is around 365 pounds for a single round on the Old Course, with a day ticket including a round on the Portland course around 420 pounds. Rates change by season, so always confirm the current price and availability directly before booking.
Who can play Royal Troon Old Course?
The Old Course is open to visitors on selected days with handicap limits in place, generally under 20 for men and under 30 for women. It is a par 71 Ayrshire links of around 7,175 yards from the visitor tees and hosted the 152nd Open in 2024.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course, season and access details verified June 2026 from club and golf travel sources; conditions and green fees change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.