Muirfield vs Royal Troon for Golf
Two Open Championship links on opposite coasts of Scotland, both bucket list rounds, both very different days. Muirfield, on the Firth of Forth in East Lothian, is the connoisseur's links, a 16 time Open venue and the fairest examination in the game. Royal Troon, on the Ayrshire coast, is raw seaside drama and home of the Postage Stamp, the shortest and most feared hole in Open golf. Here is the head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Royal Troon Golf Club, via Google
Our verdict
If you want the purest test of golf, choose Muirfield. Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the club that wrote the first rules of the game in 1744, it is laid out as two loops that turn the wind on you with every few holes, so there is nowhere to hide and nothing tricked up. At a par 71 of 7,245 yards, with an indicative 395 pounds for 18 holes and 605 for 36 with lunch, it is the round serious golfers rank first in Scotland. The catch is access: visitors play only Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the season books out far ahead.
If you want drama and a current Open stage, choose Royal Troon. Its par 71 of 7,208 yards runs out along the Firth of Clyde and back into the prevailing wind, and at the 8th sits the Postage Stamp, just 123 yards to the smallest green in championship golf. Troon hosted the Open most recently in 2024, won by Xander Schauffele, and tends to be a touch easier to get on than Muirfield, though it asks visitors to carry a handicap. Two of the great Scottish links; most golfers want both.
The head to head
| Muirfield | Royal Troon | |
|---|---|---|
| The club | Home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, golf's oldest organized club, which codified the first rules in 1744 | Royal Troon Golf Club, founded 1878 on the Ayrshire coast, granted its royal title in 1978 |
| Design and age | Laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1891 and refined by Harry Colt, a classic two loop links | The Old Course matured from an 1878 links into a championship test on the Firth of Clyde |
| Par and yardage | Par 71, around 7,245 yards | Par 71, around 7,208 yards |
| Signature | The routing itself: two concentric loops that change the wind on almost every hole | The Postage Stamp 8th, 123 yards to a tiny green, the shortest hole in Open golf |
| Open pedigree | 16 Opens, most recently in 2013, won by Phil Mickelson | Hosted the Open in 2024, won by Xander Schauffele, the latest of ten Opens at Troon |
| Green fee | Around 395 pounds for 18 holes, 605 for 36 with lunch, high season | Around 365 pounds for 18 holes in the high season |
| Access | Visitors only on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the season books out well ahead | Visitors welcome on set days; a handicap is required, under 20 for men and under 30 for women |
| Where it sits | Gullane, East Lothian, about 30 minutes east of Edinburgh | Troon, South Ayrshire, about 40 minutes southwest of Glasgow |
Indicative high season figures from club and booking sources, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking. Check Scotland tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Muirfield if
You judge a links by the quality of the test and you want to play the course the best players rate as the fairest in Britain. The two loop routing means you face the wind from every angle, the bunkering is the most exacting in golf, and the sense of history at the home of the Honourable Company is total. Plan around the Tuesday or Thursday visitor day and book a long way ahead.
Pick Royal Troon if
You want seaside theatre and a course the Open visited as recently as 2024. The front nine runs out along the shore, the back nine bares its teeth into the wind, and the Postage Stamp is the most photographed short hole in the game. Access is a little easier than Muirfield, the Ayrshire coast adds Prestwick and Turnberry next door, and Glasgow is close.
Or play both coasts
Muirfield and Royal Troon sit on opposite sides of the Scottish waist, about two hours apart by road through or around Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the classic Open links tour takes in both. Base first in East Lothian for Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane, then cross to Ayrshire for Troon, Prestwick, the original home of the Open, and Trump Turnberry's Ailsa. The season is shared and the contrast between the fair east coast test and the wild west coast drama is exactly the point. Tell us your dates and the rounds you must play.
Plan your Open links trip
Tell us whether it is Muirfield, Royal Troon, or a tour of both coasts with the neighboring Open venues, and roughly when. One concierge secures the visitor days, sorts the handicap paperwork and tee times, and costs the trip to the head, with no obligation.
Muirfield vs Royal Troon questions
Is Muirfield or Royal Troon the better course?
Both are Open Championship links of the first rank, and the choice is about character. Muirfield, the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is widely rated the fairest and most complete test in Britain, with a two loop routing that constantly turns the wind. Royal Troon offers more raw seaside drama and the famous Postage Stamp 8th, and it hosted the Open as recently as 2024. Serious golfers try to play both.
How much does it cost to play Muirfield and Royal Troon?
Indicatively in the high season, Muirfield is around 395 pounds for 18 holes or 605 for 36 holes with lunch, and Royal Troon is around 365 pounds for 18 holes. Both change by season and demand advance booking. As ever, treat these as guide figures and always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play Muirfield and Royal Troon?
Yes, with planning. Muirfield admits visitors only on Tuesdays and Thursdays and books out the season early. Royal Troon welcomes visitors on set days and requires a handicap, under 20 for men and under 30 for women. Securing the dates is the hard part, which is exactly what a planned itinerary solves.
Are Muirfield and Royal Troon on the same coast?
No, they are on opposite coasts. Muirfield is on the east coast, on the Firth of Forth in East Lothian near Edinburgh, while Royal Troon is on the west coast, on the Firth of Clyde in South Ayrshire near Glasgow. They are about two hours apart by road, which is why a full Open links tour often takes in both.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, access and fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.