Page 4 - Royal Troon Old Course

William Fernie also designed the Portland Course, which opened in 1895, although it was only in 1924 that the name was changed from the Relief Course. It was used as a qualifying course for the 1979 European Open and was modified by Alistair Mackenzie to the exacting test it is today.
The first clubhouse of a substantial nature was completed in 1886 and additions and alterations over the years have provided members with a building of character and charm.The most recent changes were completed in December 2006.
The club moto is “Tam Arte Quam Marte”, which means “As much by skill as by strength”. The crest of the club is five clubs bound by a snake, the asp. In olden times the clubs would normally be bound by a piece of leather thong, but the inclusion of the snake is believed to be a tribute to the founder of the club,Dr John Highet.The crown above the crest stems from the granting of the Royal Charter by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1978, the Club’s centenary year, after which the Club became known as Royal Troon Golf Club. Many great tournaments have been held at Royal Troon, most notably the Open Championship, which the club has successfully hosted on 8 occasions. Royal Troon is very proud to be hosting its 9th Open Championship in 2016.
Arthur Havers won the first Open here in 1923 – he was followed by Bobby Locke in 1950; Arnold Palmer in 1962; Tom Weiskopf in 1973; Tom Watson in 1982; Mark Calcavecchia in 1989; Justin Leonard in 1997 and Todd Hamilton in 2004.
To sum up Royal Troon, the poet Robert Browning, remarking on the view from the clubhouse across the links towards Ailsa Craig, once said,“Under a blue summer sky, with a stiff breeze herding the rollers in from the Atlantic, the prospect presents as fair a picture as any holiday golfer could wish to see.”