Lochgreen Golf Course

Part of a trio of quality public courses in Troon, Lochgreen has a neat little Open Championship link to its name. Jack Nicklaus qualified here for his first Open in 1962 and, if like me you enjoy a bit of golfing history, that alone makes it worth a look.

Troon Links is the umbrella for the three municipal tracks and there's genuine variety. Fullarton is short on the card but those small greens make it anything but a pushover. Darley is the sterner test, where keeping it in play matters and you'll want to be sharp with your distances. Lochgreen sits between the two, both in Troon town centre and in terms of difficulty, so it's often the best all-abilities pick for a mixed group.

You'll spend plenty of the round alongside Portland, Royal Troon's sister course and, on the outward stretch, you get that brilliant sense of being right in the middle of proper Ayrshire linksland. When the wind gets up, club selection becomes half the battle and the safest play is usually the one that keeps you below the breeze. The bunkers are placed to catch the obvious line, so a bit of course management pays.

If you're building an Ayrshire itinerary, Lochgreen is a smart-value option that still feels very much part of an Open town.

Who is this for?
Golfers doing an Ayrshire run who want true links golf in Troon without championship-course pricing, plus mixed-ability groups that need a round everyone can enjoy.

Who is it best for?
Mid and higher handicappers, societies and anyone who likes a course with a bit of Open history and a sensible level of challenge.