The Open Championship returns to Royal Troon in 2024. I was very excited to play the course that Tom Weiskopf had won the Open on in 1973. Some of my memories from Royal Troon GC. as I was lucky enough to play the course in 1979. The course in those days was much firmer and faster than today. My dad had played it in 1977 and said it was a difficult course. When we arrived to play the women in our group were told they could not play the championship course but had to play the Portland Course, to say they were upset was an under statement. Sandie was not yet playing golf. Myself and the men teed off, the course played much easier than I had imagined even playing into the opposite prevailing wind. This would all change later on. On the par 3 eighth hole, the “postage stamp” I pulled my tee shot left into the coffin bunker against the left side. (see the hole) There was only one shot available, out to the front of the green. I managed to get out and stay on the green but on the very front. The pin was in the very back of the green. The two guys I was playing with said laughingly “Mike we’ll tend the pin for you”. I drained the putt which was about 70 feet and thanked the guys for helping me out. That made my day! I remember how the course changed on the holes around the railroad tracks and was very difficult all the way in to the 18th hole. When I reached the 18th hole I still had a decent round going. I hit a very good tee shot and had about 150 yards to the pin which was on the back part of the green. Before we played I had looked at the green to see how close the out of bounds was at the clubhouse, it was close. I debated quite a while with myself on what club to hit, the wind was behind us and blowing pretty good. I finally decided to go for it, I hit my shot and prayed, the ball hit the green left of the pin and past it but okay. Two putts for a par and a wonderful round at Royal Troon. Since I played there the Open has been won there by Tom Watson in 1982, Mark Calcavecchia in 1989, Justin Leonard in 1997, Todd Hamilton in 2004 and Henrik Stenson in 2016.