Darley Golf Course, Troon, Scotland

www.ayrshiregolfscotland.com

White tees par 71, SSS 72, 6321 yards
Red tees par 72, SSS 73, 5681 yards

Darley golf course is part of the group of municipal courses in Troon, close to Royal Troon but without the quality and true links nature of its more famous neighbour.  The designer is not documented but the course dates from around 1910 with the present course opening in 1951.  We played it on a cool breezy day.

The first hole is a flat and featureless par 5 after which there is a trek over the road to the second hole. The second is a fairly nondescript par 4 followed by another short par 4 with a ditch running across the fairway which is a difficult carry for the average golfer and must usually result in a lay up with a short club from the tee.  The 5th is a better hole with a feasible carry from the

The 9th is a blind hole

men's tee and a slight right to left dogleg.  The next few holes are not really memorable until the ninth which is a blind par 3.  In the back nine the burn comes into play again on the 13th and 14th.  On the 13th the burn is positioned poorly for ladies - only the longest hitters will carry it with their second shot whilst a lay up results in the player not being able to reach the green in regulation.  The 15th, a par 4, and 16th, a par 3, are better holes with the plateau green at the former and the more links-like green with tricky slopes at the latter.  The finish is as disappointing as the start with the 17th and 18th in similar terrain to the first two holes.


This is not a typical true links course.  The fairways were not hard and fast running and the greens were slow.  There are quite a lot of trees and the course is some distance from the sea.  Although there were some sandy patches most of the soil seemed more farmland in nature.  The bunkers were in poor condition without any rakes.  We did not like the numbers of dog walkers, cyclists(!) and schoolchildren wandering across the course oblivious to any danger from golf balls.

The par 3 16th.  Numerous trees line the course.

Worth playing?  Not if you want a true links experience.