Interviews

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Oakmont: An interview with Gil Hanse

With the 2025 US Open arriving at Oakmont, Richard Humphreys spoke with the architect, who renovated the course in 2023, about what to expect

Martin Ebert: Design journey

With a portfolio that includes eight of the ten Open venues, Mackenzie & Ebert occupies an enviable position in the golf design industry. Adam Lawrence spoke with principal Martin Ebert to learn how they got there

Designs for the big screen

Chad Goetz and Agustin Piza discuss their design decisions for the virtual holes that featured in the first season of TGL

Bob Harrison: Wizard of Oz

The Australian designer has had a long career and, like many of his countrymen, has spent much of it away from home. Adam Lawrence listened to his tales from the road

Ben Cowan-Dewar: Shock and awe

Golf development firm Cabot now has properties in six countries. Richard Humphreys speaks with co-founder and CEO Ben Cowan-Dewar about what makes a great site, selection of golf course architects, and more

Team building

Turfgrass has launched its US arm with the appointment of John Lawrence, Adam Moeller and Brad Owen. Richard Humphreys speaks with them, Turfgrass founder John Clarkin and director of agronomy Julian Mooney to find out more

Brian Curley: Life of Brian

The designer has surely clocked up more air miles than anyone else in the business. Adam Lawrence caught up with him in between flights to discuss his career and his new venture with Jim Wagner

Richard Humphreys
/ Categories: News

Royal Troon set to make Open history with longest hole

The R&A has confirmed that Royal Troon, the host of this year’s Open Championship, will have the longest hole in the tournament’s history.

At a media briefing on Tuesday morning, R&A officials spoke about course changes overseen by Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert. The most notable is the extension of the par-five sixth, named ‘Turnberry’, to 623 yards from the back tee, 22 yards longer than when it hosted the Open in 2016. It is now also three yards longer than the fifteenth at Royal Liverpool, last year’s host and the previous record holder.

Mackenzie & Ebert has worked on nine back tees, lengthening the course by 195 yards.

Three new bunkers have also been introduced, on the first fairway, sixth fairway and next to the sixth green.

“There is a lot of space out there and we’ve done a lot of work on the throughflow, pathways and spectator areas,” said Mike Woodcock, director of corporate communications at R&A. “There’s been a lot of work done in the on-course areas to ensure that the fans can get around and enjoy good viewing areas.

Royal Troon’s eighth hole, the Postage Stamp, measures 123 yards on the official scorecard, but the R&A has the option for it to play at just 99 yards, by using a forward tee and a pin position at the front of the green.

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  • Royal Troon Golf sixth hole longest Open
    istock/Alexander Jung

    The R&A has confirmed that the par-five sixth at Royal Troon has been extended to 623 yards from the back tee, making it the longest hole in Open Championship history

  • Royal Troon Golf eighth hole open postage stamp
    Kevin Murray

    The eighth hole, Postage Stamp, could play at 99 yards, making it the shortest hole in the tournament’s history

ADd Image Credit here for home page
istock/Alexander jung
Richard Humphreys

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