Troon Golf to manage Princes

I think JB is a member here - what will this mean for the members, JB?
Posted: 19/08/2009 15:11

No one has told us diddly squat - but we're speculating that it could be good and mean some positive course changes and improved conditioning.

Some of the chaps have played Troon courses in the US and say they are all top notch, and I think they run Turnberry? (The course manager there was former head greenkeeper at Prince's so not sure if that's been a factor)

I think it's a great course but needs a bit of love to bring it up to the standard of our more famous neighbours.

Posted: 19/08/2009 20:38

For me, although it's quite a flat links, I think with better conditioning and some relatively minor but intelligent improvements (bunkering) it could be up there with the very best in the country
Posted: 19/08/2009 20:55

Do you mind me asking what it costs to be a member there JB? It's a 27 hole place, isn't it? Are all 27 in play, or are 9 rested at any given time?
Posted: 20/08/2009 09:38

Troon Golf?  You'll get posher food and higher prices!
Posted: 20/08/2009 09:51

All 27 are open always. Membership is weird, we get 7 day with 52/104 or unlimited allocation. I'm o 104 which is about £1400/yr with £100 of that on the bar bill.

As Ian says,  I hope what this doesn't mean is just a chance to jack the prices without improving the course (or stuffing it full of pay-n-play). If that's the case I may take my business elsewhere which would be a shame as I really like it there.

Posted: 20/08/2009 11:14

I hope I wasnt being too cynical....  Places like The Grove offer a range of expensive services you don't need!

And the £4 (or whatever it was) coffee in the half-way house is taking the mickey!  The Grove is staffed with Eastern Europeans on minimum wage who speak poor English!  Hope it doesnt happen at Princes!

Posted: 20/08/2009 11:36

I was a memeber of Abu Dhabi golf club.  Intiually when Troon took over things did improve, bag drops and other thing.  But after a while they were just after the cash, it became clear they did'nt want any member's, just pay and play and corperate days, week end times were near impossible to get and the National (championship) course was merged with the easier nine hole garden course.  Their hands were somewhat tied buy the goverment owners, but hardly any member had anything good to say about them.  i left the country, but had decide that i wasnt going to keep up my membership.
Posted: 20/08/2009 11:37

the only good thing is that the current owners are active members, so maybe it won't happen.

If the worst happens I'll just join Deal, even though I like Prince's better.

Posted: 20/08/2009 11:41

I played a Troon course in Florida, very impressed with the clubhouse, practice facilities (even though I got bitten to deaf by the mozzies), course, food and helpfulness of the staff. Course was a little bland in the middle/latter holes but worth playing. I played with a mate who payed $60 (I think it was - he payed as a birthday prezzie for me ), which included 2 green fees, buggy and 1 set of hire clubs. Monster of a course at around 7,500 yds!

Hope it goes well with Prince's.

Posted: 20/08/2009 13:43

I'd be interested to know John Foster's feedback on them. He plays at Turnberry which is in their portfolio.

From the back tees Prince's isn't far off that - currently ~7300 yds for Shore/Dunes with still plenty of room of push the tees back on a lot of holes.

Posted: 20/08/2009 14:55

JB, Here is the course. The tips are 7417 yds . I played off the blue's at 6995 which was easily far enough!
Posted: 20/08/2009 15:32

Ian wrote (see)

The Grove is staffed with Eastern Europeans on minimum wage who speak poor English!

As opposed to most of the courses around here which are staffed with Eastern English people on minimum wage who speak poor English! ("fella/geezer/chap...")
Posted: 20/08/2009 21:20

Birdie Boy

thats one nice looking course you played. I liked the bit about "most of the ponds have alligators in them, do not get closer than 30 feet from them"

Posted: 20/08/2009 21:41

No change so far. Time will tell. 
Posted: 20/08/2009 22:09

How they have they been involved with Turnberry, John?
Posted: 21/08/2009 08:34

Our course is in the Troon network but not managed by Troon - can't really see any involvement from them or any benefit - we get a discount at other Troon courses but I don't think t is very much and might be cheaper chasing other deals anyway!
Posted: 21/08/2009 11:19

From a member's point of view I  will need to see as there was so much going on before the open. So far no change.
Posted: 21/08/2009 17:39

I thought I'd post an update 6 months into Troon taking over the management. So far it's been nothing but good news. There has been some staff changes and a new course manager who seems a real top bloke. However, more importantly the winter has seen a lot of work on the course. So far we've seen

- tining and overseeding of all fairways.

- a new greenkeeper who is refurbishing of all the revetted bunkers (and they look fantastic). They've started on the Shore and Dunes nines first, and so far I count they've done the bunkers on about half the holes, as well as removing three bunkers and adding 5 new ones.

- The club have got EGD to do some redesign, mainly around rebunkering (removing some which weren't really in play and adding some new ones to toughen the place up). They've also built a proper path to the first tee to reduce turf wear, some new championship tees and started work to build up some dunes around the green of 9th Dunes (which is the newest on the course and never really matched the rest).

Personally I'm really pleased to see all the work going. To top things off and much to my surprise, they've gone back to a conventional membership scrapping the 52/104/unlimited scheme AND my subs went down £40 even with VAT going up! Seems like they want to get a few more members which is good and the place generally seems busier (although with the bad winter weather it's hard to say for sure).

So exciting times, and I can't wait for the summer so all the changes are in play

Posted: 28/02/2010 16:22