Travelling to Troon? How to get to the 152nd Open Championship

How to get to Royal Troon for the 152nd Open Championship

Everything you need to know about getting to Royal Troon for the 152nd Open Championship from 14-21 July 2024.

In efforts to reduce the Open Championship’s carbon footprint and minimize road traffic congestion, the R&A recommends that spectators consider taking advantage of the enhanced public transport services on offer across the week, or car sharing with others in their group.

Those traveling by car should be aware that there will be no public parking available at Royal Troon or in the immediate surrounding areas with the exception of pre-booked Blue Badge holders. All public parking will be provided at managed Park & Ride sites.

Here’s everything you need to know for planning your travel to Royal Troon…

By Road

Dedicated buses will transport spectators from Park & Ride sites to the course with car and motorcycle users directed by Variable Messaging Signs and specific black and yellow event signs provided by The AA.

Parking tickets are available on arrival at a cost of £15 from Sunday 14 to Tuesday 16 July, and £20 from Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 July. A £5 discount will be applied to tickets purchased in advance (up to the day before), with tickets available to buy here. Motorbike parking is available at a cost of £5 per day.

From North/East West

Follow the M80 and/or M8 towards Glasgow and leave the M8 to follow signs for the M77 towards Kilmarnock. Continue onto the A77 then follow the yellow and black AA signs to ‘The Open Park & Ride’.

From South

Follow the M6 and/or M74 towards Glasgow and leave the M74 to follow signs for the M77 towards Kilmarnock. Continue onto the A77 then follow the yellow and black AA signs to ‘The Open Park & Ride’.

Gate Opening Times and Park & Ride Service Times

By Rail

Royal Troon is serviced by Troon station with ScotRail significantly increasing its capacity on this line during the week of The Open. Services will be running earlier in the morning to help fans catch the earlier tee times with at least five trains per hour during peak times. Connections from the wider rail network to Troon are available at Kilmarnock (from Dumfries and Carlisle), and Glasgow Central for all other destinations. Troon Station is located approximately 1.3km from the main spectator entrance and a Golflink bus service will be available to transport passengers to and from the course.

Train services will be busy throughout the week so ensure you leave plenty of time to travel. Rail timetables for Championship week will be published here when available. Golflink tickets are available to purchase now on the ScotRail website – select ‘Golflink (QGL)’ as the destination station when using the journey planner. This ticket price includes the cost of the return bus journey to the course and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to reduce queuing time at the station.

By Bus

Troon is connected to many local accommodation hubs including Ayr, Dundonald, Irvine, and Kilmarnock by a local public bus network. Tickets can be purchased on buses or via the Stagecoach Bus app. Further information on planning your journey, including accessibility assistance, timetables, and tickets valid for multiple journeys, can be found on the Stagecoach website. All local buses accept contactless payments.

The Stagecoach-operated 14 service connects Troon to Irvine and Ayr and stops on South Beach (from the Ayr direction) or Bentinck Drive (from the Irvine direction), which are approximately 400m and 150m, respectively, from the main public entrance.

Stagecoach also operates the 10, 110, and X78 services, which link Troon to Dundonald, Kilmarnock and Glasgow. These services stop on Portland Street in Troon Town Centre, which is approximately 1.8km from the main public entrance.

By Taxi

There will be a designated taxi rank and private hire drop-off/pick-up area in operation across the week, located on Bentinck Drive, approximately 250-300m from the main public entrance. On approach to The Open, ask the driver to follow signs for taxis and private hire vehicles to avoid the road access restrictions. Demand for taxis and private hire vehicles is expected to be high, so it is highly recommended to book in advance.

By Air

Troon is serviced by several airports within easy reach including Glasgow Prestwick Airport (4 miles), Glasgow Airport (32 miles), and Edinburgh Airport (72 miles). The Official Helipad of The 152nd Open will be located at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, which offers a direct transfer service, from airside pick up to the course.

For further travel inquiries, visit the Open Championship website.

About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a Senior Digital Writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.