The Jay Morrish and Tom Weiskopf-designed Monument Course at Troon North opened in
the spring of 1990 with a then-astronomical green fee of $80. Troon Management’s
philosophy was to create a “country club for a day” atmosphere. Besides the “fun
stuff” such as metal bag tags, complimentary yardage books, 10-minute intervals
between tee times and loads of hospitality, Troon North provides a first-class
golf experience.
Even if you are not a fan of desert golf you have to be
impressed by Morrish’s routing and the strategic subtleties of nearly every hole
at Troon North, many of which were inspired by Weiskopf’s experience with
Augusta National and the Old Course at St. Andrews. Weiskopf and Morrish clearly
have studied the classic courses and understand how to create shots appealing to
every level of player. Troon North’s Monument course is extremely difficult, but
safer avenues of play are offered on every hole. The greens are difficult to
read, yet reward well-struck shots, and several offer the option for a
pitch-and-run approach.
After the relatively simple par-3 2nd hole, the player stands
atop an elevated tee on the par-5 3rd and gazes down at one of the great
strategic three-shotters in the world. “The Monument” is a dogleg right with
desert closely guarding the length of the tee shot on the right. The large rock
is surrounded by fairway about 250 yards from the tee, and just to the right of
it is a modest sliver of fairway where only the bold dare to play their tee
shot.
For those wanting to risk going for the green in two shots,
the approach is one of the most appealing on the entire course. While most
architects feel a need to guard the front of short par-5 greens with hazards,
Morrish and Weiskopf opted to place a bunker 60 yards short of the green. Behind
the bunker sits a gently banked downslope, requiring a precise approach landed
just in front of the green to hold the green in two shots.
The layout then continues downhill toward the valley with two
solid par 4s. The 6th begins the trek back uphill, with the now trademark
Weiskopf and Morrish short par 4. The 6th is defined by three cross bunkers that
require a carry of at least 240 yards, no easy task with the uphill nature of
the drive. The reward for carrying the bunkers is full visibility of the
green.
The back nine then moves into the most dramatic terrain on
the property with the stunning par-5 11th, which doglegs right and is fronted by
a sand wash. The short par-4 15th provides a generous landing area but the pin
placement must be considered again from the tee. With the green gently sloping
away, a poorly planned tee shot will result in more bogies than would be
expected for a hole of 368 yards.
The 140-yard 16th provides a final breather before two
difficult finishing par 4s. At 438 yards, Weiskopf and Morrish could easily have
let the length and surrounding desert provide the drama on the 17th. Instead,
they inserted a cross bunker that requires a long carry for the better players,
and a very reasonable carry for the average man, resulting in a completely
different look than the par-4 18th. A classic finishing hole, the 18th
unfortunately finishes into the setting sun, but its hazards are well defined,
and two crisply struck shots are demanded for par to be attained.
Troon North also has another 18, Pinnacle. An equally
memorable and demanding layout, Pinnacle is just as exacting, although the
hazards and greens are a bit more deceptive than Monument’s. It is certainly a
refreshing alternative to Monument, but anyone visiting Troon North can’t help
but be won over by either masterful design.
