Standing tall over the 1st and 18th fairways of Royal Troon’s Old Course, this Victorian landmark has been a fixture of the South Ayrshire coast ever since it opened in 1894. Brought into the Marine and Lawn Hotels collection in 2021, it offers 89 rooms and suites complete with maximalist interiors, while its 2 AA Rosette restaurant, The Rabbit and bar The Seal are standalone destinations in themselves. Combine this with a comprehensive spa and leisure club, and you have more than just a golf destination, but one of Scotland’s great coastal hotels. The Luxury Editor recently checked in. Read on to find out more.
Marine Troon sits within the Marine & Lawn Hotels and Resorts collection, founded in 2019, with properties that feature within the world’s most iconic golfing destinations. It’s an ever-evolving portfolio that takes in Rusacks St Andrews, Marine North Berwick and Dornoch Station in Scotland, and Slieve Donard and Portrush Adelphi in Northern Ireland. Not one to rest on their laurels, they have just welcomed to the portfolio (at the time of writing) Greywalls in East Lothian, Scotland along with two properties in North Carolina.
As you approach the hotel, it cuts an imposing silhouette. Its style felt familiar to me and, coming originally from Glasgow, I later discovered its baronial architecture was in fact the work of James Salmon and John Gaff Gillespie, who were contemporaries of the iconic Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Walking up its steps, it’s worth just turning 180 degrees, taking a moment to appreciate the view which stretches in both directions across the Firth of Clyde and onto Arran and on a clear day, you can make out Ailsa Craig in the distance. As I turned back, before I even had a chance to pass through its revolving doors, a rather dapper staff member dressed in a waistcoat warmly greeted us and whisked our luggage up to our rooms.
Inside, the lobby offers tantalising glimpses into The Seal bar on one side and The Rabbit on the other. To the back right, the reception features deep racing green panelling, while a flagstone floor runs underfoot. A fringed chandelier of miniature empire shades reminded me of my gran for a moment. Being a lampshade maker her house was peppered with table and standing lamps, donned with elaborately finished velvet shades. Make sure to also look up and take in the coffered ceiling depicting local flora and fauna, which I didn’t spot until I was checking out. You will, however, notice the large carved wooden crest which bears the motto Tam Arte Quam Marie, which is the Latin motto of Royal Troon Golf Club, meaning As Much Skill as Strength, and as I learnt more about this challenging golf links, it can outwit every bit as much as overpower.
Location
South Ayrshire is home to multiple championship golf courses, Royal Troon Golf Club on the hotel’s doorstep, a frequent host to the Open Championships, along with Prestwick, the original home of the Open Championships, is minutes away, and Turnberry is 40-minutes drives away too.
But there is so much more to the area than just golf. Nearby Culzean Castle sits cliffside, and is one of Scotland’s most dramatic country houses, while the birthplace of Robert Burns is close by too. Seabirds throng the tideline here, and its dunes and shoretile offer interesting and varied walking opportunities. Troon itself offers a mix of boutique shops and independent cafes along with a working harbour. Its train station connects to nearby Preswick Airport, while Glasgow takes only 50 minutes by car or train. After spending time here you will understand why Queen Elizabeth II bestowed it with the ‘Royal’ title, the only golf course she honoured during her reign.
If a round of golf feels a stretch too far, the hotel’s signature putting green, a feature of all Marine and Lawn properties, makes for a less energetic introduction to the sport.
Rooms & Suites
Rooms reside on floors one to three. I enjoyed looking at the gallery of prints which ranged from botanical sketches to maritime drawings, with its salon-style of deliberate informality providing something different to study each time you ascend and descend.
Each of the 89 rooms ranges from Double and King, many with sea views, through to Sea View Junior Suites and Sea View Suites. Upper categories add large seating areas, and in the case of the Sea View Suites, completely separate living areas with multiple views. Interior styling really adds DNA to the hotel; oceanic toile wallpaper sweeps from floor to ceiling, which sits in juxtaposition to floral tapestry carpeting underfoot. Oil paintings of storm-tossed seas hang in gilt frames above velvet green headboards and blue drapery frames windows. Look out for bespoke sketches by Luke Edward Hall, which feature in every room, depicting Arthur Havers, who won the Claret Jug at Royal Troon in 1923
My Suite During My Stay
During my stay, I was hosted in the Tom Watson Suite on floor two, one of the hotel’s Sea View Suites, each of which is individually named. Suites occupy the projecting wings in the front of the building, and their large lounge areas present three different views to enjoy. The lounge is furnished with a navy corner sofa and a tan leather ottoman.
Layered wallpaper is divided by a dado rail, and a sketch of Arthus Havers hangs above a writing desk. Across from the sofa, a sideboard houses a TV, a Nespresso machine, a kettle and tea.
The hotel’s west-facing position means it has incredible sunset views, with the sun dropping behind Arran each evening.
In the bedroom, the lounged medallion wallpaper is replaced with oceanic toile patterning, a mini bar is packed with alcoholic drinks and soft drinks, along with a large flatscreen TV and a generously sized wardrobe holding a safe, iron and robes.
The bathroom maintains the suite’s personality, emerald tiles line the shower, duck-egg tongue and groove panelling sits against chequerboard floor tiles, and a marble console sink sits below an orange mahogany mirror. Arran Arromatics are the natural amenities of choice which sit in a shower caddy ready to enjoy.
The Rabbit
Taking its name from the 17th hole it overlooks, The Rabbit is one of the trickiest par threes on the Ayrshire coast. I thought to myself, there is something quite apt about its naming, the room’s large-scale floral wallpaper running floor to ceiling, then enveloping over the ceiling too, along with a red shaded chandelier, all of which wouldn’t at all look out of place from a chapter of Alice in Wonderland.
The restaurant holds two AA Rosettes, and the team earned them with a menu which confidently draws on the local larder; in fact, it is something they are inherently proud of, with ingredients prominetly coming from the most local of surrounds, as Hannah, our host for the night, explained whilst guiding us through the menu with effervescent passion.
We settled into a booth and ordered starters. We opted for the Wild Mushroom Parfait with crispy shallots, miso emulsion and brioche and the Salmon and Nori Mosaic with potato and sea herb salad, buttermilk and dill. The Salmon and Nori Mosaic uses a technique that takes cured salmon strips, which are coated in seaweed powder and arranged into a patterned log, and cooked under vacuum sous vide to create a dramatic, cross-section of fresh fish. The cooking technique leaves the fish feeling sashimi-like in texture, with the nori seaweed adding an umami depth. The Wild Mushroom Parfait was rich and deeply flavoured and generously sized, allowing you to spread, almost trowel, onto the sourdough with increased enthusiasm on each bite, so delicious it warranted us ordering more bread to continue the ritual.
For mains, I had eyed up a customer’s passing plate packed with food when I was in the bar, which Hannah confirmed was the Sunday Roast. So we ordered one of those, which is served with a generous stack of chips, onion rings and a side of Yorkshire puddings. The beef, so tender, which is down to the multi-hour slow cooking technique, resulting in you being able to almost slice through it with a butter knife. And I went for the Fillet Steak, which came with a choice of sauces; I picked the chimichurri. I love this Argentine sauce it is bursting with fresh herb flavours, from fresh parsley notes through to garlic and hints of chilli.
Full to the brim by this point, Hannah, who confessed to being a feeder, convinced us to find space for dessert. We opted for the classic Sticky toffee pudding, which is served in a pool of toffee sauce, and the Panna Cotta with strawberry compote and strawberry ice cream. Describing it as a deconstructed cheesecake, the rich and dense panna cotta is offset by the marginally lighter counterpoint of the fruit and ice cream.
Breakfast
Breakfast matches the ambition of the dinner service; a continental spread is laid out across antique sideboards, with cereals in Kilner jars, fresh fruits, cheese and cured meats, along with a large selection of breads and pastries. A separate juice station even has a fun Virgin Mary station.
The hot menu is equally inventive, and I like the option of the morning roll, with bacon, sausage and egg, allowing you to indulge in a cooked breakfast without needing the full thing.
I took a peek into the conservatory room from which the views looking out to Arran on the horizon could arguably be the best tables in the hotel!
The Seal
Named after the course’s opening hole, which can be seen from the bar, The Seal meanders through various spaces heading towards a large nook at the back and a full-sized billiards table. The bar’s centrepieces are sculptural driftwood chandeliers presiding over sofas, and at the entrance, an inviting fireplace next to the window, which we sat at each evening. On the second evening, we ate dinner here, with the menu offering a range of lighter bites and pub classics – we opted for the Fish and Chips.
Wellness
Another string to the hotel’s bow is its comprehensive spa, pool and gym complex. Working in partnership with Ishga in the spa, the Gaelic word for ‘water’, products use hand-harvested seaweed from the Hebridean islands. Facilities include an indoor heated pool with dramatic views looking out to the beach and the Royal Troon course, along with a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and four treatment rooms, along with a couples suite, gym and squash court.
Final Thoughts
For a hotel that has commanded over this stretch of the Ayrshire coast for over 100 years, Marine Troon doesn’t need to work hard to make an impression; the fact that it does through its food and spa offering, friendly service, and unique interior styling is what makes it one of Scotland’s great hotel stays.
