March 16, 1878 at the Portland Arms Hotel in Troon, on the rocky, windswept and scrub strewn coastline of western Scotland, a group of determined golfers met to form what would become the Royal Troon Golf Club. Meanwhile, in the territory of Arizona in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, a stagecoach stop was serving equally determined travelers at Reata Pass. Why should such wildly different yet oddly similar places share the same name?
While the differences may be obvious, the cold Scottish coastline versus the Southwest desert, there are similarities as well. Certainly, their names Scottsdale and Scotland are obvious. And then there are their terrains. Both have ruggedly beautiful landscapes, strewn with granite boulders, both contain rolling vistas, although one has ocean views while the other is of soaring mountains. And last but not least, both contain internationally acclaimed golf courses.
Remnants of the Old West still remain as the restaurant at Reata Pass continues to serve up steaks and cool drinks. Time has brought many changes though as now just around the corner you find the acclaimed Four Seasons Hotel, luxury multi-million dollar mansions, more affordable homes, condos and yes - golf. Desert Highlands, a private residential golf community with a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, Estancia, Troon and Troon North, both Tom Weiskopf designed courses are centerpieces of this magnificent area.
So how did Troon Scottsdale get its name? Suffice it to say that Tom Weiskopf, the designer of the original Troon course, won the 1976 British Open and incorporated many design similarities from the Scottish course.
However it was named, the lush high desert, the restaurants, the proximity to shopping, the views and the golf make living in Troon a destination that is unparalleled.
