Play the Postage Stamp Online, Free
The Postage Stamp — the 8th hole at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, Scotland — is one of the most famous par 3s in the history of golf. At only 123 yards, it is the shortest hole in Open Championship golf, but its tiny green and five surrounding bunkers have humbled the greatest players in the world for over a century. Now you can play a links-inspired version of it free in your browser, no downloads and no sign-ups.
Click here to play the Postage Stamp now →
About the Hole
The Postage Stamp is a deceptively simple-looking par 3 — just 123 yards from tee to green. The hole got its name because the green is absurdly small, roughly the size of a postage stamp when viewed from the elevated tee. But the challenge is not just the tiny target. Five deep bunkers ring the green so tightly that almost every miss finds sand. The most famous of these is the Coffin bunker, a deep, narrow pot bunker sitting front-left of the green. A ball that drops into the Coffin often requires a near-vertical escape shot, and saving par from it is a minor miracle.
Unlike the tree-lined holes of Augusta or the island greens of TPC Sawgrass, the Postage Stamp is pure links golf. There are no trees, no water hazards, and no elevation tricks. The terrain is open, with natural mounds and undulations shaped by centuries of Scottish coastal weather. The difficulty comes from the wind off the Firth of Clyde, the tiny target, and the punishment that awaits any miss. It is minimalism at its most brutal.
How Far Is the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon?
The Postage Stamp plays at approximately 123 yards, making it the shortest hole used in Open Championship rotation. That number has barely changed over the decades — the hole has never been lengthened because the difficulty was never about distance. At 123 yards, a tour professional needs nothing more than a pitching wedge or sand wedge in calm conditions. But Royal Troon sits on the Ayrshire coast of Scotland, exposed to the full force of the prevailing westerly winds. Into a stiff headwind, the club can jump to a 9-iron or even an 8-iron. The wind does not just affect distance — it pushes the ball sideways off the tiny green and into the waiting bunkers.
What makes 123 yards so terrifying? The green. It is one of the smallest in championship golf, only about 25 yards wide and just a handful of yards deep in places. There is almost no margin for error. A shot that misses the green by two yards in any direction is in a bunker. A shot that misses by five yards is in one of the deeper bunkers. The Postage Stamp proves that difficulty in golf has nothing to do with length.
Why Is the Postage Stamp So Hard?
At 123 yards, on paper it should be the easiest hole on the course. It is not. Here is why the Postage Stamp has broken so many great players:
- The smallest green in Open Championship golf. The putting surface is tiny — roughly 25 yards across at its widest. From the elevated tee, it looks impossibly small. Tour professionals who can hit a 7-iron to within 10 feet on a normal par 3 suddenly find themselves struggling to hit the green at all with a wedge.
- Five bunkers on all sides. The green is completely surrounded by deep bunkers. There is no bail-out area. Miss left, you are in sand. Miss right, sand. Miss short, sand. Miss long, sand. Every miss is penalized, and the bunkers are not shallow splashes — they are deep Scottish pot bunkers that require precision just to escape.
- The Coffin bunker. The most feared bunker on the hole sits front-left. It is deep, narrow, and coffin-shaped. A ball in the Coffin often plugs in the steep face, leaving a near-vertical explosion shot with almost no green to work with between the bunker lip and the edge of the putting surface. Many players take two shots just to get out.
- Links wind. Royal Troon is an exposed coastal links course. The wind blows off the Firth of Clyde with little to block it. On a calm day, the Postage Stamp is a straightforward wedge. On a windy day — which is most days in Scotland — the ball is at the mercy of gusts that can push it 10 or 15 yards off line. Controlling a wedge shot in a 25-mph crosswind, aiming at a green the size of a living room, is as hard as golf gets.
- Psychological pressure. The Postage Stamp's reputation precedes it. Every golfer who stands on the tee knows that great players have made 5s, 6s, and worse here. The knowledge that a wedge shot can produce a disaster creates tension that affects even the most experienced tour professionals.
Famous Moments on the Postage Stamp
The Postage Stamp has produced some of the most memorable moments in Open Championship history:
- Gene Sarazen, 1973 Open Championship. At the age of 71, Gene Sarazen — one of only five players to have won all four major championships — made a hole-in-one on the Postage Stamp with a 5-iron during the first round. The next day, he holed his bunker shot for a 2. Two days, two shots that found the hole on the most intimidating short hole in golf. Sarazen's ace at 71 remains one of the most celebrated moments in Open history and forever linked his name to the Postage Stamp.
- Tiger Woods and big numbers. Even Tiger Woods, the most dominant player of his generation, has been punished by the Postage Stamp. The hole does not care about your resume. Miss the green and the bunkers extract a price from everyone.
- The 1997 Open Championship. When the Open returned to Royal Troon in 1997, the Postage Stamp produced a parade of disasters in windy conditions. Players who had been striping irons all week suddenly could not find a green that was barely 25 yards across. The hole played well over par for the week.
- Countless amateur nightmares. For club golfers who play Royal Troon, the Postage Stamp is often the most talked-about hole on the course. Stories of 8s, 9s, and double-digit scores on a 123-yard hole are passed around clubhouses across Scotland. The hole is a great equalizer — it can humble a scratch golfer as easily as a 20-handicapper.
If a hole can humble Sarazen, Woods, and generations of Open Championship competitors, it can humble anyone. See how you fare on the Postage Stamp →
Features of Our Postage Stamp Simulator
- The tiny green — faithfully small, just like the real thing. Hit it and you are in birdie territory. Miss it and you are scrambling.
- Five deep bunkers — surrounding the green on all sides. The Coffin bunker front-left is the one to fear most.
- Links terrain — open, treeless landscape with natural mounds and undulations. No trees, no water — just you, the wind, and the smallest green you have ever aimed at.
- Real shot physics — control your power, angle, and flight. A perfect wedge holds the green. Anything less finds sand.
- Authentic links feel — the stripped-back, minimalist challenge of Scottish coastal golf translated into a browser game.
How to Play
Drag backward from the ball in the direction opposite where you want to send it — like pulling back a slingshot. The farther you drag, the more power you apply. A trajectory arc previews your shot while you aim, so you can fine-tune direction and distance before releasing. The game works the same way on desktop (click and drag with the mouse) and on mobile (touch and drag with your finger).
On the Postage Stamp, precision matters more than power. The hole is only 123 yards — you do not need a full swing. A controlled, smooth stroke aimed at the center of the green is the smart play. Going at a tucked pin is how you end up in the Coffin bunker staring at a vertical wall of sand.
Strategy Tips for the Postage Stamp
- Aim dead center. The green is so small that any attempt to attack a pin position near the edge will likely find a bunker. The middle of the green is always the right target.
- Use a controlled swing. At 123 yards, you do not need full power. A smooth three-quarter swing gives you better accuracy and a softer landing. The green is firm and fast — a hot shot will roll off.
- Avoid the Coffin at all costs. The Coffin bunker front-left is the worst place on the hole. If the pin is left, aim center-right. A bunker shot from the Coffin is one of the hardest recoveries in golf.
- Respect the bunkers everywhere. All five bunkers are deep. Even the ones behind the green are nasty. There is no good miss on this hole — only less bad ones.
- Take your par and move on. A 3 on the Postage Stamp is a great score. A 4 is acceptable. Anything worse means the hole has won, and the Postage Stamp wins more often than most golfers want to admit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the Postage Stamp online for free?
Yes. This page hosts a free, browser-based version of the famous Royal Troon 8th hole, the Postage Stamp. There is no download, no sign-up, and no payment required. Click the Play button at the top of this page to start.
Is this the official Royal Troon or Open Championship golf game?
No. Let's Golf Online is an independent fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Royal Troon Golf Club, The R&A, or The Open Championship. The real-world course reference is used descriptively to identify the hole we have recreated. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Why is it called the Postage Stamp?
The hole earned its nickname because the green is so small it resembles a postage stamp, especially when viewed from the elevated tee. The name was popularized in the 1920s and has been the accepted name for the hole ever since. The original name was simply "Ailsa," after the nearby Ailsa Craig rock formation visible from the course.
How far is the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon?
The Postage Stamp plays at approximately 123 yards, making it the shortest hole in Open Championship golf. Despite the tiny yardage, the combination of a minuscule green, five deep bunkers, and Scottish coastal wind makes it one of the most demanding par 3s in the world.
What is the Coffin bunker?
The Coffin bunker is a deep, narrow pot bunker positioned front-left of the Postage Stamp green. It is named for its coffin-like shape and its punishing depth. A ball that finds the Coffin often plugs in the steep face, requiring a near-vertical explosion shot just to escape. Saving par from the Coffin is extremely difficult even for tour professionals.
What happened when Gene Sarazen played the Postage Stamp?
In the 1973 Open Championship at Royal Troon, 71-year-old Gene Sarazen made a hole-in-one on the Postage Stamp using a 5-iron. The next day he holed out from a bunker for a 2. It remains one of the most celebrated moments in Open Championship history.
Do I need to download anything to play?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser. It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile phones. Any modern browser will work — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.
What other holes can I play?
The full game includes 9 iconic real-world holes: Augusta 12th (Golden Bell), TPC Sawgrass 17th (Island Green), Pebble Beach 7th, St Andrews 17th (Road Hole), Cypress Point 16th, Royal County Down 4th, Banff Springs 4th (Devil's Cauldron), and North Berwick 15th (Redan) — plus a 9-hole fantasy course that regenerates every time you play. Visit the main page to play the full course list.
What club do pros hit on the Postage Stamp?
At 123 yards, most tour professionals hit a pitching wedge or sand wedge in calm conditions. Into a strong headwind off the Firth of Clyde, the club can jump to a 9-iron or even an 8-iron. The key challenge is not distance control but hitting the tiny green at all.
How many bunkers surround the Postage Stamp?
Five bunkers tightly ring the green on all sides. The most famous is the Coffin bunker front-left. The bunkers are positioned so closely together that nearly every miss finds sand, and recovery from any of them is difficult because the green is so small there is almost no room to land and stop the ball.
Is the Postage Stamp the hardest par 3 in golf?
It is in the conversation. Augusta's 12th (Golden Bell) and TPC Sawgrass's 17th (Island Green) are also frequently cited. What makes the Postage Stamp unique is its combination of extreme shortness and extreme difficulty — at only 123 yards, it proves that the hardest holes in golf are not always the longest. Many golf historians and tour professionals consider it the finest short hole in the world.
Where is Royal Troon?
Royal Troon Golf Club is located in Troon, a coastal town in South Ayrshire, Scotland. The course sits along the Firth of Clyde with views of the Isle of Arran and Ailsa Craig. It is one of the courses in The Open Championship rotation and has hosted the Open multiple times. The Postage Stamp is the 8th hole on the Old Course.