1988
Towards the end of 1988, Bill Taylor, a member of the Troon Town Twinning Association committee, proposed that a new year pétanque competition be played in recognition of Troon’s twinning with Villeneuve-sur-Lot in France in 1987.
Bill suggested that the competition be played on council ground at Fullarton Courtyard and a sub committee was formed to organise the event: Bill Taylor, John Hart, Grahame Trantor and Trevor Wight.
1989
The inaugural new year competition, the Frostbite Follies, was played on 2nd January 1989. Sixty six players entered but it was estimated that over two hundred folk turned up to either play or spectate. The competition was played over six rounds throughout the day, with traditional barbeque fayre, plus mincemeat pies and mulled wine available throughout the day.
Such was the success of the Frostbite Follies, Troon Petanque Club was officially formed. The very first committee comprised Bill Taylor (Chairman), John Hart (Secretary), Grahame Trantor (Treasurer) and Trevor Wright (Match Secretary).
Soon after the club’s inception, the mascot Chuck McCosh was created by Bill Taylor, a gifted artist. The name itself was suggested jointly by Jennifer MacPherson and Lynsey Taylor in a competition. To this day, Chuck McCosh still adorns a variety of merchandise and has overseen many a competition and newsletter.
The club subsequently moved to the Anchorage Hotel in Troon when the Fullarton site was redeveloped to provide a public car park.
The first Troon v Ayr inter town competition was held at Fullarton Courtyard, with Troon coming out on top in the final match, after six hours of play. The match featured sixteen teams from the two clubs.
Having established an identity as a club, Troon were invited to play in tournaments at Stirling, a significant opportunity for personal development given that Stirling’s Birds and Bees club had more experienced players.
1990
The club relocated from Fullarton Courtyard to a new piste adjacent to the Anchorage Hotel close to the centre of Troon.
Troon hosted the Stirling Birds and Bees club in the first official home competition at the Anchorage.
The first summer league concluded with the Saltyres victorious in the final round of matches over the Artful Dodgers. Most notable was the fact that over 160 players took part in the competition over the summer, a remarkable achievement for a club just recently formed.
1991
The Anchorage Hotel sponsored the inaugural Summer League of four players per team.
There was the inaugural staging of the Rolph Trophy competition between Ayr and Troon.
Troon hosted a tournament featuring four clubs from Northern Ireland (Queens, Culraine, Downpatrick and North Down) and four teams from Falkirk.
1992
1993
The club relocated to a new piste adjacent to Troon swimming pool and staged the first tournament for junior players.
Fourteen teams from all over Scotland took part in an open competition at Troon.
1994
The club became affiliated to Troon Town Twinning Association.
1995
Troon hosted the North Down club from Northern Ireland.
The club was given a notice to quit the Anchorage Hotel piste to enable the redevelopment of the ground. However at the eleventh hour, the management of the Anchorage had a change of heart, and the club were allowed to remain for the foreseeable future.
The Scottish Junior Championship was played at the Anchorage in August.
Members of the Troon club travelled to Villeneuve-sur-lot in France to play a competition against a local team.
1996
The club introduced a handicap system for league and fixed pairs competition.
Troon visited North Down Pétanque Club in Northern Ireland for an overseas excursion.
1997
The club played host to North Down Pétanque Club from Northern Ireland.
Troon visited North Berwick Pétanque Club in May for the first match between the two clubs.
1998
A large contingent of visitors from Villeneuve in France visited Troon for five days of socialising and friendly competition.
Troon hosted North Down Pétanque Club from Northern Ireland.
1999
Members of Troon travelled to North Down for the biggest pétanque competition ever staged in Ireland, in celebration of North Down’s tenth anniversary.
Members also travelled to Beauvais in France for competition and social interaction with local players.
With the club’s departure from the Anchorage Hotel imminent, alternative long term accomodation adjacent to Troon swimming pool, Troon youth club, Loans scout hut and council land at Fullarton golf club were all under active consideration. Home competitions were somewhat nomadic, with games being played at the Anchorage Hotel, the Swimming Pool and at Ayr.
2000
The club relocated to share the facilities at Ayr-St Germain Petanque Club adjacent to Northfield Bowling Club in Ayr.
Troon members visited North Down Pétanque Club in Northern Ireland.
2001
Troon Pétanque Club became an affiliated member of Troon Sports and Social Club, based at Marr Rugby Club, for an initial guaranteed period of ten years.
Offers were forthcoming to relocate to either an area next to the municipal golf course, or to the Loans Scout Group, but ultimately, a new piste was built at Fullarton Woods adjacent to Marr Rugby Club. The piste opened for play on 5th August 2001.
2002
Troon hosted the SPA Pairs Championship.
Michael and Catriona Rennie represented Scotland at the Junior Home Nations.
The Ayr Challenge Cup was played for the first time.
The inaugural Pétanque Challenge took place against Marr RFC.
2003
Troon hosted the SPA Pairs Championship.
Troon Pétanque Club twinned with Toulouse Pétanque Club for reciprocal visits and competitions.
Members of the Troon club travelled to Villeneuve in France to play a competition against a local team.
Members of Troon travelled to North Down Pétanque Club in Northern Ireland.
Floodlighting installed at Marr Rugby Club, including coverage of the pétanque piste.
Michael and Catriona Rennie were awarded merit certificates by South Ayrshire Sports Council in recognition of their performances in national competitions.
2004
Michael Rennie and Donnie McIntyre were the Scottish Pairs Champions.
Troon hosted the Home Nations tournament.
Members of the Troon club travelled to Villeneuve in France to play a competition against a local team.
A contingent of Troon members travelled to Murcia in Spain to take on local teams.
The club began work on its first website (now lapsed): troonpetanque.com
2005
2006
2007
2008
Five couples from Troon, the Harleys, the Gardiners, the MacIntyres, the Taylors and the Wards, Visited Beauvais in France to compete and socialise with the local team, Entente Beauvaisenne.
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Paul Fletcher (Troon) was the Scottish Singles Champion.
Paul Fletcher and Kevin Johnstone were the Scottish Doubles Champions.
Acorns, Triaxle and Dram (Troon teams) competed in SPA tournaments, the Celtic Challenge and the Home Nations tournament.
Istvan Poka was appointed National Coach for Scotland.
2016
Triaxle (Troon) were the top Scottish team at the Celtic Challenge.
Istvan Poka represented Scotland at an international tournament in Bulgaria.
Troon had six teams in the Grand Prix series, whilst the Troon Triaxle team of Paul Fletcher, Kevin Johnstone and Emma Montgomery represented Scotland in the World Championship in Madagascar.
Paul Fletcher and Kevin Johnstone represented Scotland in the World Championships.
2017
Donnie McIntyre represented Scotland in the Celtic Challenge and the Home Nations.
2018
The Troon Triaxle team of Paul Fletcher, Kevin Johnston and Emma Montgomery competed in the Celtic Challenge in Dublin.
The Troon Les Marrons trio of Brian Ward, Malcolm McKinlay and Stuart Killen competed in the Home Nations in Jersey.
2019
Donnie McIntyre represented Scotland in the Celtic Challenge and the Home Nations.
2020
2021
2022
Troon hosted the Home Nations tournament, and Scotland were represented by by Troon’s Team Rankin: Allan, Wendy and Jack.
Donnie McIntyre represented Scotland in the Celtic Challenge and the Home Nations.
2023
Allan Rankin and Alex Crawford won the SPA Men’s Doubles at Fochabers.
Allan and Wendy Rankin won the SPA Mixed Doubles.
Donnie McIntyre represented Scotland in the Celtic Challenge and the Home Nations and also competed for Scotland in the World Championships in Benin.
Marian MacIntyre represented Scotland at the Women’s World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
2024
Allan, Wendy and Jack Rankin, and Donnie McIntyre, represented Scotland in both at the Home Nations in Jersey and the Celtic Challenge.
2025
Donnie McIntyre is representing Scotland in the Celtic Challenge at Macduff.
Donnie has also been appointed Scotland coach at the Santa Suzanna tournament, and he’s a reserve for the Scotland veterans team, also in Spain.
Marian MacIntyre is representing Scotland at the Women’s World Championships at Doiousis Bouledrome in France.