By james art Golf fans from around the world descended on the region for one of the sport’s biggest events, boosting the region’s economy by £43.8 million.
An independent study commissioned by The R&A found that the championships boosted the Scottish economy by more than £300 million.
The survey also showed that more than half of visitors from outside Ayrshire said they expected to return to the region in the next year.
The study, carried out by Sheffield Hallam University’s Sports Industry Research Center (SIRC), found that the championship brought £87.3m of economic benefit to the country.
A separate independent study by YouGov Sport also found that £216 million of destination marketing benefits were delivered to Scotland due to worldwide TV and digital coverage.
American golfer Xander Schauffele took home the coveted Claret Jug in July, in front of 258,174 spectators during the competition.
Professor Simon Shibley, SIRC Director at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “We were delighted to return to Royal Troon for The 152nd Open, following our initial economic impact study of the course in 2016.
“In the following years, the number of spectators has increased significantly and so has their spending in South Ayrshire and Scotland more widely.
“It is extremely rewarding to see scientific insights being used effectively to maximize the economic benefit of The Open to host communities.”
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, added: “Independent studies have proven that the major golf championships bring significant economic benefits to Scotland by boosting tourism, showcasing the country to a global audience and generating income for local communities and businesses.
“The results achieved at The 152nd Open at Royal Troon reinforce this and we look forward to working with our partners in government over the next 10 years to deliver a number of outstanding major championships across Scotland.”
Richard Lochhead MSP, Business Secretary, said: “Research shows that the latest Open held in Troon brought millions of pounds to the local economy, providing a transformational boost to businesses and communities.
“So it is vital that we continue to grow Scotland’s reputation as the home of golf to ensure the significant economic impact associated with these championships.”
Siobhian Brown, MSP for Ayr, Prestwick and Troon, said: “The 152nd Open, which took place at Royal Troon in my constituency this July, was a significant success both locally and for Scotland as a whole.
“I was lucky enough to attend the tournament and saw first-hand the buzz around the venue generated by the record crowd of over 250,000 spectators.
“Many of whom had traveled outside of Scotland. It was great to welcome these people to see the best that Ayr, Prestwick and Troon have to offer.”