Royal County Down golf club in Northern Ireland
Royal County Down, in the seaside town of Newcastle in Northern Ireland, is arguably the British Isles' finest links golf course. Its history, dating to the 19th century, mixes with dramatic dunes in the shadows of the Mourne Mountains, making it tough to beat. Royal County Down is considered one of the most difficult courses anywhere, and is the host of the 2007 Walker Cup.
The course was originally established in 1888 as the railway came to Newcastle and is still labeled as an Old Tom Morris design. However, massive rerouting and rebuilding through the 1920s led to a course that's been largely unchanged for several decades. One big difference is the brand-new 16th hole, built just a few years back.
You'll run into large amounts of gorse here. An interesting footnote is gorse wasn't even a part of the course until the 1920s, when rabbits were removed from the links. They had a habit of eating roots, so dunes were sandy and bare. Rabbit holes of course caused problems, and now the gorse has an overwhelming effect.
The course will close from the end of August through mid-September to accommodate the Walker Cup. Until then, you'll encounter a golf course as difficult as its ever been, with super-slick greens, thick rough and a jammed tee sheet.
Royal County Down Golf Club - Championship Course
in
County Down
36 Golf Links RoadNewcastle, Northern Ireland
BT33 0AN
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