From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Royal County Down Golf Club
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The origins of Royal County Downs are centered around the Victorian sea resort town of Newcastle, one hour south of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1899 and the Board commissioned Old Tom Morris to design the course for a fee "not to exceed £4, about $8 in today's valuation. The members got a bargain. The setting of the course is stunning, below the Mourne Mountains and the tallest peak in Northern Ireland, the Slieve Donard. It's a picture postcard setting for a golf course, maybe one of the best in the world. The course is laid out in two 9-hole loops, each staring and finishing at the clubhouse. The terrain is rolling through the sand hills, and each hole represents its own challenge and strategies, there's not a letup hole here. The Irish Open Amateur Championship was held here 15 times until it was abandoned in 1959, the Irish Close 10 times, the Amateur Championship and Home Internationals 5 times between them. It also held the Irish and British Open Amateurs a total of 18 times and the Curtis Cup in 1968, and its most recent, the Walker Cup matches in 2007. A certain must play in the whole of Ireland.
Published by: JayM
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Posted by: ArtieM
Sep 29th, 2010
It's hard to put into words the amazingly great of a time I had for the short 3 1/2 hours it took for us to fly around that golfing paradise. I tell everyone who asks me how it was that "it's the Pebble Beach of Northern Ireland......without the hoop-la" - I only use that line to describe the clout and breath-taking beauty of the place, as most who ask me aren't interested or remotely understand the vast differences in the architecture and conditioning - The only way to tell the greens from the rest of the grass was that they had applied iron to make them slightly darker green - The greens were slower than 75% of the greens I've played here in the US, but truer than true and I wouldn't want them any faster - I mentioned playing in 3 1/2 hours.......walking.....Gorse is horrible......but beautiful when viewed as part of the landscape as a whole - The forecast called for rain......black clouds loomed just off the course for the whole round, but we had perfect conditions......partial sun, moderate temps, with a light breeze......and the rain clouds opened up as we sat down for lunch in the clubhouse......I may have to start believing in a golf god because that day was made for me - I'm a 9 handicap and I shot an 85 (with an 8 on a par 3).....I was thrilled.......much better than the 101 I shot a Pebble several years ago......I left with my head held high.
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Posted by: chris22
Jul 11th, 2010
I love RCD! Beyond beng a great links course, I got the feeling that the colors were added by a wold class artist. When I played this week, it I was a single, just me and my caddy. The field was very nice and waved me through, so I finished in 2:15...I was never so disappointed that the round was over fast, I did not want to putt out on 18!
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Posted by: ralphn
Jul 5th, 2010
My all-time favorite course that I just recently had the pleasure of returning to this summer. First of all, there is the setting, which is incredibly beautiful. It runs along the ocean, with constant ocean views from holes set high amidst towering dunes. The fairways are bracketed with heather, and then with gorse, and everything was blooming, the course was a sea of green, purple and yellow that is simply unmatched in beauty, especially when compounded by the sea and the mountains. Just when it can’t get any better, the back nine plays towards the wonderful backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne. We had to play 36, with the second round in the bright sun after a brief shower, the mountains and heather, they were aglow!
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Sep 28th, 2008
If you're not on your game at Royal County Down it will be painful. I played Royal County Down twice last month - once in 'fine' conditions and the second time in windy, rainy and cold conditions (in August). Even in miserable conditions it is easy to see that it is a great golf course, and enjoyed both rounds immensely. It is one of the toughest championship links at 7,167 yards from the tips.
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Jul 4th, 2008
Fabulous course, layout, and service, fantastic accomodations at the Slieve Donard Hotel located just behind the course. Dinner is expensive in the hotel, but Percy French, a restaurant on the grounds is a better alternative. Top course in Northern Island, maybe the UK