There are golf courses that make an impression and then there are courses that leave a mark on your soul: Royal County Down sits firmly in the latter category.
Framed by the brooding Mourne Mountains, brushed by the winds which roll off the dramatic Dundrum Bay and occupying centre stage on the Murlough Nature Reserve, this Northern Irish masterpiece is far more than a test of golf. It’s a story, a walk through living, breathing history, a brushstroke of beauty across the canvas of time. The setting elevates what would be an extraordinary links wherever it was set, into unquestionably one of the world’s most naturally beautiful golf courses.
So while it is an unequivocal fact that Royal County Down was designed by the legendary ‘Old’ Tom Morris of St Andrews in 1889, the hard work was done by Mother Nature. The great golf writer, Herbert Warren Wind, described Royal County Down as “the sternest examination in golf I had ever take.”
With vast swathes of heather and gorse flanking fairways that tumble beneath towering sand hills. And wild, tussock-faced bunkers fiercely guarding small, subtly contoured greens, the test is unrelenting, a beast among the beauty. The routing of Royal County Down also elevates the experience, as the links darts back and forth, constantly changing your perspective on your surroundings and meaning you never truly feel you have mastery over the wind direction.
Consistently ranked as the No.1 golf course in the world, Royal County Down is not a course you stumble across. It’s one you seek.
Why Is Royal County Down ranked so highly?
Set on terrain as dramatic as any in the game, Royal County Down is golf in its purest, wildest form. The course twists through sweeping dunes giving it a natural flow that feels untouched by man. Every fairway rolls as if shaped by the tide. Every green is nestled as if grown from the earth itself.
- History dating back to 1889
- Designed by Old Tom Morris and refined by Harry Colt
- Natural dune-land routing with views of the Mourne Mountains
- Famous holes like the par-4 9th and the par-3 4th
What about the history of the club?
Founded in 1889, Royal County Down owes its existence, in part, to the arrival of the railway in the seaside town of Newcastle in Northern Ireland.
Soon after, Old Tom Morris was commissioned—for a fee of just £4—to expand the original 9-hole layout into a full 18-hole course. In the years that followed, several of the game’s great players turned architects, including Harry Vardon, J.H. Taylor, and James Braid, contributed to the course’s evolution. However, it was George Combe, the club’s long-serving “Convenor of the Green,” who played the most significant role in shaping Royal County Down. Combe not only left a lasting legacy on the course itself, but also helped pioneer the first official golf handicap system.
In the 1920s, acclaimed course designer Harry Colt—renowned for his work at Sunningdale, Muirfield and Pine Valley—further refined Royal County Down, helping transform it into the world-class links it is today. Despite its lofty position among the best golf courses on the planet, Royal County Down continues to evolve. Most recently, the design firm Mackenzie & Ebert carried out a series of subtle updates, including the removal of a widely criticised pond on the 17th hole.
Final Thoughts: Is Royal County Down Worth It?
Without a doubt. Playing Royal County Down is not just a round of golf—it’s a rite of passage. It’s standing on the 9th tee and hearing your heartbeat over the wind. It’s walking off the 18th with mud on your shoes and stories in your soul. It’s one of the few places in the world where the game feels exactly as it should: timeless, humbling, glorious. Go.
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN COURSE MAP
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN SCORECARD
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
How Do You Book a Tee Time at Royal County Down?
Planning ahead is essential. Royal County Down offers visitor tee times on specific weekdays—usually Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays—and often books out months and years in advance. The cost to play reflects its prestige: expect green fees in the region of £295–£350, depending on the time of year.
Book through the official club website.
Is Royal County Down Walkable?
Walking is not just encouraged—it’s part of the experience. The course is undulating but the best way to absorb the changing scenery and shifting winds is on foot.
Should I take a caddy at Royal County Down?
Caddies are strongly recommended. Not just for club selection or reading the wind off the Irish Sea, but for storytelling. These local experts often carry the club’s history and soul in their anecdotes. Fees range from £60–£100, plus a customary tip. For groups of three or four, forecaddies are available and sometimes mandatory.
More info: Royal County Down Caddie Services.
Which are the signature Holes at Royal County Down?
Hole 4 (Par-3, 229 yards)
A brute of a par-3, played across a sea of gorse to a green backed by the jagged Mournes. A postcard in every sense. It’s both terrifying and beautiful, like staring into the heart of a storm.
Hole 9 (Par-4, 483 yards)
Perhaps the most photographed hole in golf. A blind tee shot over a towering dune leads to a fairway that plunges downhill to a green framed by mountains and sea. It’s the kind of hole that etches itself into your memory and never leaves.
Also Noteworthy: 13th for its devilish bunkering; 15th for visual deception; 18th for a finish that demands full focus.
What about the Course Layout and Strategy?
Royal County Down demands creativity. The front nine are bolder, with sweeping views and dramatic elevation changes. The back nine are subtler, but no less testing, with tighter landing areas and greens that defy approach angles.
- Front nine: elevation changes, blind tee shots, bold views
- Back nine: flatter but more strategic and subtle
- Embrace blind shots, trust aiming posts, and use your caddie’s local knowledge
What should I pack for Royal County Down?
Layers are definitely a good idea. The weather has a habit of changing quickly. You have been warned.
Can You Play Royal County Down Without a Member?
Yes—but only on designated visitor days or via golf tour packages. Some include Royal Portrush and Ardglass—ideal for a full Northern Ireland loop.
Is Royal County Down as hard as people say?
As you might expect the conditions play a key role in answering that question. Royal County Down is certainly fair but it can also be punishing if you’re wild off the tee.
Which is the best time of year to play Royal County Down?
May and June are hard to beat for long evenings and dry fairways. But if you have the right gear, you can play Royal County Down at any time of year.
