NEWCASTLE, NORTHERN IRELAND | Like styles of pizza or greatest movies, the debate over the best golf course in the world is more subjective than objective. Like so many things, there can be multiple right answers. Which brings us to Royal County Down Golf Club, which may be the best golf course in the world. It has landed atop some of the most respected course-rankings lists over the years, engaging in an eternal discussion with other top courses like Pine Valley and Augusta National. This week, Royal County Down will welcome the DP World Tour’s Amgen Irish Open, showcasing the stunning links course for the world to see in all of its twisting, tumbling glory.
It has been nine years since the Irish Open was last played at RCD, ending a 76-year absence. The iconic course doesn’t need a course architecture expert to appreciate why legendary golf writer Bernard Darwin described it as offering “the kind of golf that people play in their most ecstatic dreams.” With its big, brawny layout framed by heaving dunes and deep bunkers outlined by shin-deep marram grass, Royal County Down is bordered by the Irish Sea on one side and the magnetic Mourne Mountains on the other. It is a course that is both visually stunning and challenging, regardless of the prevailing winds.
Kevan Whitson, the club’s long-time head professional who will retire at the end of the year, mentions that in his 33 years at RCD, visitors always arrive with high expectations, and the course never fails to meet them. He notes that Royal County Down is unlike any other links course due to the unique combination of having a mountain range right next to a links golf course.
The original nine holes were designed by schoolteacher George Baillie in 1889, with Old Tom Morris summoned from Scotland to design the second nine. The course has seen modifications over the years, including adjustments by Harry Colt and Donald Steel. The result is a magnificent layout featuring blind shots within rugged terrain tinted yellow by blooming gorse in the spring and purple by flowering heather in the summer.
Royal County Down is open to outside play but due to its popularity, making tee time inquiries well in advance is recommended. The course’s popularity grew slowly in its early years, with dedicated golfers making pilgrimages to play its hallowed grounds. The stunning Slieve Donard Hotel located nearby adds to the allure of the Royal County Down experience, blending Old World charm with modern amenities.
With the return of the Irish Open, Royal County Down once again gets the spotlight, standing out as one of the top golf courses in the world. Its rugged beauty, paired with its challenging layout, sets it apart from others. The course’s unique combination of beauty, challenge, and unpredictability makes it a must-play for golf enthusiasts.
