Royal County Down Championship Golf Course Key Information
Thanks to a combination of the towering Mountains of Mourne as the backdrop to many holes and the Irish sea flanking the opening trio, the visual appeal is hard to surpass.
When the gorse is in bloom and the sun is out, there’s no lovelier place to play. The overall golfing experience matches the course's rich pedigree, with many standout holes along the way, including the much-photographed par-3 4th from an elevated tee.
REASONS TO PLAY ROYAL COUNTY DOWN
– Simply one of the most highly regarded links courses in the world
– The Mountains of Mourne and the town provide a stirring backdrop
– An exhilarating, yet challenging rollercoaster ride through the dunes via blind tests and some gloriously natural bunkering
RANKINGS
UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2025/26 - 1
A combination of a towering mountain range in the backdrop on many holes and the Irish sea flanking the opening three makes for visual appeal that is hard to surpass.
Now over a century and a quarter old, this fabled links in Newcastle on the County Down coast is not only one of the best links courses in the UK but also one of the best on the planet, ranking 1st in Golf Monthly's Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland list.
RCD, as it's sometimes known, boasts a truly impressive roll call of architectural influences through the ages, starting with Old Tom Morris who first extended the links to 18 holes back in 1890. Since then, Harry Vardon, Harry Colt, Donald Steel, and most recently, Martin Ebert, have all stamped their mark on this truly magical place.
The club boasts arguably the most spectacular setting of any of the UK and Ireland's traditional links. The Mountains of Mourne provide a glorious backdrop throughout with the sea to your right as you head out over a stirring opening stretch. When the gorse is in bloom, there’s no lovelier place to play.
Anyone playing here for the first time is likely to be blown away by the visuals. I know I certainly was and can't think of another links course where, in certain lights, the mountains almost seem within touching distance.
The Championship course provides an exhilarating, yet challenging rollercoaster ride through the dunes via blind tests and some gloriously natural bunkering. Among a strong cast of standout holes are the tough par-3 4th, played from an elevated tee, and the wonderful 9th, with its blind drive back towards town via a hidden fairway some 60ft below. There’s always a real sense of anticipation both here and on the 11th as you stride over the crests to see if your drive is as perfect as your eye saw it.
Some of the most recent changes have included the filling in of the triangular pond a little way short of the 17th green, which some found a little incongruous, and the lowering of a dune ridge on the 2nd to facilitate a better view up to the green.
I watched with interest during the 2024 Irish Open as players decided whether or not to lay up short of the waste area that has replaced the pond on 17 or chance finding the narrow gap beside it or take whatever comes if they stray into it, with the majority, but not all, electing to lay up.
While some modern-day golfers may rail against blind shots and holes, surely even the most ardent ‘see it all in front of you’ campaigner will get a huge thrill making their way around this breath-taking links.
The club is also home to the short but delightful Annesley Links, which also ranks among the best golf courses in Northern Ireland.
What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said…
As ever, the Championship course is just a wonderful experience. The opening par 5 almost draws you into the course, and is a relatively gentle start (wind-dependent of course). The par 3s are so varied - I hit 3-wood at 14 and PW at 7 - on other occasions I have hit 7-iron to 7, such was the strength of the wind For me the standout hole is the 9th – a straight and long drive is required and then the 2nd shot presents a real risk/reward challenge with the bunker just short of the green punishing any short shot. Royal County Down's simply stunning backdrop sets this course apart and when the golf isn’t going your way the views will always draw you back.
Visually, the layout sets up well with the 1st hole played alongside the Irish Sea inlet to the west side and climaxes around the 14th with its panoramic views of the beach, sea and islands beyond. The course is beautifully presented. The journey from tee to green is an unmanicured delight in that areas are allowed to grow in a less controlled manner around bunkers, giving a visually stimulating overall appearance. The 9th is the feature hole with a blind drive over a crest, which still leaves a long approach shot to a well-guarded green. Everybody knows about the Instagram moment as one approaches the second shot!
Royal County Down Golf Course Location
Contact the secretary's office to book
Royal County Down Championship Course Scorecard
Best Courses Near Royal County Down
Best Places To Stay Near Royal County Down
Slieve Donard - Book now at Booking.com
With stunning views of the County Down coastline and superb spa facilities, including a 20-yard pool, the four-star Slieve Donard stands in six acres of grounds leading to the Royal County Down Golf Club.
Burrendale Hotel Country Club & Spa - Book now at Booking.com
A four-star accommodation offering with a spa centre, garden, free private parking and a restaurant and bar.
Hillyard House Hotel - Book now at Booking.com
Set in Newcastle, Hillyard House Hotel features a shared lounge, restaurant, bar and free WiFi throughout the property.
Royal County Down Championship Course Gallery
Tournaments hosted at Royal County Down
- Irish Open - 2015
- The Walker Cup - 2007
- The Amateur Championship - 1970, 1999
- The Curtis Cup - 1968
- Irish Seniors' Open Amateur Championship - 1985, 2005
- Open Championship of Ireland - 1928, 1935, 1939
- Irish Open Amateur Championship - 15 times between 1893 and 1959
- The Home Internationals - 1933, 1957, 1999
- Irish Professional Championship - 1909, 1914, 1929, 1954
- Irish Ladies' Close Championship - 10 times between 1896 and 1961
- Irish Close Amateur Championship - 10 times between 1894 and 1996
- The Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship - 8 times between 1899 and 2006
- The Senior Open Championship - 2000, 2001, 2002
ROYAL COUNTY DOWN Championship Course HISTORICAL TOP 100 RANKING UK&I
- 2025/26 - 1
- 2023/24 - 1
- 2021/22 - 1
- 2019/20 - 4
- 2017/18 - 3
- 2015/16 - 2
- 2013/14 - 2
- 2011/12 - 2
- 2009/10 - 4
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Play Royal County Down?
Royal County Down welcomes visitors five days each week - all day Monday, Tuesday and Friday, as well as Thursday mornings and Sunday afternoons. The only days that visitors cannot play are Wednesdays and Saturdays.
For more information visit the Royal County Down website
How hard is Royal County Down?
The Championship Course at Royal County Down can be an extremely difficult course, especially when the wind gets up. But there are plenty of teeing options available and the slope/course ratings mean that golfers can still have a good chance of playing to handicap if they're playing well.
The men's par is 71 and the ladies' par is 76.
Blue tees: 7,204 yards (Slope Rating: 145, Course Rating: 75.9)
White tees: 6,925 yards (SR: 136, CR 74.8)
Yellow tees: 6,651 yards (SR: 134, CR 73.5)
Green tees: 6,249 yards (SR: 130, CR 71.6)
Red tees: 6,249 yards (SR 151, 79.4)
Is Royal County Down The Best Golf Course In The World?
While there are no official guidelines as to how the determine which is the best golf course in the world, Royal County Down is considered by many people to be one of the planet's very best layouts and has topped plenty of rankings from various publications. It currently ranks 1st in the Golf Monthly UK&I Top 100 list.
