Royal County Down

The Royal County Down Golf Club is one of the oldest clubs in Ireland going back over hundred years. It is located in Newcasltle, Country Down which lies in the northern part of the country.

History of the course
The Royal County Down Golf Club has two eighteen hole link courses, the Championship Course and the Annesley Links .

1. Championship Course: The course was designed by renowned course designer Tom Morris in 1889. The course is set against the backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne making it a picturesque location. The course is also one of the most challenging, with great swathes of heather and gorse lining fairways that fall under vast sand hills, and wild 'tussocky' faced bunkers defending mall subtly contoured green. It has played host to a number of prestigious tournaments over the years.
2. Annesley Links: This is the second course which belongs to the Royal County Down Golf Club . It is 18-hole par 66 course which is less formidable compared than the Championship Course . Yet, it offers an extremely breathtaking round of golf against the same, incomparable backcloth as the main course.

Course Trivia

The Royal County Down Golf Club has hosted a number of prestigious tournaments like the Senior British Open over the years.

It would also host the 2007 Walker Cup, played between the US and The team of Great Britain and Ireland, in 2007.

The courses are close to the Dundrum Bay which makes the conditions very windy for the golfers.

The turf is fast and hard and not soft and spongy and is surrounded by a vast expanse of colorful flowers.

In 2005, the Championship Course was ranked as the fourth best course in the world outside the US by Golf Digest magazine. As we continue on this tour we will learn about the other top-100 golf courses in the US .