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| Royal County Down Golf Club |
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36 Golf Links Road
Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland BT33 0AN
44(0)2843723314
Driving Directions
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Public,
18 holes,
$$$$$
Northern Ireland's most socially conscious golf club, and one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, is awash in doctors, lawyers, judges and industrialists, mainly from Belfast. There's no waiting list, not that it matters: few members leave before death and membership is by invitation only. What's valued is camaraderie, the better to contend in the Hat game, where names are drawn to see who plays with whom. A bit of patience is in order, too, to handle one of the most beautiful, brutal links in the world. It's not impossible for a visitor to play as a guest, but bring a blazer and be prepared to change clothes and shoes in the car park. As David Feherty once wryly said, if you show up without dandruff on your collar then the club will provide it for you.
After a shortcut led Tom Coyne through a British Army base in his travels for A Course Called Ireland, he had this to say about Royal County Down:
"And what of Royal County Down, a tee time for which we had battled the British Army? I wouldn't say it was worth a head shot, but I'd probably take a flesh wound for the chance to play there again. I was secretly hoping that I wouldn't like County Down, that I would be able to reveal to you that it was over-hyped, not worth the price, that its famously snooty attitude was well-earned, that you should stick to the hidden gems of Carne, Ardglass and the like. And all I can really tell you is that, yeah, it is that good. Tough as hell, but frankly, it might be as good as golf gets. I've played Pine Valley, and County Down has it by a length.
I can't say I haven't had more actual fun playing other courses, and if I wasn't at least a solid bogey golfer, I don't know if County Down would be enjoyable enough to justify the trip. But the place gives you that feeling that you are doing something entirely special. Every blade of grass perfectly manicured, but a layout that feels perfectly unmanipulated in a way that only such ancient courses can. I'd stick to the A2 coast road to get there, but I'd say that you haven't really played Ireland until you've made your way up to Down." -- from Dodging Bullets
Course features:
    
Year Built: 1889
Designer: Old Tom Morris
Greens Grass Type: Not Available
Fairways Grass Type: Not Available
Water Hazards: Not Available
Sand Bunkers: Not Available
Yardage Markers: Not Available |
Accepts tee times: N/A
Earliest call for tee time: N/A
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Driving Range: N/A
Training Facilities: None
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Dress Code: N/A
Spikes: N/A
Guests: N/A
Access: N/A
Discounts: N/A
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Rental Clubs: N/A
Carts: N/A, N/A access
Cart fees: N/A per cart (18 holes), N/A per cart (9 holes)
Pullcarts: N/A
Caddies: Available
Walking: Allowed
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Restaurant: None
Bar: None |
Hours: Open N/A, Close N/A
Available products: None |
County:
Homes on Course: N/A
Golf Community: N/A
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Note:
While every effort has been made to ensure
accuracy, we advise you to check all information
with the golf course before booking your tee time
or driving to the course.
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