 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Royal County Down Golf Club GolfAbroadIQ - Special Offers - Click here
Royal County Down is one of the oldest Golf Clubs in Ireland with traditions dating back for more than one hundred years.
Situated in Newcastle, where in the immortal words of Percy French, "The Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea", Royal County Down is not only a fine test of golf but has accompanying scenery that is spellbinding.
Alongside the Championship Links, Royal County Down has a second course, The Annesley Links.
Laid out beneath the same massive, almost menacing backdrop, the Annesley Links is nowhere near as intimidating or as formidable a challenge as the Championship Links, but then it was never intended to be. It is a course for everyone.
The course is laid out in two 9-hole loops, each staring and finishing at the clubhouse, advantages of which were recorded in an early golfing journal “as being apparent to golfers without enumeration”. Very few of the holes can really be seen from any other, and each in its own way is supremely testing. The course is scrupulously fair, when played thoughtfully but will tempt the impulsive. Either way it stimulates and challenges.
Royal County Down has been the scene of many wonderful championships, particularly in the very early days when the greats of the day such as Vardon, Taylor, Ball and Kirkcaldy came to play “for a purse of sovereigns”. Over the years it became less used as a professional venue but has always remained a supreme challenge that attracts the top professionals, such as Tiger Woods and Tom Watson, as individuals. The course continues to present a major challenge to the top amateurs, particularly in match play which is, after all, the heart and soul of golf. The Irish Open Amateur Championship was held at Newcastle 15 times until it was abandoned in 1959, the Irish Close 10 times, the Amateur Championship and Home Internationals 5 times between them. Not unsurprisingly, it has also been the scene of many great Ladies Championships, the Irish and British Open Amateurs a total of 18 times and the Curtis Cup in 1968. To crown these championships the Walker Cup matches were held in 2007.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
