Royal County Down Golf Club *****

Rating: 9.2

The Royal County Down is a roller coaster, not a golf course. It’s breathtaking to tee off along the sea on hole 1, testing the greens, hitting fairways and staying out of the man high rough.

Take a caddy with you. I enjoyed the course just because these brilliant guys follow your ball wherever it flies (the wind will get any errant shot).

Hole 1-13 are unforgettable. Especially hole 4 is a great par 3 (don’t even think about back tees here), hole 9 is a world famous design, hole 11 is quirky but you will remember how to clear a high wall of gorse with a blind tee shot… Go there and play this course. You will remember it for a lifetime. Royal County Down is one of the greatest courses on the globe if you like links golf.

The green fees vary. An indication of the championship links 200-350 GBP, depending on the season and 70 GBP for the Annesley links.

NEWCASTLE CO DOWN, NORTHERN IRELAND, UNITED KINGDOM