GolfEmpireEd review of Royal County Down Golf Club

With regards to the championship course it certainly lives up to its billing as arguably the best golf course on British & Irish soil and one that vies for the title of being the greatest in the world. I don’t quite put it into that lofty bracket but it is unquestionably superb and rightly celebrated. The canvas at County Down is perfect for golf and it paints the most captivating of pictures. Visually it packs a big punch and the terrain is just wonderful for the best of golf. Dune-lined valleys, up-and-overs, soaring sandhills, undulating fairways, firm turf, dell greens, flags atop of plateaus, secret gorse lined walks from green-to-tee and a backdrop as stunning as they come. Set below the towering Mountains of Mourne, the links stretches along the curved shore of Dundrum Bay, zigzagging back and forth to provide a different vista and challenge from every hole. The setting and views are inspiring. In short, the Annesley course is short! Measuring just 4,594 yards at its maximum this par quirky 67,18-hole layout places a premium on accuracy over brawn. There are a clutch of short par-fours in the range of 250 to 330 yards which offer plenty of cunning and require some significant shot-making as well as a healthy dose of luck. They are mostly played to narrow, undulating fairways before pitches to wonderful green-sites. The 4th,5th,6th & 8th are all brilliantly clever, mischievous two-shotters which require your full attention.

11