Royal County Down Golf Club

I recently played two rounds at RCD. Great course especially the first nine. However, the experience was marred by the Office staff particularly the Club Secretary who was arrogant, rude and incompetent.

We played 5 championship links golf courses last week including Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, Castlerock, The Island and The European. I would highly recommend them all except for Royal County Down.
The condition of the links is appalling. Hollowtined throughout the course with no growth, some newly turfed greens in different grass. I understand the weather has been poor, and spring has only barely arrived. However the course appears distressed. We were not warned in advance. You have no idea what green will greet your approach shot.
The course setting and set up is beautiful. But if you want to play the great links of Ireland go visit any of the subsequent courses we played and you will be inspired not disappointed.

Simply Stunning, I played this a number of times an thoroughly enjoyed. In windy conditions it is a real test (Bring plenty of balls). If you driver is off and wayward leave it at home.
Stunning views and will definitely be back.

Try and get out with a member if your bank balance is not an American one and for the knowledge of how and where to play your shot.

Great course, but not as great at Royal Portrush which is the best I've played in Ireland (Northern or Republic). The Club is typically old-fashioned, with old men in ties and antiquated rules and regulations. Our great had a run-in with an unreasonable course (field) marshall (Rommel?) who insisted they were behind and threatened to kick them off, despite them finishing in 4:35 and not holding anyone up. I'm all for pace of play, but it must be reasonably and not randomly enforced.

You want blind tee shots? Long holes? Thick rough? Gorse? Heather? Spectacular vistas? Go to Royal County Down. After playing here, no golf course will ever be the same to you. Even the hardest courses in your hometown will seem like pitch-and-putt after playing this monster. Is it tough? You bet! This 14 handicapper did not break 100 at RCD. If I played it again, I think I'd do considerably better, but who knows? Is it fun? Yes it is! I played holes I'll remember for a lifetime. It's pricey ($175), but worth it - your game will improve after playing here. Make sure you play it with good friends - you'll be talking about it forevermore.

We played 8 of the best golf courses in Ireland & Northern Ireland over 8 days and Royal County Down was the best of the best. I've been told by a number of friends that RCD is the best course they've ever played and it truly lived up to its amazing reputation. I'm not quite sure if it's my favorite in the world but it's definitely top 5 and my favorite on the Irish Isle. We had a great day. Our caddies were fun. The pace of play was good. And I played well, which always helps. I really can't wait to play it again someday!

On a recent trip in our motor home to newcastle co. Down my husband and I wished to play the small course at royal co. down which we have done many times )

when in the area and it’s not far to travel for a couple of days as we live in bangor Co Down. We were shocked to find that it now costs £50 to play this course I find this is ridiculous fees to play this course, we are not Americans these courses are becoming far too expensive for local GUI MEMBERS to play (for goodness sake you don’t even need to hit driver on the course) what a pity these courses are increasingly becoming less and less accessible to locals we will not be playing there again

One of the golf magazines rates Royal County Down as the best golf course in the world outside the US. It's a great course and a severe challenge buts it's 5th in my rankings of the 5 Irish courses we just played.

The first defect is how narrow the fairways are. There's only a ribbon out there to hit at and the rough is so thick you won't find a ball ten feet of the fairways. That qualifies as too punitive in my book and I'm a 7 handicap. Add in that many of the holes are very similar, long straight par fours with small flat greens and the "joy" factor is diminished.

To be fair we played on a very difficult weather day which made the course even harder. 2 club winds meant my approach shots on those par 4s were all wedges with the wind and all fairway woods against it.

9 is famous as one of the most daunting tee shots in the game. It is picturesque with the brick tower in town in the background but it can't hold a candle to 11 at Ballybunnion or 18 at Waterville for drama. And why is that little bog in the middle of the 17th fairway? I thought this was a links course.

I'd love to play RCD again in fair weather but at £230 that's not likely soon.

Played the course and was ready to be disappointed because of all the hype.
To my pleasant surprise this place exceeded what the reviews had said. An almost perfect and natural routing with just enough quirky shots .
The scenery is breathtaking and the caddies were knowledgeable and entertaining.
If you are a golfer this has got to be on your bucket list.

My opinion is that this was the best golf I've played either in Ireland or the U.S. We played Doonbeg, Lahinch, Tralee, Sligo, Enniscrone, and County Louth in addition to RCD. Hands down the best. We used caddies and my caddie (Eamon) was excellent. He talked me through every shot and pointed out the places to stay away from as well as the good misses. The course is tight but fair. I was fortunate to play the round without losing a ball but I can see where you could lose a few if you are out of position. The course was immaculate. The greens were fast and hard. Impossible to stop a ball on the green. You MUST land the ball short of the pins and let it run out to the hole. If you are in the area this is a must play.