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United Kingdom
About Royal County Down Golf Course
Royal County Down Golf course is a very special experience for anyone with the good fortune to be enjoying a round.
This Royal not only lives up to its regal designation, it exceeds it. Outstandingly handsome, it’s ranked among the top ten in the world and it has been chosen as Ireland’s best for each of the past dozen years.
Royal County Down was originally laid out in 1889 by ‘Old’ Tom Morris from St. Andrews. The course enjoys a magnificent stage-like setting as it stretches out along the shores of Dundrum Bay. It is also one of the most challenging golf courses in the world of golf today.
Caddies
Trolleys
Hire clubs
Clubhouse - restaurant and bar
How it plays
What you are actually facing
18holes
71par
7,206yards
39mof climb
3water hazards
The walk. Flat, and an easy walk — 39 metres of climb over the round.
The wind. The wind is usually south-westerly, averaging 15 km/h, gusting to 55. It is the club selection that catches people out, not the yardage.
The water. 3 hazards in play. Bring a few more balls than you think you need.
The design. Old Tom Morris (1890), revised by H. S. Colt (1925).
The holes that will cost you. The 18th, the 12th and the 1st. The 12th is the one you will be talking about afterwards.
Hole by hole — how we would play it
1
541 yards — flat
three-shot hole — position over power
Downwind — take less
2
441 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
3
474 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
4
225 yards — plays like 220, flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
5
438 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
6
396 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Downwind — take less
7
141 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
8
415 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
9
481 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
10
197 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Downwind — take less
11
440 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Downwind — take less
12
548 yards — plays like 541, downhill
three-shot hole — position over power
Downwind — take less
13
435 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Downwind — take less
14
211 yards — flat
one-shotter — club for the effective number, not the card
Downwind — take less
15
459 yards — flat
a full two-shotter — driver, then a mid/long iron
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
16
330 yards — plays like 324, downhill
position hole — less than driver to your number, leave a full wedge
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
17
431 yards — flat
driver and a short-iron — take the trouble on only if the line is clean
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
18
545 yards — flat
three-shot hole — position over power
Into the wind — club up, it plays longer
Terrain and prevailing-weather data, read hole by hole. It is our own assessment of how the course plays, not an official course or slope rating.
The course at a glance
DesignerOld Tom Morris (1890), revised by H. S. Colt (1925)
Holes18
Par71
Length7,206 yds
TypeLinks
DifficultyFlat · 39m of climb
Slope121
Opened1890
Prevailing windSouth-westerly
Signature holeHole 12 · Three-shot hole, position over power
WHERE TO STAY
Places to stay while you play Royal County Down Golf Course
Base yourself near the course — every venue here includes Royal County Down Golf Course in your golf holiday.
This course
Tap a hotel to open it, or zoom in on the satellite view to see how close each one sits to the first tee.
Venue details checked by the Golf Planet Holidays specialist team · Updated May 2026
In the area
Courses and stays near this venue — every one hand-picked by our team.
Golf holidays in United Kingdom — answers to the questions our golfers ask most.
Where should I play in the United Kingdom?
From challenging links to impressive parkland courses, the UK has it all. Tell us your dream golf holiday scenario.
It is easy to get around the United Kingdom?
Yes, getting around the UK for golf is very straightforward. Self-driving is the most popular choice — the motorway network connects major cities and virtually all golf courses have excellent road access. For Scotland, flights from London to Edinburgh or Glasgow take around 90 minutes, or take the scenic East Coast Main Line overnight. In England, most golf regions — Surrey heathland, Kent links, Yorkshire moorland — are within 2-3 hours of London. We include all transfers in our UK packages and can advise on the best travel approach for your group.
Is the United Kingdom good for groups?
Yes. There are plenty of great options if you are going away with your golfing friends.
What about if I am looking for somewhere special in the United Kingdom?
We offer superb hotels all around the United Kingdom, ideal if you wish to combine high levels of comfort with great golf courses.
Are flights included?
Our golf holidays are arranged ground-only — hotel, golf and transfers. You can add flights through us, and those flights are ATOL protected as part of your booking.
How do golf holidays with Golf Planet Holidays work?
Every trip is tailor-made. Tell us your group, dates and the destinations you fancy, and we build a personal itinerary — hotel, golf and transfers — around them. There are no fixed packages to squeeze into; we shape the whole break to suit how your group likes to play.
