Royal County Down Golf Club ReviewNewcastle, Northern Ireland
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Royal County Down Golf Course Summary: Located in the idyllic setting between the mountains of Mourne and the Irish Sea, Royal County Down is widely regarded as one of the greatest links golf courses on the planet, and rightfully so. The first 13 golf holes are practically perfect individually and in concert, with the rest of the golf course falling away only slightly & only the 17th feeling truly out of place. The golfer must avoid the tall grasses and bunkers at all costs, playing intelligently towards the safe parts of greens and being aware of hidden danger anywhere. There are plenty of bailout areas and the greens, once hit, are easy to putt, although fast. So, scoring well is still an option, if the player respects the golf course and executes smart shots. The best of the many great golf holes are reviewed below:
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Royal County Down Hole 2: With a blind tee shot and a second shot highlighted by a massive bunker that appears to be next to the green, but is actually 40 yards short, trusting yardage and line are rewarded on this quirky but forgiving par four. If the player and can master his fears of the unknown, par is easy.
Royal County Down Hole 3: This famous par four is visually stunning with the ocean in sight from the tee and massive dunes behind the green. Standing on the putting surface leaves no doubt that the golfer is on links-land. It is also technically difficult as both a well struck drive and approach are mandatory for any chance at par.
Royal County Down Hole 4: From the elevated tee, the view to the green is frightening for the shot, but exhilarating for the experience. With most of the course in view, the mountains of Mourne, the sea and the town of Newcastle in the background, the player must negotiate the forest of gorse between the tee and the green, taking care not to go right or long as well.
Royal County Down Hole 7: One of the true great short par threes in the world seems so easy on paper, but requires true precision. The large bunker in front of the green shows the obvious trouble, but the green falls away from the player and the left third drops sharply off to the left and drains into the course’s deepest collection bunker that will render par all but impossible. A hump right of the green and another steep slope behind the green will reject all shots, so distance and accuracy must be perfect.
Royal County Down Hole 8: Only on the near perfect front nine of Royal County Down could a golf hole like this get lost in the shuffle, but the eighth is seldom discussed. It is still a long and challenging par fourth with nice views from the tee box and a very unique and difficult green complex.
Royal County Down Hole 9: Known as one of the top rated par fours in all the world, this hole features a blind tee shot over the top of the dune into apparent oblivion. However, the line is marked by the top of the Slieve Donard hotel and the fairway is very generous, making it more than fair, even if scary from tee. From the top of the dune, the view to the fairway below is spectacular. The approach to the green is flat and the green is between dunes right and bunkers left.
Royal County Down Hole 10: The par three opener to the back nine seems benign but the green is cunningly sloped and tricky to putt. Dropping a tee shot into one of the pot bunkers is ill-advised.
Royal County Down Hole 11: Maybe the most famous blind tee shot in golf, the eleventh is the best of three similar holes on the course and is punishing, not on the drive, which is fairly wide open, but to the green located way up the hill with trouble on all sides in the form of bunkers, hillsides and gorse.
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Royal County Down Hole 13: Strategically one of the greatest approach shots ever conceived greets the golfer if the drive can find the fairway snaking between the large dunes. From the fairway, the green appears hidden behind an endless line of trouble with the only safety on the green or left. In reality, the junk stops 50 yards short of the green and the best shot plays right of the green which will run a shot onto the green, while a collection bunker receives any shots hit left of center of the green. (not pictured)
More Northern Ireland Golf Reviews.
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