Golf Course Scouting Report: Royal County Down (Championship)

The 2024 Amgen Irish Open is returning to one of the world's legendary golf courses: The Championship Course at Royal County Down.

Tucked between the Mountains of Mourne and the Bay of Dundrum in the quaint town of Newcastle, Northern Ireland, this revered setting somehow invokes both awe-inspiring grandiosity and cozy homeliness. This, combined with the ingenious strategic design, prodigious difficulty, and a uniqueness that engenders instant recognizability, makes County Down the most spectacular links course in the world.

Overall: 9.90 - Royal County Down presents golfers with beauty and shot-making challenges that can't be found anywhere else in golf.

Memorable Holes: 11.0

Call me cheesy, but I had to give extra credit in the first two categories due to the overflowing greatness that is so far beyond almost all other venues in the world. The glorious backdrop of the Irish Sea and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland's highest peak) are ever-present throughout this magical linksland. Beginning with a stunning par five that weaves through dunes near the coastline, the opening nine at County Down is considered by many to be the best in golf. This nine is topped off by one of the most legendary par fours in the world: the 483-yard ninth features a blind tee shot played over an enormous dune before dropping 60 feet to the fairway. Upon reaching the top of this dune, the golfer is treated to an awe-inspiring snapshot of the Slieve Donard Hotel and the towering Mountains of Mourne beyond the green. These truly are the most beautiful golf links in existence.

Interest: 11.0

As I describe on my podcast, Linksworms, The variety and uniqueness of shot-making at County Down is second to none. Some people don't like blind shots, but the way they come into play throughout the round at Newcastle is so artful that they only add to the mystique of this mighty track. Take the par-four 11th as an example: On the tee at this 442-yard hole, golfers can see nothing but a mountainous dune staring them in the face and must hit up and over that dune to reach the fairway. Additionally, the third and 13th holes share similar traits in that golfers' views of the greens are determined by the placement of their tee shots; on both holes, tee shots that favor the left side of the fairway yield at least a partial view of the green, whereas shots down the right side result in completely obstructed sightlines. The third hole's location adjacent to the Bay of Dundrum elevates its status as one of the best par fours in Britain.

Par Threes: 9.5

The par threes at County Down don't disappoint. The 229-yard fourth is one of the most famous and difficult par threes in the world; sitting 20 feet below the level of the tee, this narrow green is surrounded by bunkers, heather, gorse, and runoff areas. The spectacular views of the Irish Sea and Slieve Donard add to the magic. The 144-yard seventh features a small green guarded by bunkers. The green plays even smaller than its actual square footage as any ball landing on the left side is in danger of rolling down a steep slope and into a yawning bunker. The 196-yard 10th is also well-bunkered with a green that sits in a wonderful natural amphitheater. Lastly, the 212-yard 14th boasts one of the most difficult greens on the course, sloping severely from back right to front left.

Difficulty: 9.0

Don't be fooled by the dazzling beauty and quirky charm of Royal County Down - these links are nasty. The three par fives and the short par-four 16th account for the birdie holes - the remaining 14 are a war of attrition. The difficult eighth features an enormous cliff-like drop off just left of the green that is not in view on the approach. The 468-yard 15th is considered by many to be among the most difficult par fours in the world. The demanding tee shot requires the golfer to reach the top of a plateau to have a view of the green on the approach. Said green is quite narrow and is perched on a shelf with fall-offs right and left. This is the last grueling battle the golfer must face before relief comes at the 16th and par-five 18th.

Finish: 9.0

The three finishing holes at County Down are a classy conclusion to a breathtaking round. The 337-yard 16th can be drivable for long hitters, and it is strategically designed with a front-to-back-sloping green, so players have a hard time stopping short approach shots. The 433-yard 17th is a solid par four with an elevated green that sits in a bowl; a bizarre natural pond in the middle of the fairway, a point of extreme contention among County Down's critics, has recently been filled in to make the hole more fair. Lastly, the tough 548-yard par-five 18th is a dogleg left peppered with bunkers on both sides. The terrifying raised green pitches severely from back to front and is framed by the Slieve Donard Hotel and the mighty Mountains of Mourne - a perfect finish to one of the world's greatest rounds of golf.

For the criteria used to determine these ratings, please click here.

Royal Portrush-Supremacists contend that the back nine at County Down is underwhelming and that Portrush's Dunluce Course boasts more consistent greatness from start to finish. Royal Portrush is a brilliant layout and a world-class championship venue; however, the previously mentioned argument is utter nonsense.

The inward nine at County Down is indisputably elite and only seems lackluster to some due to unfair comparisons with the front nine; it would be akin to claiming Augusta National's opening nine is uninspired because it is not as good as Amen Corner. If County Down's back nine were inserted into any other links course, including Royal Portrush, it would be heralded as one of the best nines anywhere.

It should not be considered a disparagement of Royal Portrush to say that County Down is superior, much like it should not be considered a disparagement of Pebble Beach to say that Cypress Point is superior; Portrush is legendary in the world of golf. But let's stop grasping at straws to pull County Down from its rightful place as the single greatest links course in the world.