Royal North Devon Golf Club, alternatively known as Westward Ho! The first ladies’ golf club was founded at St Andrews, one year earlier. MAIN DETAILS: Entry Fee: £ … View the Handicap List . The flatter stretches of the course that come after this, whilst not at the level of the front nine are still well designed and are carved through the sea rushes with strategy still in play, and all the while being enhanced with interesting green complexes that come with drop-offs and in places, some excellently wicked slopes. Taylor, learned his golf at the Royal North Devon Golf Club[6] and was invested Honorary President of the Club in 1957. 2021-04-23 Friday. The greenskeeper here clearly doesn't have Augusta envy like many courses in the U.S. Of the remaining six holes, the sixteen is a nice mid length par 3 with a nicely contoured and well defended green. It was on flat land and next to a popular beach, 2. As an example, the current twelfth starts with rushes to either side of the fairway, it the rushes cease about a third down the right. The oldest course in the world outside Scotland is a delight, a real museum piece (as is the clubhouse). Royal North Devon also features a lot of blind tee shots. Cards on the table, I love Westward Ho! Royal North Devon Golf Club, Westward Ho!, South West, England, EX39 1HD. The first two holes represent a challenge as burns zig zag across the fairways on both holes. View upcoming Fixtures. I truly wonder why this course is not laid out exactly the opposite (eighteenth green as the number one tee, eighteenth tee as the first green, etc.). I will always remember eleven for the amazing par I made; too hard to explain the stance I had to take in the front bunker but using my putter threading it by the next bunker to a back pin with the ball moving various directions as it made its way towards the cup. AWAITING INFO. Was this review helpful? The beauty of golf is that every course is different – embrace uniqueness I say! 11 and 12 were good holes and 15 and 16 were the pick of the later holes for me. It is a great walk exploring the burrows. Some of my mates showed their disappointment for some of the last holes, but for me, the course must be evaluated as a whole for what it represents and, in that sense, Royal North Devon is an obligation for any authentic golf lover. per night. The Royal North Devon Golf Club, near Bideford, is the oldest in England and took the decision at a recent committee meeting to allow only wooden tees. can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. It’s minimalist, it’s simple and it’s utterly comfortable in its own skin. Phone: 01237 473817 Email: info@royalnorthdevongolfclub.co.uk 7 people found this review helpful (As an aside, it was only by researching the history of the course and its battle with environmentalists that I discovered it was Herbert Fowler who changed Pebble Beach’s eighteenth hole from a par four to a par five). In 1910, the name of the club was changed to The Royal North Devon Golf Club. By rounds 4-5 things came sharply into focus. Championships hosted: Founded in 1864, it is the oldest golf course in the country and is regarded as the St Andrews of the South. You won’t find any fancy frills and over exuberant luxury here but rather an extremely downplayed and simple facility, most certainly adequate and full of charm. The round closes at 17 and 18, firstly with a five shot hole oddly playing over the live road - a little frustrating where we had to wait for several minutes to play our approach shots for the traffic to pass, whilst 18 makes a mockery of its stroke index 18 at 414-yards into the wind with a large ditch in front of the green. In this run of holes the highlight are the greens complexes with mainly good placement of greenside bunkers, and good contouring of differing tilts and shapes. 5 is a glorious raised par three and the uneven fairway on 6 is unparalleled. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest golf course in the country and is regarded as the St Andrews of the South. Simply put, the majority of these holes either lack the fun of the undulating ground from holes three-seven, or the definition found in holes ten-twelve. Founded in 1864, Royal North Devon is the oldest golf club in England still playing over its original site. Bideford is home to 159 hotels and other accommodation options, so you can find something that's perfect for your stay. I was so interested in the historical golf pieces that I had to run to catch my three playing partners on the first tee. Register Now. The Club are in the middle of creating 2 new holes to mitigate the effects of coastal erosion. Haha. Royal North Devon Golf Club is truly a living museum of golf, from the sheep roaming the fairways, one of the most historic and famous sleepered bunkers in … That feeling of having just driven across the time bridge back into the late 1800’s. These tall grasses need to be avoided at all costs but there is plenty of width to work with. In fact, even holes 1, 2, 17 and 18 did not displease me, since the strong wind made them a tough test (in fact, the wind brought into play some features like the Cape Bunker, which was not so easy to overcome on the day). Playing with a large group, Royal North Devon split opinion exactly as you’d expect. Stepping out of the car at the parking lot it already hits you. These lowland holes are characterized by some kind of marsh grass that is very tall and acts to create a feeling of blindness on quite a few holes and framing on several others. Stunningly portrayed in this 3D art print by Joe McDonnell Over-looked by the villages of Westward Ho! There are relative peaks and troughs along the way, obviously the hillier, sandier parts of the course are the highlights but the land has been used to its best potential and the walk feels like an adventure. Royal North Devon Golf Club Bideford, England, United Kingdom Westward Ho! A friend joined me to play it for the 1st time and loved the course. I favour older courses over newer ones, and they don’t get much older than RND, as its known. Three leading British golfers of the late 19th and early 20th were known as the Great Triumvirate. While this golf course was built on more than 650 acres of Common land, known as the Northam Burrows, the actual course covers just 170 acres. Men's OOMs. I should say that 11 and 16 are good holes. It is a unique hole in several regards. View key info about Course Database including Course description, Tee yardages, par and handicaps, scorecard, contact info, Course Tours, directions and more. I’ll admit to playing golf for far too long without a visit to the Southwest of England which could well be one of the most underrated and overlooked golf havens in the world. Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho! Royal North Devon Golf Club, Westward Ho: Hours, Address, Royal North Devon Golf Club Reviews: 4.5/5 can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2014 and its timeless grandeur grows the more starched and pressed and sterile the modern game becomes. See other reviews from T P Dean. Immediately, within two holes, despite the flat land, I found myself thinking and plotting as to how I need to strategise my way through the holes if I’m going to make a score. It was the oldest continuous golf course in England 3. Sixteen has a more interesting view from the tee over the taller rushes. I was intrigued by this course for nearly twenty years after I read articles on it during the time I lived in England from 1993-1998. It is also the oldest links course outside Scotland and home to the second oldest ladies’ golf club in the world, founded in 1868. 2 people found this review helpful Outside of this most amazing stretch of golf, 9 represents one of the more interesting flatter holes where again you’re required to plot your way down the fairway before the bumpy lumps return on your route through 10 and 11. Royal North Devon Golf Club, golf club in devon, finest links in devon, golf course in devon, societies in devon, lessons in devon. The golf course leases it’s area from the local authority and is subject to the rules of the park. From the back tees, the course will challenge even the best of golfers. Royal North Devon Golf Club, Devon - Book Golf Breaks & … It reminded me of Brora and not just because of the animals, but having a similar look with many of the fairways blending into the rough. When you look out of the clubhouse across the course, you might struggle to define the holes. overlooking Barnstaple Bay. The 1st a par five and the 2nd a par four, both play a similar distance more representative of par 4.5 holes. Respond to above review  A different style of course, Royal North Devon is rough-hewn and is not in the least bit polished. Was this review helpful? is one of those marmite experiences that either falls well short of expectations for a club with royal pedigree, or for others, provides a unique, traditional encounter like no other. As has been noted, the course gets going from the par 4 3rd where the land starts to get bumpy and interesting. Royal North Devon Golf Club in Devon. And yet this place feels magical. The first and second holes feel like one is taking a walk towards the beach. View the Competition results. We especially liked ten-twelve because there is more challenge and definition to the holes. For me, there are too many boring holes on dead flat ground where you can hit the ball 200 yards offline and find it, for it to be a great course. A herd of horses also drifted on to the course while we were playing. So, in front of manicured fairways, pristine buggy paths and overwatered greens, Westward Ho! Respond to above review  Hole 14 is a par 3 with a good green complex, and hole 15 invites a drive close to trouble in the inside of the dogleg to give a better shot in. At Royal North Devon, you'll hear the nearby surf, feel the breeze from the sea, and see the gulls fly … Holes 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are just a field. Login. Nothing much has changed since then, except the sheep have fattened. does have them and when you find them they can be tricky. See other reviews from Peter Handcock, The first 2-3 times I played this course I also thought the back 9 was a flat field. None of us in our group thought any of the holes were excellent, but we thought they were good. The course makes really interesting use of this flatter area before really heating up and heading into and making brilliant use of the coastal dunes and some of the most wonderful and unexpected land movements. In the meantime, I can’t urge you enough if there is still time to get to Westward Ho! Unlike Perranporth which suffers from a lack of bunkers, Westward Ho! Well, to be honest, I can understand it, since the course and its presentation may not be the taste of all kinds of golfers. In 1864, Westward Ho! Yet we evaluate a course as it is and plays. There are no trees or hedges, except if you count the brambles alongside some of the fairways. 3 people found this review helpful Was this review helpful? Course Description. Grazing sheep, sea views and fast and true fescue greens, combined with a historic clubhouse that offers a window to golf’s past is a given. Bideford, Devon EX39 1HD. If I were to be a member I would choose Saunton, however, in terms of a one off round, the value is to be had at RND, where green fees remain great value, especially when the kind pro cuts a deal due to a late-ish tee time and bad weather. Taylor, besides a host of other fine players, learned the game?” Originally, the course was laid out by Old Tom Morris and revised in 1908 by Herbert Fowler. Register as a Golf Empire member for free to view the full details, including entry information, for this event and 10,000+ other open golf competitions. “To go to Westward Ho! It is worth a visit in its own right but having made the pilgrimage it would be a crying shame not to take to the links itself, which often defies straightforward description. Hole 16 is a great short hole with another green that is difficult to hold, this one well bunkered. This nostalgic and monumental links course fits firmly into the “must-play” category. It's located in Bideford in north Devon. Therefore, although we must accept that golf can be presented in many different ways and forms and that any taste is respectable, I can only recognize my respect for a club that, despite the passage of time, has decided to maintain the spirit of the game, becoming a flagstick of tradition and sustainability. Respond to above review  Brilliant, something you will almost only find in the UK. Existing users can login here. There are, however, plenty of reeds and rushes waiting to catch the wayward shot. 4 people found this review helpful To start, the locker room is very cool, as is the snooker room. 0 people found this review helpful We were only able to play one round due to a mid-morning tee time. Add some sheep, horses, a busy road, stones for markers and in my case a dog stealing a ball, it’s maybe the quirkiest place I’ve played. For a modest hitter like me it’s usually a 50/50 call. Show more Show less. However, it is a real pity that Royal North Devon is not appreciated for what it is: a true monument of what the game of golf was at its dawns, and possibly a reference of what it should be in the future. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the common land, the course is a bit rough around the edges. It’s a shame as I loved the holes around the turn as they were, but time and tide literally wait for no man! What initially stuck in my mind as a positive of RND was the routing. … Royal North Devon Golf Club. can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. Enter the club house and the center point, the social point as is the case in many old school club setups is the bar which looks every bit the typical pub. I found some of the fairways to be less distinguishable than typically found on a golf course. [4] In January 2018 part of the seventh green was washed away during Storm Eleanor and there is disagreement between the golf club and Natural England on the management of the coast. Over the years that the course has been in play the locals have always protected the course by piling stones along this part of the coast as a rustic sea wall- and this method has successfully protected the course. opened for golf and it remains the oldest course in England still playing along its original fairways. There are 3 ways to get from Ilfracombe to Royal North Devon Golf Club by bus, taxi or car. Holes 12 & 13 head out of the rushes, but the terrain is still basically flat- and again they are decent holes. Car crashes into Royal North Devon bunker. The first few holes- 1 & 2, and the closing holes- 17 & 18 are routed through low marshland, effectively connecting the clubhouse, and access to the course to the wonderful linksland beyond. 2 people found this review helpful Royal North Devon Golf Club Today's Golf. Often referred to as Westward Ho!, the Royal North Devon Golf Club is England's oldest links course. Then we move into lower marshland with rushes a major feature. At £35 there cannot be better value in the UK? The club was the first to ban plastic tees over fears that they were being eaten by wildlife. Golf Course at Royal North Devon Golf Club Originally founded in 1864, Royal North Devon Golf Club is the oldest course in the country and has recently been included in the top 100 courses in the world by Golf World. 6 and 7 are great par 4s along the beach (the approach into 7 was great) and the 8th is a beautiful par 3. This is golf at its simplest and purest. Respond to above review  It's very old school which i like, and it has lots of really good holes. 2 people found this review helpful However, at RND you would risk the class of the course - holes 4 through 7 - if you were to reverse the routing. 3 gives a glimpse of what’s to come, whilst, 4, Cape, RND’s most famous hole with its enormous sleepered bunker shouldn’t come into play for most decent strikers of a ball as a generous fairway lays beyond it. And what a site it is. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. On finishing my round, I had to think “seriously, what’s not to like?” It may not have the dunes that many associate with and seek out when playing links golf, but this course is a haven and a museum to golf’s historic past. Respond to above review  This is a great, natural golf course that is largely … Instead of 2-8 being on the water, the “new” holes on the water would be holes 10-17 (hole ten tee would be current ninth green; seventeenth tee would be current second green).

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