Staying near Royal North Devon Golf Club. can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. Royal North Devon Golf Club Saturday 20th February 2021. After many years of wanting to see Royal North Devon (Westward Ho! 7 is now a do-or-die par 5 over the reeds, the short 8th still plays towards the sea but is presumably in a safer location, then 9’s tees are a bit further inland. Men's Order of Merits. Bus • 1h 49m. Stunningly portrayed in this 3D art print by Joe McDonnell is the oldest golf course in England. That being said, the stretch where dunes do come into play from 4 through 8 is as good as I’ve played anywhere. 2021-02-20 Saturday. The 6thmay well be my favorite hole on the course. Royal North Devon Golf Club, alternatively known as Westward Ho! This routing would build in excitement leading to the holes along the sea, which is typically the holes that golfers favor, as well as build towards holes more in dunes with the more undulating and interesting fairways. Therein lies its charm. There are some concerns, however with the Atlantic Sea buffeting the coast that holes 7 & 8 in particular will be eventually eroded. An open-air museum in the Southwest of England! All of us were disappointed by the ninth hole despite the green. The greens on the first two holes are primarily devoid of bunkers and I did not feel they were strong enough to serve as a proper defense or level of interest. Although RND appears to be flat there are many undulations and run-offs to … A man has been charged with drink driving after Car crashes into Royal North Devon bunker. The next section of the course enters fine rolling dunes land perfect for golf, and holes 3-9 are high quality links holes. 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. This is a great, natural golf course that is largely … Often referred to as Westward Ho!, the Royal North Devon Golf Club is England's oldest links course. It was on flat land and next to a popular beach, 2. See other reviews from Joe Sheldrake. 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. The thirteenth hole is a 442-yard par five named "Lundy." Beach and 1 km from Westward Ho!, Morans Bed and Breakfast @ Lower Lodge features garden views and free WiFi. Playing at Royal North Devon is the antithesis of sitting in a golf cart for a five hour round waiting for the group ahead of you to line up their fourth putt. or. A true links that plays out through some very flat land I the beginning which seems more tidal marsh rather than links land. I grew up at Saunton over the estuary and therefore have not played RND enough but I am making up for that now. It’s just less obvious than at some courses I’ve played. It has some very good contours on many greens and is very playable. It is a unique hole in several regards. 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. Weather. Holes 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are just a field. In 1910, the name of the club was changed to The Royal North Devon Golf Club. Royal North Devon Golf Club in Devon. At £35 there cannot be better value in the UK? 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. Respond to above review  The old 8th is still in play as they build the new one; its difficult to see how that will look and play at the moment, but it will give great views over the estuary. 2 people found this review helpful The Royal North Devon Golf Club (Westward Ho!) … MAIN DETAILS: Entry Fee: £ … Holes 12 & 13 head out of the rushes, but the terrain is still basically flat- and again they are decent holes. Second, it is really a sheep pasture masquerading as a fairway, and third, the green is diabolical. Was this review helpful? Some people complain about the rough and ready nature through the green but I love the naturalness, the sheep and the horses adding elements to the experience you don’t get at most courses. Onsite there is an 18-hole links course that is made all the more difficult by the consistently strong sea breeze. 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. Both the seventh and eighth holes have had to be moved. can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. It was the rare course that despite being done by Old Tom Morris was substantially changed by Herbert Fowler. Whilst the course, in its current layout since 1908, has the feeling of being untouched. has been in continuous use since 1864. I wondered where the course was at times because of the lack of definition. Respond to above review  Royal North Devon Golf Club Today's Golf. Luckily, I was able to find another and with the Golf Gods on my side managed to make it for an afternoon tee time still. is not to make a mere visit of pleasure as to an ordinary course;” wrote Darwin in his book, The Golf Courses of the British Isles. Unlike Perranporth which suffers from a lack of bunkers, Westward Ho! For a modest hitter like me it’s usually a 50/50 call. There are no plans by Natural England to build coast defences here and point out that the golf club can build two new greens elsewhere and relinquish two existing greens.[5]. is the oldest golf course in England, and one of the iconic early links that defined golf in the U.K. The 4th hole with it's famous bunkers is one of the iconic golf holes of the world, but the entire round will be an experience you will cherish. None of us in our group thought any of the holes were excellent, but we thought they were good. 7 and 8 then have you playing out to the beachside where sand and fairways merge, 7 playing as a par four over the reeds and 8 a par three playing to the furthest point away from the clubhouse to a green framed by a sea wall. Featured Course Tours. How do you make a very short par five a difficult hole? Hole 16 is a great short hole with another green that is difficult to hold, this one well bunkered. View the Competition results. Royal North Devon Golf Club, alternatively known as Westward Ho! So we played the new par 5 7th, which will mature into a fine hole, with a tempting risk / reward carry over reeds to the green. There are, however, plenty of reeds and rushes waiting to catch the wayward shot. I learned four things from these articles: 1. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest golf course in the country and is regarded as the St Andrews of the South. This place is different and not everyone will love it but I think it needs to be cherished. for its naturalness. It's worth playing, but don't expect the back nine to match the front. For a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the common land, the course is a bit rough around the edges. I think the “new” second would still play the same as the seventeenth while the current starting hole would also essentially be the same except the fairway burn would be left. This is golf at its simplest and purest. Existing users can login here. Haha. Check availability. Check out the golfing memorabilia in the museum area and, above all, enjoy the spirit that is Royal North Devon. The wide fairways at RND may cause trepidation if you have a fear of wide open spaces, but there is usually a correct place to put your tee ball if you want to score well. View upcoming opens. Once back into the flatter sections of the course it twists and turns its way in various direction before heading home. View the Handicap List . Founded in 1864, Royal North Devon (RND) is the oldest course in England. Peter Wood is the founder of The Travelling Golfer – click the link to read his full review. A stout par 4 with a downhill tee shot and uphill approach, which runs along the beach. Here at Royal North Devon, the sheep and horses have life membership. Founded in 1864, Royal North Devon is the oldest golf club in England still playing over its original site. Playing golf at Royal Nth Devon is like stepping back in time- the clubhouse is full of history, but the course is the real treasure. [9] The Club provides facilities for one of the largest Junior Sections in the country. does have them and when you find them they can be tricky. Epithets fail me, and I can only declare that the tea is worthy of the golf.” Not only is tea good but also the panoramic view from the clubhouse is magnificent. Featured … £100. This nostalgic and monumental links course fits firmly into the “must-play” category. In the meantime, I can’t urge you enough if there is still time to get to Westward Ho! 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. Golfers share the environment with sheep, ponies and walkers. By rounds 4-5 things came sharply into focus. Yet I felt some of the bunkers nearer the green were set too far away. Bideford, Devon EX39 1HD. It was the oldest continuous golf course in England 3. There are 34 hotels and other … and Northam, the tract is common … For those who have read my reviews, you will know that I typically comment on the routing, especially for a course that sits so near the sea, yet has its beginning holes on the coast from the second green to the eighth hole. 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. Login. In 1864, Westward Ho! However, at RND you would risk the class of the course - holes 4 through 7 - if you were to reverse the routing. 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. Respond to above review  This is a course where you play the ball where it lies, commune with nature and go back to the game's roots. History seeps from its pores and the club quite rightly wallows in its long and glorious past. Car crashes into Royal North Devon bunker. It is a course in four parts, the first two holes wide open, the next six holes along the sea, some holes defined by the bushes and rushes, and then wide open again. 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. Respond to above review  Respond to above review  … In terms of the rest of the course, the par 3s are superb, facing different directions and are well protected. Courses near Royal North Devon. Royal North Devon Golf Club is the oldest English course still in existence, as Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho! Register Now. A heavy sea mist kept creeping in and fading away throughout my round and it added to the mystery of this place. Bideford is home to 159 hotels and other accommodation options, so you can find something that's perfect for your stay. A friend joined me to play it for the 1st time and loved the course. The course was designed by the Scottish golfer, Old Tom Morris. It’s a shame as I loved the holes around the turn as they were, but time and tide literally wait for no man! ), I finally played Royal North Devon in the summer of 2018. The famous sons of RND include Charles Gibson, the clubmaker, Horace Hutchinson, the … The oldest course in the world outside Scotland is a delight, a real museum piece (as is the clubhouse). Men's Handicaps. 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. Was this review helpful? I favour older courses over newer ones, and they don’t get much older than RND, as its known. celebrated its 150 year anniversary in 2014 and its timeless grandeur grows the more starched and pressed and sterile the modern game becomes. Some may like the look of golf this way…..put down a tee and hit with the land being the defense…..while others might ask for a bit more of a challenge. They are not without difficulty given the burns that cross or parallel the fairway. and was the first English club to be formed (in 1864) by the English themselves rather than by ex-Scots. 2021-04-23 Friday. 7 people found this review helpful View key info about Course Database including Course description, Tee yardages, par and handicaps, scorecard, contact info, Course Tours, directions and more. MAIN DETAILS: Entry Fee: £ … Yet we evaluate a course as it is and plays. I do rate this as a course one should go out of their way to play if they go to the area a lot, they live in the UK or Ireland, or can easily come through the English tunnel. Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho! 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. Directions. 10 is a great hole with a terrifying drive over the reeds to a blind fairway that bends to the left (even more scary when the sea mist is in full force). Respond to above review  before these changes are done if it’s not already too late. 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. 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 … I’ve only played RND once recently but the new layout on 7, 8 and 9 seems to work well. The golf course is as tough as any of the UK’s better-known links. If you let an enthusiastic Springer Spaniel off the leash at the 1st tee, perhaps with a GPS tracker attached, it will return an hour later having followed Fowler’s route back to the clubhouse. 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. 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. It is really interesting. 2 people found this review helpful See other reviews from T P Dean.