Royal County Down – Annesley Course

Royal County Down’s Annesley Course has been improved and now makes a fitting side to the Championship Course. 

A sensationally good full day can be enjoyed at Royal County Down given the new, improved Annesley is now such an appealing links.

The Annesley – which weaves through the No.1 course – has been enhanced by three completely new holes.

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These take the layout as close to the sea as any of the club’s 36 holes and the views from all three are magnificent. It is a tremendous foil for the famous championship links.

They are routed around the huge sand hill that forms such a significant landmark behind the championship course’s 3rd green.

Although much shorter than the main course, it enjoys much the same character and ambience and is moving up from its No.86 slot in our Top 100 of Ireland, while securing a place in our GB&I Links list.

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Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert is the man responsible for much of the Annesley’s new-found favour.

He is a confirmed fan of the course – and given he works on most of the Open venues for the R&A, is a man used to focusing on world-class courses.

“In some ways this is a model for a shorter and more enjoyable form of the game for most people given its focus on accuracy rather than brute force and the experience which any golfer enjoys walking through such an amazing landscape,” Ebert told Golf World.

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“The Mountains of Mourne provide an ever-present backdrop, the sea can be viewed from so many points and the land form and wonderful mix of vegetation throughout the links lead to it being such a special place in the golfing world. There are a number of views from the Annesley Links which could be considered to be the equal of any to be found on the championship links. Although it is not one of the three new holes, the view beyond the 8th green is incredible, with the dunes forming an endless backdrop beyond the hole and the sea off to its right.

“The view from the 9th tee is perhaps the most impressive, looking from height across the championship links back to Newcastle with the spires of the Slieve Donard Hotel and the Mountains of Mourne beyond both.

“Next comes the elevated tee shot for the new 10th hole which plays alongside the coastline more closely than any other hole at Royal County Down. The views from the tee in both directions are unsurpassed on the championship links as the full stretch of beach is in sight. For both the 9th and the 10th tee shots the huge sandhill to the left of the holes adds to the scene.”

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