Royal County Down Golf Club
Newcastle
Royal County Down Golf Club is one of the true bucket-list courses for a Northern Ireland golf holiday. Set in Newcastle, County Down, beside Dundrum Bay and beneath the Mourne Mountains, it offers the sort of dramatic links setting that makes golfers reach for the camera before they even reach the first tee. The club has two 18-hole links courses: the world-famous Championship Links and the shorter Annesley Links.
The Championship Links is the main event. Founded in 1889 and later shaped by some of golf’s great course minds, it is a classic test of links golf: narrow fairways, natural bunkering, blind shots, firm turf, heather, gorse and wind that can change the whole round. Its setting within the Murlough Nature Reserve adds to the feeling that the course belongs naturally to the land rather than being forced into it.
For UK golfers, Royal County Down works perfectly as the headline round in a Northern Ireland itinerary. Belfast is within reach, while nearby courses such as Ardglass, Royal Belfast, Portstewart and Royal Portrush help create a seriously strong golf trip.
The 9th hole is one of the course’s most famous moments, played from high ground down to a fairway around 60 feet below, before an approach to a raised green. Visitor play is available on selected days, so advance planning is essential.
Belfast City Airport
44km
England’s best golf tour operator 2026 winner
Time Zone:
GMT+0
Currency:
£ (British Pound)
Temperature:
1°C - 21°C
Cost of a Beer:
£5.50
Cost of a 3-Course Meal:
£40
Hashtag Guide
About The Area
Tynemouth is a brilliant coastal base for a North East golf break, especially for golfers who want sea air, good food, beach walks and easy Newcastle access. The local course is Tynemouth Golf Club in North Shields, a historic 18-hole course that welcomes visitors, with green-fee information and booking details available through the club.
The bigger appeal is how much golfers can do away from the course. Tynemouth Priory and Castle sits dramatically on the headland and tells the story of an Anglo-Saxon settlement, monastery, royal castle, artillery fort and coastal defence site. It includes the “Life in the Stronghold” exhibition, 13th-century chapel and restored gun battery.
Golfers can also build in Longsands beach, Cullercoats, fish and chips, surf lessons, Newcastle nightlife, riverside walks and the Quayside. This makes Tynemouth a strong choice for groups who want a coastal golf weekend without feeling isolated.
For Hashtag Golf Travel customers, Tynemouth works best as a seaside golf-and-city break, a relaxed society trip, or a North East short break combining golf, beaches, history and Newcastle.
