30/11/2025
Some craic on the Links today! As Royal County Down Golf Club celebrates the 1899 links layout, members of all three golf clubs on the RCD campus played a nine-hole layout akin to the 1899 course.
1899 COURSE HISTORY
In 1895 the 1st and 18th holes of the original course were given up to build the the clubhouse and the Slieve Donard Hotel. The course started on the current 10th and finished on the members' putting green. Over the next six years nine amateur and professional championships were played before George Coombe's major changes were introduced in 1901.
The map of the course (pictured) was specially prepared for the British Ladies' Amateur Championship in 1899 and played approximately 1,000 yards shorter than the men's course. The nine holes on the card play over the 2nd to 7th, 16th and 18th holes of the 1899 layout.
(Courtesy RCD)
Members of Mourne Golf Club would like to thank Royal County Down Golf Club for courtesy of the 1899 course on such a glorious Sunday where conditions were perfect. Thanks also to Eamonn, Noel and the team for setting up the 1899 course.
Got any pics from the 1899 celebration, send them on here, we'd love to see them!
