Golf Courses Links
Rank 03
Royal County Down (Championship)
Golf Digest’s World No. 1 for a sixth straight cycle—gorse, Mournes, and a Championship links that still welcomes visitors on set weekdays.
Photograph by Eric Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Geograph, resized
Why it is here
Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest 2026–2027 again ranks Royal County Down Championship No. 1 worldwide (IrishCentral summary of the Digest list; Planet Golf Golf Digest Outside USA 2026 also opens with RCD). Golfweek’s Best 2026 Top 100 International Courses likewise ranks it No. 1 outside the U.S. (Fogolf mirror, 24 Mar 2026). Club visitor page publishes Championship green fee £450 (20 Apr–16 Oct 2026).
Who it is for
Travelers who will book Monday/Tuesday/Friday visitor days months ahead for the loveliest clear-day links setting in golf.
Sources
- 14 Irish golf courses ranked among World's 100 GreatestGolf Digest World’s 100 Greatest 2026–27 again names Royal County Down Championship No. 1 globally.
- Top 100 international courses outside U.S.Golfweek Best 2026 International No. 1: Royal County Down Championship (avg rating 8.96).
- Enquiry / Green FeesPublished Championship green fee £450 for 20 Apr–16 Oct 2026.
