HEAVEN ON EARTH: Royal County Down Pics

[Ben Jarvis]

I was lucky enough to travel and play golf through the British Isles earlier this month. During my trip, I played two rounds at Royal County Down - one in the rain and the second one in fine and sunny conditions.

I had always wanted to see RCD, and with a cancelled tee-time back in 2006, I wasn't going to miss the opportunity when making the long trek from Australia once again.

While no photo does this place justice, I hope you enjoy them all the same. Royal County Down really is heaven on earth!

Clubhouse



1st hole - par-5, 539 yards







2nd hole - par-4, 444 yards



3rd hole - par-4, 477 yards





4th hole - par-3, 228 yards









5th hole - par-4, 448 yards





6th hole, par-4, 398 yards



7th hole - par-3, 145 yards



8th hole - par-4, 430 yards











9th hole - par-4, 486 yards







10th hole - par-3, 197 yards





11th hole - par-4, 440 yards





12th hole - par-5, 527 yards





13th hole - par-4, 444 yards









14th hole - par-3, 212 yards



15th hole - par-4, 467 yards





16th hole - par-4, 337 yards



17th hole - par-4, 435 yards





18th hole - par-5, 550 yards

[Brian Potash]

Ben,

That second picture of the 3rd hole is one of the coolest I have ever seen!

Someday I hope to see it in person.

Awesome pics.

Brian

[David_Tepper]

Great pics of a great course. Thanks!

[Ben Jarvis]

Ben,

That second picture of the 3rd hole is one of the coolest I have ever seen!

Someday I hope to see it in person.

Awesome pics.

Brian

Brian,

Glad you like it.

I walked an hour in the rain and up a massive dune just to get that photo. Well worth it once you're there!

Ben

[PCCraig]

Fantastic pictures, thank you for posting!

[SteveOgulukian]

anyone else having trouble seeing the pics?

[Jim Eder]

Ben,

Amazing photography!!  Thanks for sharing.  It is truly a special place and you actually captured that in your photos.  Well done.

[Ted Sturges]

What a golf course!  Playing there on a windy day is full contact golf!

TS

[JMEvensky]

Thanks for posting these.

I've been fortunate to play a lot of great golf course but RCD is my favorite. I need to figure out a way to go back.

[Carl Nichols]

So if one were to eliminate the pond on 17, would the hole be otherwise acceptable enough to those who keep RCD out of Doak 10 range? 

[Stephen Davis]

Fantastic! I really enjoyed the pictures! If you had to pick a favorite hole, which would it be (or at least one you felt was especially memorable.)

[Matthew Essig]

You are lucky. Looks like you played on a day where the wind didn't blow a putt that was 4 feet, 35 feet by.

The picture standing on top of the dune on 9... Speechless.

[Jim Tang]

Wonderful pictures.  My all time favorite course.  You said you played the course on two different days under different weather conditions.  Did you feel the course played any differently on those two days, and if so, how?

[Anders Rytter]

Great set! bring some nice memories back.

[Ed Oden]

So if one were to eliminate the pond on 17, would the hole be otherwise acceptable enough to those who keep RCD out of Doak 10 range?  

Carl, I was just at County Down last week, so it is fresh on my mind.  I absolutely loved the course and can't wait for a return visit.  That being said, if given truth serum, I'm not sure it quite reaches the holy grail of Doakdom even if the pond on 17 were to be eliminated.  While the pond is remarkably out of place for a course that is otherwise so in tune with itself, at the end of the day, the pond is a flaw that seems very easily fixed.  And as Tom Doak points out in the "Doak 9s & 10s" thread, one bad or boring hole doesn't mean a course can't be a 10.  So I have a hard time discounting County Down solely because of the pond.  Rather, for me the bigger issue are the greens, which are surprisingly tame in comparison to other courses in the discussion for the best of the best in the world.  There just isn't much in the way of internal contouring.  And that absense of internal movement is striking for a course that is so bold in all other respects.  In my mind, the only way County Down's greens can be considered great is if you take into account the surrounding areas, which are very creative.  Can you have a Doak 10 without a great set of greens?  I don't know the answer, but I am sure that County Down pushes the envelope.  

[Sean Leary]

So if one were to eliminate the pond on 17, would the hole be otherwise acceptable enough to those who keep RCD out of Doak 10 range?  

Carl, I was just at County Down last week, so it is fresh on my mind.  I absolutely loved the course and can't wait for a return visit.  That being said, if given truth serum, I'm not sure it quite reaches the holy grail of Doakdom even if the pond on 17 were to be eliminated.  While the pond is remarkably out of place for a course that is otherwise so in tune with itself, at the end of the day, the pond is a flaw that seems very easily fixed.  And as Tom Doak points out in the "Doak 9s & 10s" thread, one bad or boring hole doesn't mean a course can't be a 10.  So I have a hard time discounting County Down solely because of the pond.  Rather, for me the bigger issue are the greens, which are surprisingly tame in comparison to other courses in the discussion for the best of the best in the world.  There just isn't much internal contour.  And that absense of internal movement is striking for a course that is so bold in all other respects.  In my mind, the only way County Down's greens can be considered great is if you take into account the surrounding areas, which are very creative.  Can you have a Doak 10 without a great set of greens?  I don't know the answer, but I am sure that County Down pushes the envelope.  

I agree 100% with this. The main reason I have Portrush on the same level with RCD is because the greens are more interesting to me.....

[Ben Jarvis]

Fantastic! I really enjoyed the pictures! If you had to pick a favorite hole, which would it be (or at least one you felt was especially memorable.)

Stephen,

Difficult question. #4 and #7 are wonderful par-3's - in different ways. #8 is world class and #9 is, well, #9 - one of the most memorable views atop that hill one will find anywhere. On the back-9, the standout hole for me is #13 - a terrific dogleg par-4 where a drive that is anything short or right of centre, will provide a blind approach.

[Ben Jarvis]

Wonderful pictures.  My all time favorite course.  You said you played the course on two different days under different weather conditions.  Did you feel the course played any differently on those two days, and if so, how?

Jim,

The course didn't play overly different, with the exception of a little more breeze on day one combined with the rain. I hit the same club into a lot of the holes.

I arrived on a Thursday afternoon and while having a late lunch in the clubhouse, there was river running down the right side of the 10th green! It was heavy all day and for a lot of the Friday also. It was remarkable how dry the course still played that Friday afternoon/Saturday evening.

[Rick Shefchik]

After seeing these photos, I think I finally understand what Mark Twain was thinking when he called golf a good walk spoiled. That looks like such a great walk that I'm not sure I'd want to spoil it by playing golf.

[Brett_Morrissy]

Ben,
thanks for going to all the trouble to resize your pics and name, etc

They are fantastic, put me down for finding the rain soaked reverse angle on 3, truly inspiring to get out on the golf course.

Question for all:
I am curious to the DG's thoughts on the "hairy" bunker lips and fringes, I think they look great, but how do they play, is one overly penalised if your ball finds one of these bearded beauties? Does this add to the difficulty of RCD, although a while ago & now and a foggy memory, I recall RCD as very difficult if not hitting it straight, which of course is often!

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Fantastic photos Ben. Simply stunning!!

Shouldn't this thread be a "Sticky Topic"?

Regarding the ponds (there was one on the old 16th as well I recall), I believe they have been there for a very long time. I'm not certain, but maybe they pre-date the course. I need to check the centenary book again.

[Sean_A]

Ben

Thanks for the pix.  It was a nice stroll down memory lane.

I completely agree with Ed, the greens are generally devoid of interest which is particularly notable for such a heaving property.  I was just at Ballybunion and Lahinch and these have it all over RCD (and the rest of Ireland).  Mind you, there is nothing too great happening, but enough to keep one keen. 

Ciao

[Ben Jarvis]

Fantastic photos Ben. Simply stunning!!

Shouldn't this thread be a "Sticky Topic"?

Regarding the ponds (there was one on the old 16th as well I recall), I believe they have been there for a very long time. I'm not certain, but maybe they pre-date the course. I need to check the centenary book again.

There is a small pond on the 16th but it doesn't come into play (or at least shouldn't!). You can kind of make it out on the photo above and is located on the RHS of the fairway. I have another photo which shows it more clearly.

[Ben Jarvis]

Ben

Thanks for the pix.  It was a nice stroll down memory lane.

I completely agree with Ed, the greens are generally devoid of interest which is particularly notable for such a heaving property.  I was just at Ballybunion and Lahinch and these have it all over RCD (and the rest of Ireland).  Mind you, there is nothing too great happening, but enough to keep one keen. 

Ciao

Thanks Sean.

Re: the lack of contouring on the greens, I am one that doesn't mind it the way it is. RCD is a long and difficult golf course for most. Imagine it with bold contours! Yes, there could be a little more movement in them but it was kind of nice that good golf shots gave one a realistic chance of making putts.

[Emil Weber]

Great photos thanks! I hope I will be there in a few weeks..

one thing I noticed is that the fairways look quite tight. Do they play that way?