[Jeff Schley]

NO GOOGLE please.  Let's make this fair and fun.  Please don't post sources/answers in here, I'll do it in a week's time.  What are your own guesses?  Disclaimer I am oddly fascinated with "Royal" golf clubs and try and learn more whenever I can. I didn't know almost any of the below answers so certainly not an authority on royal clubs, but a big fan.EDIT: We are talking UK Royal designated golf clubs. I know there are some others who have "STOLEN VALOR" .
1. How many "Royal" designated golf clubs are there?

2. How many countries have a "Royal" designated golf club?

3. What was the first golf club to receive the "Royal" designation?  Bonus..... what year?  +/- 5 years

4. What golf club has been granted the "Royal" designation, but doesn't use it in their name?

5. There is one Royal course that has closed in 1962, what was it?

6. What monarch designated the most "Royal" clubs?

7. There were three royals who designated just 1 course each, who were they? Hint: 1 in 1845, 1 in 1888, and 1 in 2004

8. There are three "Royal" designated golf clubs that DO NOT own a golf course. What are they?

9. What was the most recent golf club to be designated "Royal" in 2013?

10. There are only 4 "Royal" designated clubs in the world outside of the UK or the Commonwealth (love that name huh?), what are they?

[John Kavanaugh]

Royal Greens?

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm really enjoying watching the Crown on Netflix. But, I just went on GolfNow and found tee times at 10 courses designated Royal for this morning. There must be thousands and thousands in the US alone.


What is your criteria for a course to qualify? I have never understood and if I can't use Google how else can I find out?

[Jeff Johnston]

on no 10 - there are 2 in (Republic of) Ireland, Royal Dublin and Royal Curragh (the latter having only recently revived their usage of the Royal designation). Benelux is ringing a bell for at least 1 of the others but names not coming to mind (and may be off beam with that anyway).

[Mark Chaplin]

There are Benelux Royals but they are designated by their Royal families.


The Czech course is I believe the newest “British” Royal.


Edward VIII for most designations mainly as Prince of Wales?


No course; R&A, Royal Epping Forest, Royal Montrose


NLE Royal Isle of Wight


I think there’s around 80 “British” Royal clubs around the world. Walton Heath is probably the most royal club not to have the status. The Berkshire the only one to lose the title.

[Michael Felton]

I think Royal Blackheath might be the first one. No idea of the year.


Number 7, one of them must be Elizabeth II, unless someone other than the monarch can do it. Prince Andrew maybe? He's a keen golfer. It'd be kind of surprising if he only did one though.


As to how many in total, maybe something like 250?


Pitching out Edward VIII as the one who did the most. I have no idea, but he was captain of my club when he became King, so I know he's into the game. I always thought that was interesting that he is the only example of a reigning monarch being a captain of a golf club at the same time (at least in the UK) and he didn't bestow the Royal moniker on the club. Not that I mind in the slightest. I think sticking Royal in front of it would make it sound dreadful.

[Thomas Dai]

As I type this I’m watching the Aussie pro golf on TV from ...... Royal Pines Resort!
There are a few unexpected ones when it comes to Royal clubs, not just U.K. and Commonweath ones, but the likes of Royal Bled, Royal Zoute and ones like Royal Singapore the name of which was discontinued when it morphed into Singapore Island CC upon independence.
And there is Scott MacPhersons book “Golf’s Royal Clubs” on the subject.
Atb

[corey miller]

Answer to #10: Royal Greenwich Country Club

[Anders Rytter]

#4
Im not sure this is the right answer, but Royal Copenhagen GC only use the Royal designations in its english name. In Danish they call them selves Københavns golf klub (Copenhagen Golf Club)

[Brian_Ewen]

10. There are only 4 "Royal" designated clubs in the world outside of the UK or the Commonwealth (love that name huh?), what are they?

Royal Hua Hin, Royal Homburger, Royal Marianske Lazne, Royal Cape, Royal Durban, Royal Johannesburg, Royal Port Alfred, Royal Harare

[mike_beene]

I assume Royal Oaks doesn't count?

[Michael Whitaker]

I assume Royal Oaks doesn't count?

Or Royal New Kent!

[James Bennett]

Royal Hong Kong reverted to Hong Kong when the British left.
Royal Pines ain't royal - perhaps it is a style of Pine Tree?

[Ronald Montesano]

There's one in Canada that is hilariously-listed here. Someone knew someone...the course is decent at best.

[Keith Durrant]

8. The R&A does not own its courses. Royal Guernsey leases L'Ancresse Common.

[Ronald Montesano]

And, with complete respect and founded appreciation, I wish to award the Esoteria of the Year award to Jeff Schley. A thread topic so mind-numbingly unimportant, yet fncking interesting, that I'm all a-twitter with emotion. How any one outside of Buckingham Palace's biographers would know this information, is beyond me. My hat is off to all who contribute correct answers. I'll be champing at the bit, like a good pony.

[Mark Chaplin]

There's one in Canada that is hilariously-listed here. Someone knew someone...the course is decent at best.

They are Royal golf clubs not Royal golf courses, there are some prestigious clubs with very ordinary courses Royal Blackheath being a good example.

[Jeff Schley]

Alright team it's been a week and hope it was a very happy holiday for all of you wherever in the world you happen to be this Christmas season.
1. How many "Royal" designated golf clubs are there? 64
 
 
  2. How many countries have a "Royal" designated golf club? 17 England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
 
  3. What was the first golf club to receive the "Royal" designation?  Bonus..... what year?  +/- 5 years   Royal Perth in 1833
 
 
  4. What golf club has been granted the "Royal" designation, but doesn't use it in their name? 
 The Curragh Golf Club in Ireland was granted a Royal title in 1910, withdrew and then reinstated as of 2013. The Royal Hong Kong GC took the Royal off its name just before going under Chinese rule in 1996.

 
  5. There is one Royal course that has closed in 1962, what was it? 
 9-hole Royal Isle of Wight, it closed in 1962.
 
  6. What monarch designated the most "Royal" clubs? King George V - 22
  Queen Victoria - 21 King Edward VII - 8 Queen Elizabeth II - 6 King George VI - 2 King William IV - 2
  Prince Andrew - 1 Prince Albert - 1
  Prince Alfred - 1

 
  7. There were three royals who designated just 1 course each, who were they? Hint: 1 in 1845, 1 in 1888, and 1 in 2004
  Royal Montrose GC (founded in 1810, granted 1845 by Prince Albert) Royal Malta (founded in 1888, granted in 1888 by Prince Alfred) Royal Wellington (founded in 1895, granted in 2004 by Prince Andrew)
 
 
 
  8. There are three "Royal" designated golf clubs that DO NOT own a golf course. What are they?  The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (founded 1754, granted royal status 1836 by King William IV) Royal Perth Golfing Society and County & City Club (founded 1824, granted 1833 by King William IV) Royal Montrose Golf Club (founded 1810, granted 1845 by Prince Albert).
 
  9. What was the most recent golf club to be designated "Royal" in 2013? April 2013, the Homburger Golf Club, founded in 1899 near Frankfurt in Germany, was granted the Royal title by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
 
  10. There are only 4 clubs in the world outside of the UK or the Commonwealth (love that name huh?), what are they?
  • Royal Dublin, awarded the title in 1891 by Queen Victoria.
 
 • Royal Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, originally granted the title in September 1910.
 
 • Marianske Lazne Golf Club in the Czech Republic, which was honored in 2003. This club had historically strong connections with British Royalty, having been a favorite holiday destination for King Edward VII who visited the course on ten occasions after performing the opening ceremony on August 21, 1905.
  • Royal Homburger, the third oldest club in Germany, awarded the title on April 8, 2013 in commemoration of the role of English visitors and members of the Royal Family, and in particular the Prince of Wales, to the town of Homberg and its spa, in the founding of the Club. The first President was Field Marshall HRH The Duke of Cambridge, a cousin of Queen Victoria, and the Prince of Wales, by now His Majesty King Edward VII, was the first Honorary Member.


It should be noted that I used a variety of sources and some state 64 clubs, others 66 but I believe they are counting the Royal Singapore GC and the Royal Hong Kong GC which became other clubs by merger (Singapore) or dropping (HK). Here are the disputed courses it appears:

• 3 where the golf club doesn't own the course, mentioned above. Some lists omit them.
• Royal Cornwall (what happened to it?) the lists don't mention it although it appears in other searches as there being a RCGC.
• The NLE Royal Isle of Wright is listed on all the lists it appears.
• Royal Aukland which states on their website in 2010 they earned the Royal distinction by the Queen, but not included on any of the lists, only Royal Wellington is mentioned for NZ.
• Royal Household is on the grounds of Windsor Castle (9 holes I believe), this is mentioned on some lists and not others.

[Jeff Schley]

Ok I have compiled a spreadsheet with all former and present Royal Golf clubs.  Please see below.  NLE=no longer in existence, NC=name change
Based on this there should be 67 present golf clubs around the world that should be called Royal Golf Clubs.  If you want to take off the three that don't own a course then the number is 64.  From #64 onwards is where there is debate.

 

	Country	Golf Club	Founded	Royal Granting Title	Year
1

England[/t][/t] Royal North Devon 1864 Queen Victoria 1867 

2

England[/t] Royal Liverpool 1869 Queen Victoria 1871 

3

England[/t] Royal Jersey 1878 Queen Victoria 1879 

4

England[/t] Royal Wimbledon 1882 Queen Victoria 1882 

5

England[/t] Royal Isle of Wight *NLE 1882-1962 Queen Victoria 1882 

6

England[/t] Royal Belfast 1881 Queen Victoria 1885 

7

England[/t] Royal Ascot 1887 Queen Victoria 1887 

8

England[/t] Royal Eastbourne 1877 Queen Victoria 1887 

9

England[/t] Royal Cromer 1888 Queen Victoria 1888 

10

England[/t] Royal Epping Forest 1888 Queen Victoria 1888 

11

England[/t] Royal Guernsey 1890 Queen Victoria 1891 

12

England[/t] Royal West Norfolk 1892 Queen Victoria 1892 

13

England[/t] Royal Portrush 1888 Queen Victoria 1892 

14

England[/t] Royal Ashdown 1888 Queen Victoria 1893 

15

England[/t] Royal Norwich 1893 Queen Victoria 1893 

16

England[/t] Royal Worlington & Newmarket 1893 Queen Victoria 1895 

17

England[/t] Royal Blackheath 1766 King Edward VII 1901 

18

England[/t] Royal Household 1901 King Edward VII 1901 

19

England[/t] Royal St George's 1887 King Edward VII 1902 

20

England[/t] Royal Winchester 1888 King George V 1913 

21

England[/t] Royal Cinque Ports 1892 King Edward VII 1910 

22

England[/t] Royal Lytham & St Annes 1886 King George V 1926 

23

England[/t] Royal Mid-Surrey 1892 King George V 1926 

24

England[/t] Royal Birkdale 1889 King George VI 1951 

25

Ireland[/t] Royal County Down 1889 King Edward VII 1908 

26

Ireland[/t] Royal Dublin 1885 Queen Victoria 1891 

27

Ireland[/t] Royal Curragh 1883 King Edward VII 1910 

28

Scotland[/t] Royal Musselburgh 1774 Queen Victoria 1876 

29

Scotland[/t] Royal Aberdeen 1780 King Edward VII 1903 

30

Scotland[/t] Royal Dornoch 1877 King Edward VII 1906 

31

Scotland[/t] Duff House Royal 1871 King George V 1925 

32

Scotland[/t] Royal Tarlair 1926 King George V 1926 

33

Scotland[/t] Royal Burgess 1773 King George V 1929 

34

Scotland[/t] Royal Troon 1878 Queen Elizabeth II 1978 

35

Wales[/t] Royal St Davids 1894 King Edward VII 1908 

36

Wales[/t] Royal Porthcawl 1891 King Edward VII 1909 

37

Australia[/t] Royal Adelaide 1892 King George V 1923 

38

Australia[/t] Royal Canberra 1926 King George V 1933 

39

Australia[/t] Royal Freemantle 1905 King George V 1930 

40

Australia[/t] Royal Hobart 1901 King George V 1925 

41

Australia[/t] Royal Melbourne 1891 Queen Victoria 1895 

42

Australia[/t] Royal Perth 1895 King George VI 1937 

43

Australia[/t] Royal Queensland 1920 King George V 1921 

44

Australia[/t] Royal Sydney 1893 Queen Victoria 1897 

45

Canada[/t] Royal Colwood 1913 King George V 1931 

46

Canada[/t] Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club 1922 Queen Elizabeth II 2005 

47

Canada[/t] Royal Montreal 1873 Queen Victoria 1884 

48

Canada[/t] Royal Ottawa 1891 King George V 1912 

49

Canada[/t] Royal Quebec 1874 King George V 1934 

50

Canada[/t] Royal Regina 1899 Queen Elizabeth II 1999 

51

Czech Republic[/t] Royal Marianske Lazne 1905 Queen Elizabeth II 2003 

52

Germany[/t] Royal Homburger 1899 Queen Elizabeth II 2013 

53

India[/t] Royal Calcutta 1829 King George V 1911 

54

Kenya[/t] Royal Nairobi 1906 King George V 1935 

55

Malaysia[/t] Royal Selangor 1893 Queen Elizabeth II 1953 

56

Malta[/t] Royal Malta 1888 Prince Alfred 1888 

57

New Zealand[/t] Royal Wellington 1895 Prince Andrew 2004 

58

South Africa[/t] Royal Cape 1885 King George V 1910 

59

South Africa[/t] Royal Durban 1892 King George V 1932 

60

South Africa[/t] Royal Johannesberg 1890 King George V 1931 

61

South Africa[/t] Royal Port Alfred 1924 King George V 1924 

62

Sri Lanka[/t] Royal Colombo 1879 King George V 1928 

63

Zimbabwe[/t] Royal Harare 1898 King George V 1929 

64

New Zealand[/t] Royal Aukland 1894 Queen Elizabeth II 2010 

65

Scotland[/t] Royal & Ancient  1735 King William IV 1834 

66

Scotland[/t] Royal Montrose 1810 Prince Albert 1845 

67

Scotland[/t] Royal Perth 1824 King William IV 1833 

68

Hong Kong[/t] Royal Hong Kong* NC 1889   1889-1996 

69

England[/t] Royal Cornwall* NLE 1889-1950 Queen Victoria 1891 

70

Singapore[/t] Royal Singapore* NC 1891   1938-63 

71

Papua New Guinea[/t] Royal Port Moresby Golf Club 1930 Queen Elizabeth II 2012 

72

Singapore[/t] Royal Island Club* NC 1932 Duchess of Ken 1952-63 

[Duncan Cheslett]

Re: Royal Cornwall Golf Club

John and Marie Llewellyn's marvelous "Golf's Missing Links" has a wealth of information on Royal Cornwall.


https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/south-west/cornwall/1025-cor-royal-cornwall-golf-club-bodmin

[Jeff Schley]

Re: Royal Cornwall Golf Club

John and Marie Llewellyn's marvelous "Golf's Missing Links" has a wealth of information on Royal Cornwall.


https://www.golfsmissinglinks.co.uk/index.php/england/south-west/cornwall/1025-cor-royal-cornwall-golf-club-bodmin

Thanks Duncan.  I did read that, but it doesn't go into any details of exactly when and why the club closed.  Just that after WWII it went to 9 holes and then.......?  Oh well I used 1950 as the end date.

[Ronald Montesano]

How would you classify this one?

"

Originally opening under the name Whitby Golf Club, the name was quickly changed to Thunderbird Golf Club, as it was known for many years. In the spring of 2000 we changed the name one final time to The Royal Ashburn Golf Club. The name was changed to commemorate our visit from His Royal Highness Prince Andrew the Duke of York in September of 1999 and to tie us into the community of Ashburn, who in the year 2000, were celebrating their 150th anniversary. Hence the name, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club, which is much more suitable to the first-class facility we are today.

To further reflect our history and contributions to the game of golf, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club was granted Armorial Bearings (coat of Arms) on September 15, 2006, granted to us by the authority vested in the Governor General to exercise the prerogative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.

"

From their website here: https://royalashburngolfclub.com/about-us/

[Jeff Schley]

How would you classify this one?

"

Originally opening under the name Whitby Golf Club, the name was quickly changed to Thunderbird Golf Club, as it was known for many years. In the spring of 2000 we changed the name one final time to The Royal Ashburn Golf Club. The name was changed to commemorate our visit from His Royal Highness Prince Andrew the Duke of York in September of 1999 and to tie us into the community of Ashburn, who in the year 2000, were celebrating their 150th anniversary. Hence the name, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club, which is much more suitable to the first-class facility we are today.

To further reflect our history and contributions to the game of golf, The Royal Ashburn Golf Club was granted Armorial Bearings (coat of Arms) on September 15, 2006, granted to us by the authority vested in the Governor General to exercise the prerogative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada.

"

From their website here: https://royalashburngolfclub.com/about-us/

It sounds like they changed their name after Prince Andrew's visit and subsequently years later were given some distinction Armorial Bearings.  I don't know the significance of the Armorial Bearings, but as it wasn't given a Royal title officially by the Queen I would say it doesn't qualify.

[Mark Chaplin]

Prince Andrew doesn’t have the power to confer Royal status. Royal Wellington were granted Royal status by Her Majesty the Queen.


 In 2004, to commemorate the 250th year of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth consented on 10 June 2004 that the club should be known as Royal Wellington Golf Club.

[Brian_Ewen]

It should be noted that I used a variety of sources and some state 64 clubs, others 66 but I believe they are counting the Royal Singapore GC and the Royal Hong Kong GC which became other clubs by merger (Singapore) or dropping (HK). Here are the disputed courses it appears:

Why are you omitting the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and Royal Hua Hin?


Both were bestowed their titles from the Thai Royal Family.

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