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Royal North Devon, England |
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Royal North Devon Golf Club
Golf Links Road
Westward Ho!
Devon
EX39 1HD
England |  | Old Tom Morris and Herbert Fowler |  | Iain Parker |
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 | +44 (0) 1237 477598 |  | 2 miles N of Bideford |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Telephone in advance |  | Mark Evans |
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Royal North Devon Golf Club, or should we say Westward Ho! This nostalgic and monumental links course fits firmly into the “must-play” category. In 1864, Westward Ho! opened for golf and it remains the oldest course in England still playing along its original fairways. It is also the oldest links course outside Scotland and home to the second oldest ladies’ golf club in the world, founded in 1868. The first ladies’ golf club was founded at St Andrews, one year earlier.
“To go to Westward Ho! is not to make a mere visit of pleasure as to an ordinary course;” wrote Darwin in his book, The Golf Courses of the British Isles. “It is, as is the case of a few other great links, a reverent pilgrimage. Was it not here that Mr Horace Hutchinson and J.H. Taylor, besides a host of other fine players, learned the game?” Originally, the course was laid out by Old Tom Morris and revised in 1908 by Herbert Fowler. Nothing much has changed since then, except the sheep have fattened.
 When you look out of the clubhouse across the course, you might struggle to define the holes. They simply blend into the surroundings. There are no trees or hedges, except if you count the brambles alongside some of the fairways. There are, however, plenty of reeds and rushes waiting to catch the wayward shot.
This is common land golf “au natural”, with a combination of tranquil, flat and folded fairways. Possibly, the only sound you will hear is that of the wind and if you are lucky, the sound of galloping hooves. Here at Royal North Devon, the sheep and horses have life membership. Don’t forget the local rule – if your ball ends up in a hoof mark, you may drop without penalty.
Make sure you buy a yardage book if you don’t know the layout; otherwise you might find yourself teeing off in the wrong direction on a few holes. “Finally,” wrote Darwin, “no account of Westward Ho! would be complete without a reference to tea at the club-house. There is a particular form of roll cut in half and liberally plastered with Devonshire cream and jam. Epithets fail me, and I can only declare that the tea is worthy of the golf.” Not only is tea good but also the panoramic view from the clubhouse is magnificent. Check out the golfing memorabilia in the museum area and, above all, enjoy the spirit that is Royal North Devon.
A man has been charged with drink driving after Land Rover found crashed in a Royal North Devon bunker… click here for more
England's oldest golf course is disappearing into the sea click here for more. | |
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | A throwback course in many ways set on prime links land with well-behaved livestock roaming around freely. For better players, there may be the impression that the course is “there for the taking”, especially on a still day. The course uses subtlety (which a lot of courses could benefit from) along with the breeze for its defence. Firm ground combined with the subtlety of the flat or gently undulating land creates the challenge, as it reduces depth perception. Some of the bunkering is quite fearsome too although the cross bunker on the 4th is now decorative due to modern equipment,  but the contours on the approach to and around the green really make the hole. The most fearsome bunker I experienced (all too closely) can be found by the left of the 5th green with near vertical sleepers on its deep front side. It’s amazing how little you have to go inland for the turf to become less ‘linksy’. In my view the two weakest holes on the course are 12 and 13 which I liked the least for this reason along with their apparent weak design. However, that is just in comparison with the rest of the course. The 11th is genuinely intimidating but is mercifully one of the few holes where precision from the tee is vital. Most holes give options to play over, around or short of hazards. The variety of green complexes maintains interest throughout the round, with putting surfaces that are very good, without quite being outstanding. The best advice about playing the course came from the friendly chap tending to the flower baskets, who advised at all costs to stay out of the sea rushes. If your ball goes in you might find it, but taking a drop is the only way to go. The views of the sea are good around holes 3-9 although sadly for us a grey gloom had settled over the course on our visit. I can understand the comments about the course being a little like a field but if you have an affinity for pure links golf then Royal North Devon will prove to be a treat. Plus there’s a champion all-day breakfast to be had in the clubhouse. |
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| 15 June 2012
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| | This course grows on you, played it about 10 times now and actually prefer it to Saunton (there, I said it, ok Saunton members, now calm down). Some people comment about the 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th being a bit flat but they are all excellent holes. And the rest of the course is just so interesting, with many Championship class shots required. The greens are always better than Saunton, with a lot more speed and you can die the ball into the hole which is always good. The food was amazing. I don't think you would ever tire of this course. 4 of us played here and both courses at Saunton and all preferred RND. |
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| 18 April 2012
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| | We booked the tee time and a buggy a few months before our arrival from Germany because one person in our group is handicapped and not able to play the course without a buggy. Although the buggy was in the “system” the club manager told us, it’s Sunday, the buggy is in the green keeper’s hall and they have no key for it. The friendly club assistance wanted to help us anyway but his hands were tied as his chief suggested him not to do any further efforts to solve the problem. Because of this sadly incident it’s hard for me to estimate the course objectively. Playing the Royal North Devon is a pure golf experience. If it’s not windy the course is not very tough and a good start in a golf holiday. We enjoyed the wonderful location and the wild horses. Hope it was the manager’s off day and it isn’t the normal behaviour to (foreign) guests. |
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| 10 October 2011
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| | My visit to Westward Ho! was a bit of a roller coaster with ups and downs. Arriving at the clubhouse, the first thing you see is the sign saying that you are at the Oldest Club in England. Trying to make you feel that you just arrived at a very special place (which you are, let's be clear, more of that later). Then direction pro shop for a very warm welcome. The scenery of the whole course on the other hand looks rather uninspiring from the parking and this impression of a "boring" and flat course continues as you play the first 3 holes. Then the magic operates again, with holes 4-9 all very interesting, and the fairways far from being as flat as one could imagine from the parking place. As previous have said, the fairways are not in the best shape. So what? This place is about something else. The greens could have been faster for my taste, but they held the line very well. The back 9 has some nice holes too. Holes around the turn are the only "narrow" holes. For the majority of the course, driving is to very wide fairways. This is not a very difficult course and scoring there is a real possibility. Make sure you check the stroke saver though as some lines of the tee are not always very obvious. Back to the clubhouse after the round, it was a joy to contemplate all the historical pieces (hickory clubs, balatta balls...). Food on the other hand was one the least enjoyable I've had in any clubhouse. RND is a very nice place to play golf and I really enjoyed my time there, despite bland opening holes. I still think it is rated too high, compared for example to nearby Saunton West course. Cedric |
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| 14 April 2011
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| Response: | | | Stuart Eastwood | 23 May 2011 | | Spot on! No comparison to Saunton West which we thought fantastic in our recent tour to Devon en route to playing all Top 100 on your BI list. Sorry RND, great history but bit of a goat track. | | | John | 23 May 2011 | Royal North Devon is a bit like Scotland’s Brora and Pennard in Wales in that it pays over common land where livestock can roam freely. But unlike its Scottish and Welsh equivalents it has to contend with being next to one of the most popular beaches in the UK and all the issues that go with dog walkers and BBQ’ing surfers. Like Royal West Norfolk, RND also has to contend with inadequate sea defences that continually erode the very heritage of the club.
When I last visited Devon and played RND, along with both Saunton courses, St Enodoc and Trevose, RND’s greens were the best of the bunch. RND should never be able to compete with Saunton from a condition perspective. RND has twice as many members as Saunton and only one course. RND also has more green fee paying visitors and other extraneous factors (livestock etc) which continually cause the club major problems.
Stuart Eastwood is correct, RND bears no comparison to Saunton West, they’re entirely different courses playing across entirely different terrain. I’ve never seen a goat at RND but I have seen plenty of sheep and horses, so I guess it’s more of a sheep track than a goat track. I think Cedric is right about the dull and rather flat holes but these are where you can make a score, but I feel he caught the canteen on an off day because my experience of the food has always been good. And before anybody suggests I’m a member, I can tell you I’m not. But if I lived in Devon I’d rather be a member of RND than Saunton any day. | | | Brock | 30 May 2011 | | I visited SW England in June 2010 and played Burnham & Berrow, Saunton (East & West), RND, & St. Enodoc. I will have to side with Cedric on this one. His assessment of RND and is spot on, with the exception of the food, which we did not experience. As for John, I am not sure that you played Saunton, which is at least a few notches above RND and with two courses as well. I'd join Saunton over RND in a heart beat. | | | John | 17 November 2011 | | It’s all about opinions. There are some that don’t like the Old course at St Andrews and there’s a parallel between St Andrews and Westward Ho! RND is where you breathe nature, which is the true essence of golf for me. I do like Saunton but I genuinely prefer RND. You don’t need massive dunes to make a great golf course; in any case the dunes at Saunton block the sea view. The elevated 6th tee at RND is perhaps my favourite teeing ground in England. And finally Brock, if you are going to be condescending at least exercise a little grace. I’d never suggest that you hadn’t played RND would I? | | | Brock | 23 November 2011 | | My apologies to John. History certainly has weight in judging one course over another. There are some good holes on the front nine at RND starting with number 4 and yes, the 6th tee is certainly the best on the course. But to suggest that RND would be better to join over Saunton seemed a bit over the top. A club with two top notch links courses is hard to beat. |
| | | This is a course for anyone interested in the traditions and history of golf. We are now so used to play on manicured courses that it does no harm to play here to be reminded of what golf was like. I notice some criticism of the course because it had rabbit holes; well well oh dear! Golf is a game to be enjoyed and it is not necessary to have to play some 7500yd. bunker and water ridden monster to do this. Go here to enjoy yourself. Take in the marvellous collectiomn of memorabilia in the clubhouse. This is not to be missed. |
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| 19 November 2010
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| | A real treat to play links golf in it's purest form. Wide open fairways make driving fun but accurate approach shots are essential to avoid the tiny greenside bunkers. The sheep and horses wandering the fairways and the museum in the clubhouse added to what was a fun day. |
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| 29 October 2009
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| | Fantastic course which i played around 20yrs ago & long to go back too, Golf from the 19th Century and a guilty pleasure to go back in time and see how it all began.
I still dream about that enormous bunker on the 4th hole which i actually went into, but (amazingly) got out of first time.......(ive got an old picture of me doing this shot somewhere and you can actually see the ball flying out of it !! i must find it !!!)
The wild horses & sheep just add to the character of the place, as do the magnificent coastal views, i played in the evening and finished whilst sunset was upon us........fantastic !!!
the clubhouse is a sight to behold too, wonderful heritage & a very friendly welcome was had.
i'd recommend everyone to play this course at least once before you die........as the memories shall never leave you.
Wonderful.
Lano. |
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| 26 October 2009
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| | The front 9 is as good as any links golf I've played. The first is very tough with a strong wind but all the opening holes are interesting. The best aspect is the clubhouse, loads of history and interesting bits to look at. I don't really understand the people slagging this place off, it is a cracking place to play golf. The condition was very good throughout, highly recommended. But have to understand that this place is how golf started and I respect the fact that they haven't let the place go modern and commercialised. |
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| 05 August 2009
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| Response: | | | Christopher Jones | 09 September 2009 | | Fabulous test of golf in a wonderful setting. |
| | | I played here one foggy spring morning, and experienced golf as it used to be played, on open common land with sheep grazing and horses hoofprints in, with sea rushes which seemed to magnetically draw my ball to them. I'm sure it's not everyone's cup of tea, but the club house reeks of history and all golfers (especially links lovers) should make their respectful pilgrimage at least once.
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| 13 July 2009
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| | After a 5-year gap, I returned to Royal North Devon with great anticipation. On my previous trip I thoroughly enjoyed the course but I enjoyed my return trip even more. Don’t expect manicured fairways and tee boxes at Westward Ho! because you will be disappointed but do expect some great greens and memorable golf holes, not least those in the famous rushes. The first and last two holes which play on low-lying ground are the weakest holes on the course, but those aside, the rest are fabulous true sandy links holes. Westward Ho! is the oldest seaside course in England and the reverent club, founded in 1864, is worthy of the journey to Devon alone. Couple this monumental historical experience with the two sensational courses at Saunton Golf Club and you will have played one of the best and most affordable seaside threesomes in the UK. |
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| 24 April 2009
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| | Very enjoyable round of golf, conscious of following in the footsteps of the greats of the game. On a couple of tees you just cannot imagine how you can NOT hit the ball in a bunker - tremendous fun. Highly recommended, and perfect complement to Saunton Sands. |
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| 13 April 2009
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| I can only imagine that some of the less than complimentary reviews elsewhere for Royal North Devon are penned by golfers who “just don’t get it” with RND and where it stands in relation to the modern game of golf. Thank God the members here have preserved such a timeless jewel in a world of pristine tee boxes, manicured fairways and greens that run to double digits on the stimpmeter. Indeed, RND is as raw as it gets when playing golf nowadays but don’t be put off by the elemental nature of sharing fairways with sheep, cattle and horses – embrace the fact that you are still able to emulate the greats such as five time Open Champion JH Taylor over such an unspoiled tract of common land.
The opening and closing couple of holes you can regard as a means to get from the clubhouse to the more interesting land along the coast but they are far from boring or bland. The holes from 3 to 9 are the best on the property (with the drive over the famous “Cape” bunker at the 4th one that will live long in the memory) as they dip in and out of the sandhills by the shoreline. There then follows some of the most unusual holes I’ve ever played, with some long carries over or past huge clumps of tall, spiky sea rushes to fairway areas hidden from view and the timing of these intimidating obstacles arriving so late in a round is just perfect. Greens when we played were absolutely top drawer - fast and true - and all that a golfer would ask for anywhere, so what if the fairways are a little unkempt in places?
 The clubhouse is so atmospheric, with a wonderful open lounge area set aside to allow visitors to admire the various golfing artefacts, photos and letters that have accumulated over nearly 150 years. If you visit RND and don’t experience a wee tingle as you walk along the main corridor with names chiselled (I kid you not) onto the huge honours boards flanking both walls then it’s time to pay your doctor a visit to have him/her confirm that you’re officially dead. I hope the weather is kinder next time I visit as thick fog on the back nine made life very difficult but, in a strange way, the conditions added an even greater mystique to this Grand Old Lady. It’s fair to say the spirit of Old Tom Morris lives on at places like Westward Ho! and for that we should all be eternally grateful. Jim McCann |
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| 08 April 2009
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| | I was really impressed with this course. Terrific fun to play with a series of unorthodox obstacles (the bunker at the fourth and the sea-rushes being the most memorable). The course is uncomplicated visually but the clever bunkering and treacherous contours around the hard-to-hold greens make it a great test of both ball-striking and creativity. The first two holes are amongst the weakest but a terrific run from thereon in, with the 5th and the 6th being particularly good. The wonderful clubhouse must be one of the best anywhere, with its sense of history, welcoming atmosphere and stunning views over the whole course.
One thing to note: the condition isn't as good as the course - but it certainly isn't bad enough to significantly detract from the experience. |
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| 07 December 2008
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| | As links courses go, one of the flatest I have played. The course does though have a number of blind shots, which on playing for the first time are always intriguing.
My only question mark is why the second/third hardest hole on the course - the 18th - is strokeindex 18?
Wonderful club house - steeped in history - and very friendly staff and members. |
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| 22 July 2008
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| Response: | | | Mervyn Slade | 09 September 2008 | | Stroke Index is applied using an algorithm taking several factors into account. The distribution of the strokes being the reason the 18th is stroke 18. This confused me for the first 40 or so years of playing at RND but a quick Google resolved the conundrum! |
| | | A great course to play if you have a sense of history and the roll of honour boards and the museum in the clubhouse certainly add to this. Judged as a golf course though, it is unremarkable, and in parts quite bland. Worth a round so you can say you've done it, but for a real test of golf (if thats what you want!), go to Saunton - and take a few spare balls! |
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| 29 May 2008
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| Response: | | | Hamish Wilson | 19 November 2010 | | Why must you have a real test of golf. Can you not just enjoy yourself? |
| | | A real step back in time, this is how I imagine places like St Andrews would have looked 50 years ago, a bit rough round the edges but making the most of the natural land that invited the game to be invented. Sheep on the fairways and wild horses make for a fun time, the course has some excellent holes with some average ones. Great views around the edge of the course. Not the greatest course but a great day out. |
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| 24 March 2008
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| | Thoroughly enjoyed my round and the welcome from the Pro was second to known. First few holes are boring and its only from the 3rd onwards that the course becomes interesting, and then there are 6 or 7 super holes. Overall its a nice course, but I find it hard to understand how it rates higher than Saunton West. In my opinion both Saunton courses are superior in every way. But its still a great day out, but don't miss Saunton. |
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| 29 August 2007
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| | played here may 2007. heard so much about the oldest links in england, we included it with several others in the vicinity. interesting and historically valuable, yes. some good holes, maybe a couple of great ones, yes. however, having played most of the world's top links, this isn't one of them. disappointing, weather related poor condition with too many burrowing animal holes. supposed to play it twice but passed the 2nd time. |
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| 18 July 2007
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| | A links like no other. If you want manicured this is not the course for you. However the whole course is extremely challenging and set out with some great holes - i do not recall any easy pars you were made to work for everything. Played the course in February and the greens were perfect. The fairways are a little rough in places by virtue of it being common land. We enjoyed the experience but if in North Devon again would favour heading back to Saunton. |
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| 27 February 2007
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| | Westward Ho! is a time warp to the past. It is golf in all its simplicity and beauty. Fowler's greens complexes are brilliant. Watch our for the sea rushes. Number nine may be one of the great short par fives in existence and the par three fifth and the par four sixth have to be experienced to understand the wonderful imagination of Fowler. |
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| 24 November 2006
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| | Played here only last week and liked it a lot. There's nothing like the in the US and to start with I didn't get but towards the middle of the round I began to appreciate the subtleties of links golf. You need to know where you are going and I would have liked a caddy. I got into all sorts of trouble and lost balls galore. Very traditional but friendly club. |
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| 16 June 2006
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| | Played today in a gale force 8 wind and loved every second! Yes it was tough and the wind didn't help but the course was in truly excellent condition with great greens running at a good pace. Fabulous venue with lots of history and a joy to play if you like links "au natural" |
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| 19 May 2006
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| | RND is an interesting course that is challenging and entertaining at the same time.
The strange thing about it is that the fairways are common land, so horses and sheep are commonplace and possible hazards.
A typical old style links courses that definately bears consideration if you are in the area.
A Jordan |
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| 14 September 2004
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| | Very difficult to actually see the golf course from the bar but once you are out there all is revealed. Saw the sheep, and the horses and got the odd putt in - not bad! Very natural course - nothing manucured about this one and definitely worth playing. |
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| 07 June 2004
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| | A wonderful feeling to this course. Can't imagine how they keep it in suck great nick with all those sheep and horses. Links golf at its most natural. |
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| 01 April 2004
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