Royal North Devon Golf Club

Royal North Devon at Westward Ho!, near Bideford, can rightly claim to be the cradle of English Golf. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest golf course in the country and is regarded as the St Andrews of England. The golf course is as tough as any of the UK’s better-known links and is ranked at number 69 in Golf Monthly’s Top 120 Course Rankings and it also features in Golf World’s Top 100 courses in the world that every golfer 'must play'.

Windswept, wild and interesting, England's Southwest counties of Somerset, Devon & Cornwall host the oldest and some of the most enigmatic golf courses in the UK.

Royal North Devon or RND, as it’s often referred to, is not only a great course but it’s also a place of huge historical importance. Inside the warm, welcoming clubhouse, the golf museum, honours boards and club trophies tell the story of the game from its birth and RND’s unique place within it. Alone they are reason enough to make the trip to North Devon.

The club prides itself on its friendly atmosphere and rather than the stuffiness you might associate with such an old club, we pride ourselves on being open and progressive. Many golfers are amazed to discover how relaxed and informal the atmosphere is at RND and we like to think the “craic” in the clubhouse is just as important as a great day on the links. We are also proud to have the biggest junior section in England and the facilities to encourage future generations.

The course stretches out to over 7,000 yards from the championship tees (used for the West of England Championship – one of the top amateur events in the calendar), although most will agree that it’s a suitably stiff test at 6,650 yards, especially when the wind blows. Even with today’s modern equipment a par score for the top scratch players is never easy.

Golf Links Road, Westward Ho, Bideford, Devon. EX39 1HD. Tel. 01237 473 817.