Royal County Down holds on to the number 1 spot
ROYAL County Down remains the best course in the world outside the United States of America.
At least, that’s how Golf Digest sees it in its third biennial ranking of the World 100 Greatest Golf Courses.
The Newcastle Links is one of eight Irish courses in the latest list ahead of the Dunluce at Royal Portrush (7th), Ballybunion Old (16th), Lahinch (34th), Waterville (55th), Portmarnock (58th), the Old Head of Kinsale (83rd) and The European Club (92nd).
Ireland has the fifth highest representation on the list behind Scotland (16 courses), Australia (13), England (12) and Canada (9).
It’s surprising to see classic Portmarnock as just the sixth best course in Ireland, but the ranking at least allows golf lovers everywhere to dream a little and plan those once in a lifetime trips to places like Mexico., New Zealand, South Korea and Japan, which each get five nominations.
As for America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, the top four are Pine Valley, Augusta National, Cypress Point and this year’s US Open venue Shinnecock Hills. Golf Digest’s “World 100 Greatest Golf Courses” 1, Royal County Down; 2, Royal Dornoch, Scotland; 3, Royal Melbourne (West), Australia; 4, Muirfield, Scotland; 5, The Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland; 6, Tara Iti, New Zealand; 7, Royal Portrush; 8. Shanqin Bay, China; 9 Cabot Cliffs, Canada; 10, Trump Turnberry, Scotland.