About Royal North Devon
Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! is the oldest golf course in England still played on its original site, a raw and elemental links laid out by Tom Morris in 1864 where cattle graze the fairways and ancient sea rushes guard the greens.
Founded in 1864 and designed by Old Tom Morris, Royal North Devon holds a position in English golf that nothing can replicate: the oldest club in continuous play on its original ground, set on common land at Westward Ho! on the north Devon coast. The course is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the common is grazed by sheep and cattle that retain ancient rights over the land, meaning animals may be encountered at any point during a round. The famous sea rushes, wiry coastal plants found nowhere else in British golf, grow in dense stands across the course and are as defining a feature as the Atlantic wind itself.
- Golf Links Rd, Westward Ho!, Northam, Bideford EX39 1HD, UK
Royal North Devon
Playing Royal North Devon requires a willingness to surrender the usual expectations of a top-ranked golf course. There are no ropes keeping the public back, no pristine practice facilities and no carefully controlled aesthetic. What there is, instead, is golf in something very close to its original nineteenth-century form: an open common land landscape shaped by the Atlantic wind and grazed by animals, with a course laid out to work with this environment rather than to impose order upon it. The sea rushes, waist-high in places, stand guard over the most demanding sections of the links, and the greens can bake to a firmness in summer that makes stopping the ball an act of pure artistry.
The historical weight of Royal North Devon is considerable. Tom Morris walked this ground and routed the course in 1864, when the game on the British mainland was barely a generation old. The Amateur Championship was played here in 1912, the English Amateur has visited multiple times, and the club has remained a working golf course through every decade since Victoria was on the throne. For anyone interested in the origins of golf in England, there is no more direct connection available on a course still in everyday use.
The location on the north Devon coast means Royal North Devon is not a course most golfers will stumble across. The journey to Westward Ho! requires a degree of intent, but those who make it are rewarded with one of the most singular experiences available in British golf. The combination of history, natural wildness and genuine links challenge is unique, and the warm welcome the club extends to visitors makes the effort entirely worthwhile. Visitor information is available at royalnorthdevon.co.uk.
Opening Hours
- Monday7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Wednesday7:00 AM – 10:30 PM
- Thursday7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Friday7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Sunday7:00 AM – 6:30 PM
What Golfers Say About Royal North Devon
A selection of recent visitor reviews from Google.
Adrian Rudge6 months agoPlayed Royal North Devon as part of the NCG Devon tour. My expectations were tempered by the photos and reviews I had seen beforehand. The course is raw with little definition on some holes. So much so, that there are large signs with hole numbers visible from some tees to give you an idea as to where to hit. The course is bisected by an access road which can slow play down whilst waiting for cars and pedestrians. Once you get into the round it is great fun. A bit quirky with huge sleepers in the front of bunkers (that you get relief from), but it still retains its place in the UK & Ireland Top 100.
Alex Jonesa year agoI’ve been to the area many times before but never played the course. Managed to get a round in over summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some tough holes made much harder if the wind is blowing. Lovely links course in excellent condition.
Gary Robinson8 months agoGreat place to play as a visitor , really friendly welcome, good online booking and relatively quick pace of play. Very iconic course, in good condition and lots of "raw" original features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Royal North Devon Golf Club?
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What are sea rushes and why do they matter at Royal North Devon?
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Other Golf Courses Near Royal North Devon
More clubs within easy reach of Devon.
Nearest Golf Clubs
Mortehoe & Woolacombe Golf Club
Mortehoe, North Devon