Royal County Down’s Championship Links in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, is a rare exception where truly great courses and professional golf collide. It is one of only two courses to be ranked No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best list of courses outside the U.S. that have hosted an upper-level men’s tour event in decades. Originally designed in 1889 as a nine-hole layout, the course has evolved over the years with contributions from notable designers such as Old Tom Morris, George Combe, Harry Colt, and Donald Steel.
Throughout its history, Royal County Down has hosted top-level events, including three previous Irish Opens, British Amateur Championships, Senior British Opens, Curtis Cup, Walker Cup, British Ladies Amateur, and European Ladies’ Team Championship. The course’s rich history and challenging layout make it a favorite among players and fans alike. The upcoming Amgen Irish Open in 2024 is a highly anticipated event that is sure to showcase the true beauty and difficulty of Royal County Down.
In addition to Royal County Down, Pebble Beach Golf Links in California is the only other course to be ranked No. 1 on Golfweek’s Best list of resort courses in the U.S. that has hosted a top-tier event. Pebble Beach has been the site of multiple U.S. Opens, a PGA Championship, a U.S. Women’s Open, and various amateur events. It is also the annual host of the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, further solidifying its status as a top-tier golf destination.
Cypress Point in California recently took over the No. 1 spot on Golfweek’s Best ranking of classic courses built before 1960 in the U.S. However, the course has not hosted a PGA Tour event since 1990, unlike Pine Valley in New Jersey, which has never hosted a PGA Tour event despite enjoying a long run as the No. 1 classic course. Augusta National, home to the Masters, is the highest-ranked classic course in the U.S. to have hosted a top-level men’s event in recent memory.
Among modern courses built since 1960 in the U.S., none of the top seven layouts have hosted a PGA Tour event. The Straits Course at Kohler’s Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, tied for No. 8 on that list, is the highest-ranked modern course to have welcomed top-level men’s events, including three PGA Championships, a U.S. Senior Open, and a Ryder Cup. These courses continue to attract top players and showcase the beauty and challenges of modern golf course design.
