Royal North Devon Golf Club

England, United Kingdom

Royal North Devon Golf Club, or should we say Westward Ho! This nostalgic and monumental links course fits firmly into the “must-play” category.

Getting there

Royal North Devon Golf Club

England EX39 1HD, United Kingdom

royalnorthdevongolfclub.co.uk +44 (0) 1237 477598

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Royal North Devon Golf Club

Reviews

74 reviews

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Jul. 26, 2026

fishypro1973

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A step back in time to how golf was once played.

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From roaming sheep and ponies, to deep bunkers with railway sleepers, to gorse and heather to blind shots and doglegs, this course has everything. A real pleasure to play. The historical clubhouse that acts as a museum finishes the day off perfectly. Highly recommended

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Jul. 12, 2026

4.5

Daniel Medland

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Westward Ho offers an authentic, raw and historic links golf experience in its purest form.

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Often described as ground zero for English golf, the course was originally laid out by Old Tom Morris in 1864. Royal North Devon Golf Club plays across the sprawling, windswept common land with wandering sheep, horses and a few local dog walkers, which adds to the charm.The true challenge of this hi...

Best holes: 4, 5, 9

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Apr. 19, 2026

George Hodson-Walker

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I am unsure where Westward Ho!

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truly sits among the top courses. There is no question as to its historical significance. The clubhouse, the collection of hickory clubs, the J. H. Taylor locker, and the enduring presence of an Old Tom Morris links all contribute to a deep sense of heritage. It is easy to admire, and even easier to...

Best holes: 5, 7, 13

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Apr. 10, 2026

Ian Cranidge

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England’s oldest golf course, Royal North Devon was a fitting place to complete my quest to play all the top courses in Devon and Cornwall.

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 The club house is worth the trip alone, crammed full of interesting artifacts and memorabilia, I heartily recommend take time before or after to explore. Welcome in the pro shot was warm and the answer to the question of how to play the course is go long into the greens, most of the trouble is...

Best holes: 4, 6, 8

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Dec. 8, 2025

4.5

Andy Cocker

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History aside, how good is Westward Ho!

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? This is a difficult question to answer and having only made my 1st visit here this Autumn, I'm not sure I'm fully qualified yet to answer this question. One cannot get away from its history; England's oldest golf course still being played over the original fairways, a course laid out au natural wi...

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Oct. 5, 2025

4.5

papa rabbi

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A wonderful track steeped in history and lore.

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I absolutely loved RND/Westward Ho! The clubhouse is almost worthy of museum status and the staff (Marshall Matt, those in the pro-shop and those in the bar were all wonderfully friendly and welcoming. The course is very good…but not great. More than worth a trip but, for quality of condition and in...

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Sep. 5, 2025

JeffArenson

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Westward Ho!

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.I was here on a Southwest England/Wales trip back a few years ago. I was torn between a 4.5 and 5 for this course as there are some holes on the way out and back in that are not great. I wouldn't call it the highlight of the trip, but there is enough great golf here to merit a 5. This is links golf...

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Apr. 10, 2025

4.5

Richard James

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I recently had the pleasure of playing a round at Royal North Devon Golf Club, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

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Steeped in golfing history, RNDGC offers a unique opportunity to play on England’s oldest links course — and it doesn’t disappoint.From the moment we arrived, the staff and pro shop were extremely welcoming, setting a great tone for the day. The course itself was in good condition and provided a cha...

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Dec. 9, 2024

4.5

Jack Moorcroft

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Crisp autumn days in the office, like today, make you look back and similar ones on the golf course!

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This day at The cradle of English golf sprung to mind. The birthplace of golf in England, the country's oldest venue. It genuinely feels like you’ve been plunged back in time. If you had a magic genie and said I wanted to experiment golf when it was first formed he would say, “Don’t waste a wis...

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Oct. 20, 2024

Robert Butlin

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Must play is overused phrase; sometimes by people (even perhaps me) who want to show off about the golf-courses they've played, sometimes purely as clickbait.

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I was told I "must play" RND not because it was a brilliant course, but because until I'd played it I wasn't qualified to comment on the idea of a featureless coastal landscape with free roaming sheep and horses as greenkeepers (well actually fairway keepers) actually being a golf course.I've now pl...

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Royal North Devon Golf Club

Getting there

Royal North Devon Golf Club

Getting there

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