The Oldest Course in England
Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! 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 the South. The golf course is as tough as any of the UK’s more famous links layouts and has recently been placed in Golf World ‘s “Top 100 Courses in the World” that a golfer “must play”
The course is a challenging one, a links situated on the rugged North Devon coast, where its exposed position (it would be flooded by the Atlantic were it not for the pebble ridge!), multitudes of spiky rushes, naturally formed grassy mounds and oft deep bunkers pose a tough round. Don’t be deceived by the relative flatness of the Northam Burrows. Within the clubhouse there is a museum of golfing memorabilia.
Alongside the rows of “elderly spoons” and “feather balls” are literature and art concerning the club and surrounding area, some of it describes the clubs most famous son, J.H. Taylor, keen local golfer and 5 times Open Champion who played, and won with equipment similar to that on display! The Pro Shop, thankfully, has more modern equipment on offer and is well stocked with all the leading brands. From the clubhouse verandah much of the course can be surveyed through powerful binoculars.
There are few better ways to finish a round of golf at Westward Ho! than to relax with a drink in the bar and see the players driving from the first tee and those returning home on the 18th, negotiating the burn in front of the green.
