Royal North Devon Golf Club
Golf Links Road, Westward Ho!,
Bideford, Devon EX39 1HD
Tel : +44 (0)1237 473817 Fax : +44 (0)1237 423456

This is the oldest seaside links in England, a mark of eminence which confirms its historic importance. It is also home to the oldest ladies Golf Club in the world, first playing golf on the famous North Burrows in 1870. It was described by JH Taylor, the most celebrated of its sons as 'the greatest natural golf links in the world' while General Moncrieffe assured the club founder Mr Gossett, Vicar of Northam, that 'this spot was designed by Providence for a golf links'. Such a claim has since been applied many times elsewhere but though it underlines the sense of timelessness that gives Westward Ho! its unmistakable romance, it conveys a messge that is too often forgotten.
No club is prouder of its past than Royal North Devon which today has something of a fictional ring to it. There is the example of JH Taylor, a boot boy in the house of Horace Hutchinson' father, who graduated from caddie to become five times Open champion and later the club's President.

Directions
3 km north of Bideford (A39).M5 juction 27 onto the A361 to Barnstaple, then take the A39 west to Wstward Ho!

Further Information
Information herein provided by the club 18 July 1998.


Course Details

Course Name: Westward Ho! Holes: 18 Yardage: 6653 SSS: 72
This is a challenging golf course especially the famous bunker on the 4th hole and the equally famous 3 great sea rush holes, the 19th,11th, 12th.

For an appreciation and independent view of this course please see golfer reviews.
press here for Royal North Devon Golf Club course reviews



Reader Comments / Reviews Leave a comment
  • Europe Golf courses reviews Malcolm Aldridge (m.aldridge@elsevier.co.uk

    Malcolm Aldridge wrote on: Nov 30, 2000

    A magnificent course which I had the pleasure of playing twice during a golfing weekend in the area. The place just oozes class and tradition - you can feel it as soon as you arrive. Just walking the course is a pleasure but playing it is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered.
    The quality holes are too numerous to detail but special mention has to be made about the 4th - if you stand on this tee and are not intimidated but also inspired by the expanse of bunker towering in front of you then you should take up bowls.
    The early holes on the back nine with their views and sounds of the sea are ones to be savoured as well. If you love links golf then your 'collection' isn't complete until you've played here and anyway, how could you resist visiting somewhere which the marvellous name 'Westward Ho!' ??

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