Royal North Devon Golf Club
Royal North Devon is the cradle of English links golf. Founded in 1864 and laid out by Old Tom Morris on the wild common at Westward Ho!, it is the oldest links in England and the oldest course in the world still played over its original ground. Sheep and horses still graze the fairways, the great sea rushes still swallow the wayward shot, and the past is everywhere underfoot.
Photo: The Royal North Devon Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
To play Royal North Devon is to step back to the beginnings of the game outside Scotland. Old Tom Morris laid out the original course in 1864 on Northam Burrows, common land where grazing rights mean sheep and horses share the links to this day. Herbert Fowler later revised the routing, but the club's guiding policy has always been to leave well alone, changing the course only when coastal erosion forces its hand. The result is a links of rare authenticity, raw and timeless.
It rewards the traveller who values history and character over manicured perfection, and it belongs on any serious links pilgrimage, paired with the wider southwest or as a destination in its own right. The Atlantic wind, the firm turf and the eccentric hazards make it a genuine test as well as a museum piece. Embrace the sheep, the rushes and the ridge, and you play golf as the Victorians knew it.
Royal North Devon at a glance
- Founded
- 1864
- Design
- Old Tom Morris
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,650 yds
- Green fee
- Around £100
Founding year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and historical records. Royal North Devon was founded in 1864 and laid out by Old Tom Morris, making it the oldest links in England; Herbert Fowler revised the course in the early 1900s. It plays to a par 71 of around 6,650 yards. The course is common land still grazed by sheep and horses. The green fee is indicative, around 100 pounds in 2026, with seasonal and twilight rates. Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Royal North Devon defends itself with hazards found nowhere else. The great sea rushes, tall sharp reeds that can stand higher than a golfer, guard several holes and swallow any shot that drifts off line, while the Pebble Ridge, a vast bank of stones thrown up by the Atlantic, frames the seaward boundary. The turf is firm and fast, the wind is relentless off Bideford Bay, and the grazing animals are simply part of the round.
The 4th, the Cape hole, is the signature, a par 4 played over a huge cross bunker faced with old railway sleepers, a hazard as intimidating as any in links golf and a relic of a bolder age of design. From there the course works out toward the ridge and back, exposed and honest, with the rushes lurking for the loose shot throughout.
This is not a course of manufactured drama but of genuine, weathered character. The greens are subtle, the lies can be quirky, and the whole experience rewards a sense of adventure as much as a polished swing. Few rounds in England connect you so directly to the origins of the game.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members club that warmly welcomes visitors seven days a week, subject to members' competitions |
| Green fee | Around 100 pounds in 2026 (indicative), with seasonal, twilight and second round rates |
| Booking | Book ahead in summer; the club is welcoming but visitor times work around the members' calendar |
| On the day | A walking course over open common; mind the grazing sheep and horses and the loose pebbles near the ridge |
| Getting there | At Westward Ho! near Bideford in north Devon, around an hour from Exeter and the M5 |
| Best months | May to September for firm turf and longer days, though the Atlantic wind is ever present |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026 from the club and public listings; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The seaside village of Westward Ho! sits beside the links, with the larger towns of Bideford and Barnstaple close by for a wider choice of hotels and inns. North Devon makes a relaxed, scenic base, and the club pairs well with Saunton down the coast for a two course links break.
For a longer trip the southwest opens up, with the coast of north Cornwall and the links at Trevose within reach for a full week of contrasting seaside golf. Exeter offers the nearest fast rail and air connections.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Westward Ho! and Bideford.
A north Devon links break
We arrange Royal North Devon alongside Saunton and the southwest links, secure tee times around the members' calendar and sort a comfortable Devon base with transfers. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Royal North Devon questions
Why is Royal North Devon the oldest links in England?
Royal North Devon was founded in 1864 and laid out by Old Tom Morris at Westward Ho!, making it the oldest golf links in England. It is also widely regarded as the oldest course in the world still played over its original piece of ground, the common land of Northam Burrows.
Who designed Royal North Devon?
The original course was laid out by Old Tom Morris of St Andrews in 1864. The architect Herbert Fowler revised and modernised the routing in the early twentieth century. The club's long standing policy is to change the course only when coastal erosion makes it necessary, preserving its historic character.
Are there really sheep on the course?
Yes. Royal North Devon is laid out on common land where ancient grazing rights still apply, so sheep and horses roam and graze the links. They are a genuine and much loved part of the experience, a living link to how Victorian golf was played.
What is the par and length of Royal North Devon?
Royal North Devon plays to a par of 71 and measures around 6,650 yards from the back tees. Its defences are the firm turf, the Atlantic wind, the towering sea rushes and the famous sleeper faced cross bunker at the 4th, the Cape hole.
How much does it cost to play Royal North Devon?
Indicative 2026 green fees are around 100 pounds, with seasonal, twilight and second round rates available. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm current rates directly before booking with the club.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, founding year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.