Latest news with #RoyalCountyDown
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘My junior major win helped me grow'
Ten years on from her staggering 16-shot victory in the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, Northern Ireland's Olivia Mehaffey says that the event in Portugal remains one of the most fun weeks of her career. Not only did she make history by becoming the first Irish girls' winner of the junior major, but she says she matured and made lifelong friends at Quinta do Lago, which will later this year host girls' finals on its 35th anniversary. Mehaffey had qualified on her home course at Royal County Down, having been told by her father that her round was going to act as a qualifier. 'You have to post a good score [if you want] to travel out there,' she says. 'Knowing that, I had nothing to lose, and for me it was a one-day shoot-out. I remember being really excited as no Irish player had reached the finals before.' Mehaffey travelled out to the Algarve having won the Scottish, Irish (for the third year running) and Welsh Open Amateur strokeplay titles. Then came her stunning win in Portugal, which was by one of the biggest winning margins in Junior Championship history. 'I won by 16 shots, but I remember playing the last hole still thinking to myself 'Why are you so nervous!'' she laughs. 'The tournament really develops you as a golfer. We had media training, got to go out to Portugal, play in the am-am and play in front of TV cameras. 'It helped me mature as a player, and I know there were players there younger than me, so to start that development earlier is brilliant.' Mehaffey went on to reach the top five in the amateur world rankings and has played in two Curtis Cups, two US Opens, three Opens and was in the top 10 at the Augusta National Women's Amateur. She attended Arizona State University before turning professional in 2021. 'Education was important, and getting a college degree is something I am very proud of,' she says. 'I didn't need to rush and I had a lot of growing up to do. Having to mature away from my mum and dad helped me get to the next stage of life. 'Golf is extremely humbling. It is so up and down, and you never know what's around the corner. It's about being consistent, doing the things that work for you and not veering off that path.' After Mehaffey lost her father to cancer in late 2021, she took some time away from golf. In March this year she achieved her best showing in over 20 months by finishing fourth on South Africa's Sunshine Tour. She says: 'I had anxiety on the course but worked hard with my sports psychologist. It's nice to go out now and be able to see shots and be comfortable standing up on holes.' A decade on from her memorable win, Mehaffey is best placed to offer advice to those juniors wanting to follow in her footsteps. 'Everyone's journey is different,' she adds. 'There are people who turn pro after a successful amateur career and do well very quickly, and others who take a little bit longer. You have to find your own journey and story, and know you can't compare it to other people.'
Irish Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Best golf courses in Co Down: Bucket list courses and hidden gems from Royal County Down to Belvoir Park
Bucket Lists Is there a greater bucket list course in the world than the Championship Links at Royal County Down ? Augusta National, St Andrews and Pebble Beach might have something to say about that, but it is the sort of international company that this links in Newcastle keeps. Judged to be the best golf course in the world by Golf Digest and often topping lists as the best course in Ireland, Royal County Down is the perfect mix of scenery, prestige and course configuration. [ Fairways to Heaven - Ireland's Ultimate Golf Guide Opens in new window ] The design is attributed to former Open champion Old Tom Morris, but it has been refined by a dozen architects in the past 120 years, most recently by Donald Steel. Like St Andrews and Lahinch, the course is in a seaside town, in this case Newcastle, and when tournaments come the town is taken over by golf. Rory McIlroy has called it his favourite course in the world, although he has had some bitter experiences as a professional there, losing by a shot last year in the Irish Open and missing the cut in 2015, shooting an 80 in the opening round. When the wind blows and it gets wet, it is a beautiful but brutal test, even for the world's best. A view of the 486-yard par four ninth hole on the championship course at the Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Co Down. The club assumed the number one spot from Portmarnock in this year's Golf Digest Ireland top 100-ranked courses. Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Slieve Donard provides the backdrop to a course where the remarkable ninth hole is one such stunning vista. The tee box sits below the crest of a fairway, where there is a view of the golf course with the sea to the left, the back nine and the clubhouse to the right, the mountain and the Slieve Donard hotel ahead. It is a very difficult hole, but the score barely matters for most golfers who are lucky enough to grace Royal County Down. The Annesley Links is Royal County Down lite, a much shorter course with no par 5s, but still carved from the same beauty and physical features. Mackenzie and Ebert carried out a significant redesign in 2015, adding three new holes. With reduced yardage also come reduced green fees, so it is well worth a play. Royal County Down Golf Club, 33 Golf Links Road, Newcastle, Co Down; 02843723314; golf@ ; For a taste of the drama of Royal County Down at a fraction of the price is Ardglass Golf Club , where a supremely scenic front nine stands out. Ardglass has one of the best openings to a course on the island, where you are left thinking 'how have they made a hole here?' The second, called Howd's hole, is one such example. A 167-yard par three, it is played across a rocky inlet to a small, distant putting surface, where the punishment for pulling your tee shot short and left is clear for all to see. Ardglass Golf Club, 4 Castle Place, Ardglass, Co Down; 02844841219; info@ ; Hidden Gem The most easterly golf course in Ireland, Kirkistown Castle Golf Club is one of the better-value links experiences on the island. Situated on the Ards Peninsula, it is easily accessible from Belfast. An old-school links design from James Braid, the old mill is in view on the second, 12th, 15th and 16th greens. The signature hole is the par 5 10th, called 'Long Reach', fittingly named as, with the green on top of a hill after a gradual ascent, it will require a few clubs more from your yardage to get it pin high, especially into the wind. Kirkistown Castle Golf Club, 142 Main Road, Cloughey, Co Down; 02842771233; office@ ; Honourable Mentions Belvoir Park is a top-quality parkland designed by the esteemed Harry Colt, designer of Wentworth and Sunningdale. The course has been largely unaltered since it was first built and should be part of a Belfast golf itinerary. Belvoir Park Golf Club, 73-75 Church Road, Newtownbreda, Belfast; 02890491693; info@ ; Colin Miller of Australia tees off at the Royal Belfast Golf Club, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photograph: Hamish Blair/Allsport Royal Belfast is the oldest golf club in Ireland, established in 1881, and another Harry Colt classic, where panoramic views of Strangford Lough make for a pleasant round. Royal Belfast Golf Club, Station Road, Craigavad, Co Down; 02890428165; admin@ ; Clandeboye Golf Club in Bangor has two great parkland courses on the property, the Dufferin and Ava, and the Dufferin stands out for its yellow gorse and lake views. Clandeboye Golf Club, Tower Road, Conlig, Newtownards, Co Down; 02891271767; office@ ;
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Watch golfer Olivia Mehaffey guide rugby star Rory Best around Royal Portrush
With anticipation mounting ahead of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush this year, we asked former Ireland rugby captain – and passionate golfer – Rory Best to join professional golfer Olivia Mehaffey on the course there to share their thoughts. As the pair play their way around the spectacular course their conversation goes beyond Portrush and the legacy of the Open, exploring the rich tapestry of golf and culture that Northern Ireland and North West Ireland offer. Mehaffey, who honed her skills at Royal County Down when she was young, celebrates the incredible variety and quality of golf in the area – from the rugged beauty of links courses like County Sligo to the luxurious experience at Lough Erne Resort. Best, another member of Royal County Down, agrees and shares his passion for Galgorm and Portstewart. Beyond the greens, the pair discuss the destination's vibrant off-course attractions, from Belfast's bustling Cathedral Quarter to the awe-inspiring Giant's Causeway, and the dramatic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge are just a few of the highlights. Food and drink also feature prominently, with Mehaffey explaining that she has a go-to restaurant in Belfast for every cuisine while Best celebrates the area's warm hospitality. Allow Best and Mehaffey to introduce you to the wonders of the island of Ireland both on and off the course, and then come and explore it for yourselves!
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
No place like home: especially when it has the best golf in the world
Growing up in the island of Ireland, golf wasn't just a hobby; it was a part of our family fabric. I picked up my first club when I was about six years old, and it felt entirely natural, like something we were all just meant to do. I remember the friendly rivalry with my older brother, Luke. Everything was a competition between us, and it was no different on the course. Although we were both pretty good, I think my calm temperament is what eventually led me to go pro. He was… a bit more hot-headed, shall we say? He now works with our mum Evelyn in her interior design business. Everyone thought I would be the one to go into the business with her. I even tried it out for a while – but when clients came in, I'd always steer the conversation towards golf! My dad Philip was the one who patiently took us out to the golf course and our early days were spent at Tandragee Golf Club. Then I joined Royal County Down (RCD) when I was 10. So I was really spoiled. I had the best of both worlds, playing incredible parkland and links courses from a young age, which really shaped my game and soon I was competing all over Ireland. Mum always had an interest in golf too. She loved watching it and understood the game, but she only started playing herself a couple of years ago, and now it's great to see her out on the course every week with her friends, enjoying the social side of it. I think that's one of the best things about golf – it's as much about the people as it is about the game. Especially here on the island of Ireland. My home club, RCD, remains my absolute favourite. It's where I qualified for what is now the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship final in 2015, when I was 16. I went on to win in Portugal. My dad, who always knew everything that was going on, told me it was a qualifier just before I teed off. I remember being so nervous and excited. I was thrilled to represent Northern Ireland when I qualified for that final, and the whole experience set me up for my pro career. But we have so many golfing gems here beyond RCD. County Sligo Golf Club is another one I love. I've played there in several amateur events, and it's simply stunning. The scenery is incredible, and it's a really tough test of golf. It's amazing how many memories you collect at these clubs. Lough Erne Resort holds a special place in my heart as well. It's not just a golf course; it's a whole experience. The spa, the food, the rooms – it caters to everyone, whether they play golf or not. I played the Faldo Series there when I was young and won. And that helped me qualify for events in the United States. I remember the nerves coming down the stretch with all that water on the course. It's definitely a challenge, but those memories are so much fun. Galgorm is another course I love. Every time I go back they've added something new, made it even more challenging. It's a beautiful resort, and it's close to Royal Portrush, Castlerock and Portstewart, which is great – you can base yourself there for a mini break and play all the courses in the area. Galgorm was also the site of my first LPGA event as a professional, which also turned out to be the last time my dad saw me play before he passed away, so it will always be special to me. I had a top 20 finish there, which was a huge highlight of my career. Portstewart is fantastic too, and has special memories for me. I reached the semi-finals of a British Amateur tournament there, with all my family watching. That's another memory I cherish. The opening holes at Portstewart are some of the best I've ever seen and I love how different the front and back nines are. Of course, I have to talk about Royal Portrush. It's one of my favourite places. The town is beautiful, and it has so many great restaurants. For me it's the drive in, seeing the course and the water all laid out in front of you: it is just breathtaking. The course is fun and challenging, but it's also scoreable if you play well. It was amazing to watch the Open there in 2019 and it totally deserved to be the host this year too. Off the course there are so many incredible attractions and experiences on offer. Titanic Belfast is one of my favourite places to visit. I've been four times, taking different friends every time, but getting something new out of it on every visit. The history and the exhibits are so interesting, and the interactive ride is really cool. Belfast is just 45 minutes away from where I live, and I love going there. The food scene is amazing, from Asian cuisine at Zen to the steaks at Top Blade. I love the pubs, the live music and the atmosphere in the Cathedral Quarter. It really feels like home. Away from the city, the Giant's Causeway everyone must know about, but if you've never been, it is another must-see. And if you have been before, you just want to keep going back for more every time you visit. It's just stunning. I love going for walks there. Now that I travel so much, I appreciate being at home even more. When I fly back from touring and see the views as we come in over Dublin, I get a huge smile on my face. And I realise I used to take it all for granted. When I'm on tour in America and people hear my accent, they always ask about golf trips to Ireland. I end up giving them a list of recommendations: restaurants, the sights – and, of course, the golf. Irish golf is so different from golf in America. It's a unique challenge, and people want to experience it. We know how to play in the wind which I think always amazes Americans, and the scenery and hospitality are just amazing, which they love too. I feel so lucky to have grown up playing golf on the island of Ireland. It's shaped who I am, and I'll always love coming home.
