Royal County Down is the number one rated golf course in the United Kingdom, and it is situated inside a small town of about 7,000 people in Northern Ireland, called Newcastle. In terms of its world rating some people rate it at number 3, others at number 5 and others at number 7 – so as there are with different opinions in everything in life, there are with golf courses – some magazines rating it as superior to Augusta and some rate Augusta superior to it. A more traditional American course like Augusta, or park-type courses like we largely have in Johannesburg certainly suits my game better than a beautiful links course like Royal County Down.

It is however a superb course and I had the privilege of playing it in Northern Ireland, but unfortunately did so in howling winds. Most South Africans would say those are normal winds and that is how one normally plays, but when I played the day before, I was the only person on the course and I was told in no uncertain terms that whatever unpleasant conditions the Irish may play golf in, when it gets that windy and that rainy, they cancel their competitions and go inside! I am going to remember that for myself and for friends who always remind me that, “… if we were in Scotland or Ireland right now, we would be playing in these conditions …”. No, they don’t play in those conditions and in fact it was only me, the mad South African, who was playing in those conditions the day before. Links golf refers to the types of golf courses that are typically running alongside the sea, combined with all sorts of up and down mounds, long grass and usually wind is in play. I got to see some wonderful scenery, some magnificent and totally different types of golf holes design to what we would experience in South Africa and also to get my worse score in 20 games! It is certainly beautiful and if I go there again, I will make sure to book it for two days in a row and to get the hell out of Newcastle immediately thereafter because there is not very much to do!