Royal North Devon Golf Club, also known as Westward Ho!, is a historic and essential links course. Established in 1864, it is the oldest course in England still using its original fairways and the oldest links course outside Scotland. It is also home to the world’s second oldest ladies’ golf club, founded in 1868, just a year after the first at St. Andrews.
Bernard Darwin, in his book “The Golf Courses of the British Isles,” described Westward Ho! as more than just a golfing destination, calling it a “reverent pilgrimage.” The course was initially laid out by Old Tom Morris and later revised by Herbert Fowler in 1908. The course remains largely unchanged, maintaining its natural charm with flat and folded fairways devoid of trees or hedges, save for some brambles and plenty of reeds and rushes ready to catch errant shots.
Playing on this common land, golfers share the course with sheep and horses, which have life membership. A unique local rule allows players to drop their ball without penalty if it lands in a hoof mark. Navigating the course can be challenging, so a yardage book is recommended to avoid teeing off in the wrong direction.
The clubhouse offers a magnificent panoramic view and a chance to explore golfing memorabilia in its museum area. As Darwin noted, no visit is complete without enjoying tea at the clubhouse, featuring Devonshire cream and jam rolls. Embrace the spirit of Royal North Devon and its storied past.
