Each golf course these days has one particular hole called a "signature" hole. If Northern Ireland had a signature course then Royal County Down would be it.

Nestled in the huge sand dunes beside the sleepy town of Newcastle where the Mountains of Mourne really do sweep down to the sea, the Championship Course is a golfing feast of banqueting proportions.

The legendary Tom Morris laid out this course in 1889 and was paid four golden guineas for his work - a paltry sum even for those days - but, as he said at the time, it was already 90 percent to being a golf course long before he put in the tees, greens and bunkers. This was probably the first links course with two loops of nine starting and finishing at the clubhouse. Before, it was nine holes out and nine holes back.

Royal County Down is always up amongst the best when it comes to lists and rankings but it's only when you play it that you fully realize its merits. Quite expensive but play once at least.