GOLF
2024 Irish Open How much does it cost to play at Royal County Down?
Rory McIlroy is the star attraction this week as he returns to the DP World Tour in Newcastle, Northern Ireland.
The 2024 Irish Open takes place at Royal County Down in Newcastle, Northern Ireland between Thursday, September 12 and Sunday, September 15, with Rory McIlroy the star attraction as he returns to his homeland.
After tying for ninth in the season-ending Tour Championship, and by consequence the FedEx Cup, on the PGA Tour at the start of the month, the 35-year-old is expected to end the year by playing five tournaments on the DP World Tour, the first of which is at County Down this week.
Rory McIlroy bidding to win second Irish Open
McIlroy has previously won the Irish Open, which changes venue from year to year, although his 2016 victory came at The K Club, which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup.
The tournament has been played at the Northern Irish venue on five occasions, although only one of those is in recent memory. After 1928, 1935 and 1939, the Irish Open returned to County Down for the first time in 76 years in 2015, when Denmark’s Søren Kjeldesen was the winner.
Seve Ballesteros (three times), Nick Faldo (three times), Jon Rahm (twice), Ben Crenshaw, Sergio García and Shane Lowry (as an amateur) are also among previous winners. John Catlin was the most recent American to triumph at Galgorm Castle in 2020.
Royal County Down courses and green fees
This 2024 Irish Open will be played on County Down’s Championship Links, which anybody can play provided they stump up the cash.
According to the golf club’s official website, the course will be closed between November 2024 and March 2025, opening again for bookings in mid-April. Visitors can arrange to play on weekday mornings, weekday afternoons and Sunday afternoons, when green fees all cost £425 (currently $554.85).
You also have the option to play two rounds in one day for £575 ($750.68). Those prices have been established until October 2025.
There is also a second, much more budget-friendly course next door. Also between mid-April and October 2025, you can play a round on the Annesley Links for “just” £65 ($84.86).