'The aim is to significantly upgrade the course to reflect Royal Co Down’s status as one of the very best golf courses in the world and one of the most significant golf tourism assets in Northern Ireland'

A ‘Major’ upgrade of a Co Down golf course could be linked to a bid for the Open golf championship.

Royal Co Down in Newcastle has put forward a pre-application notice to the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s planning department this week.

Planning consultants, Clyde Shanks has outlined the proposal for one of the “greatest golf courses in the world” with the view to redevelop nine of the main course holes.

On its website, it states:”The application comprises major development…and the proposals have been the subject of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“The proposed development relates to changes to the existing golf links and comprises new and revised teeing areas, revisions to greens, new bunkers, reconfiguration of fairways and an element of modest duneland reprofiling as well as utilisation of existing parts of the course.

“Specifically, works are proposed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th holes and to the 1st and 2nd holes on the Annesley links.

“The aim is to significantly upgrade the course to reflect Royal Co Down’s status as one of the very best golf courses in the world and one of the most significant golf tourism assets in Northern Ireland.”

Royal Co Down has previously hosted the Irish Open most recently in 2024 attracting some of the bisggest names in world golf.

The British Open is considered the oldest and biggest of the world’s four Major golf championships with four Irish winners of event including Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry,

Portrush previously held the Open in 2019 and 2025 with the town undergoing a £17million regeneration scheme ahead of the first tournament.

Works completed include a £6million public realm scheme, a new £5.6million train station and £500,000 to revitalise local shop fronts.

Independent research suggests the Open in Portrush last year had "a total economic impact of £89.2million" to Northern Ireland.