Royal County Down on GSPro: The World's Best Links

Royal County Down on GSPro is available as “DPC County Down,” a community-built interpretation of the course that many consider the finest links in the world outside the United States. Ranking 57th on the Golf Digest World Top 100 — a number that undersells its reputation among links purists — this is a course designed by Old Tom Morris in 1889 with later refinements by Harry Colt. The GSPro version does justice to its legacy.

The Newcastle Links

Royal County Down sits within the Murlough Nature Reserve, a 6,000-year-old sand dune system at the foot of the Mountains of Mourne. The setting is arguably the most beautiful in all of links golf. The GSPro version captures this dramatically. The massive dunes dwarf the fairways, creating blind shots and forced carries that define the course’s character.

The defining feature of Royal County Down is the way the dunes shape every hole. You cannot see the green from most tees. You aim at a skyline bunker or a distant dune and trust the line. The GSPro version, built by designer simplyme80, respects these sight lines. The blind shots play blind in the sim — you pick a target and hit, just like in real life.

The famed “bearded” bunkers — pot bunkers topped with overhanging marram grass and red fescue — are represented through severe penalty areas. You do not want to find them. The course has more than 100 bunkers, and the GSPro version has them positioned where Old Tom Morris put them.

Course Quality Assessment

The green complexes are the best part of this build. Royal County Down greens are small, well-defended, and tilted in ways that reject balls from the wrong approach angle. The 9th green, sitting in a natural amphitheater of dunes, is one of the most photographed greens in golf. In the GSPro version, the contours are accurate enough that you recognize it immediately.

The fairways are narrow, and the rough is penal. This is not a resort course. Royal County Down demands accuracy off every tee, and the GSPro version enforces that. Hit the fairway or face a recovery shot from dune grass that requires a controlled explosion.

The one compromise is that the Mountains of Mourne backdrop is simplified. The real course has a stunning mountain panorama that is difficult to render convincingly on a simulator screen. The course plays correctly, but you miss some of the visual magic.

How to Access Royal County Down on GSPro

Royal County Down is available as “DPC County Down” on the GSPro course server. It was created by the designer simplyme80. Search for “County Down” in the SGT course library to find it. No Patreon subscription is required.

The “DPC” prefix indicates it is a community-designed interpretation rather than an officially licensed version. It is free to download with any GSPro subscription.

FAQ

Is Royal County Down available on GSPro?

Yes, as “DPC County Down.” It is a free community-built course on the GSPro course server created by designer simplyme80. Search for “County Down” in the SGT library.

How realistic is the DPC County Down version?

The routing and green contours are well captured. The blind shots and dune topography are correctly represented. The Mountain of Mourne backdrop is simplified. The course plays authentically difficult.

Can I play Royal County Down on other simulator software?

Yes. Royal County Down is available on TGC 2019 as a community-built version created by Cathalos1991. It is also a licensed course on E6 Connect.

Is Royal County Down suitable for beginners?

No. This is one of the most difficult courses in world golf, and the GSPro version maintains that reputation. The blind shots, narrow fairways, and penal rough make it a challenge for any handicap. Single-digit players will appreciate the test.

What wind setting should I use for Royal County Down?

Medium to High. The course is exposed to the Irish Sea, and the wind direction dramatically changes how each hole plays. The famous “no-name” par-3 7th hole needs wind to play as intended.

How do I download DPC County Down on GSPro?

Open the GSPro course server, search “County Down,” find the DPC County Down listing, and click download. It appears under C in your course library.