Just as it’s an honor for an Englishman (or woman) to become a knight (or dame), so it is with golf courses in the British Commonwealth. The crown has only bestowed the royal designation on 61 courses, though only 5 clubs have received the monarch’s blessing in the last 55 years. Canada’s Royal Mayfair Golf & Country Club was the most recent in 2005.

How does a club become part of the royal realm? Interested clubs can submit applications to the appropriate office, such as the Ministry of Justice in London for those in England and Northern Ireland. There are no specific criteria a club can meet to gain acceptance, though some kind of connection to a member of the royal family helps. Unfortunately, other than William’s uncle, Prince Andrew, it doesn’t appear as if many royal family members play nowadays.

The most tangible benefits are the prestige the title confers and reciprocal playing privileges, as well as, of course, the chance to be on the LINKS’ first-ever royal ranking. Click on the link below to start your tour.

---

>> No. 10