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Golf Advisor reader Seth W. wrote to us and asked, "How come some British Open courses are 'Royal' and others not? What is a Royal course, anyways?"
The faux retro holes at Royal Links Golf Club in Las Vegas are interesting and a lot of fun to play. Versions of the par-4 10th at Royal Birkdale in England or, from Scotland, Royal Troon’s short par-3 8th hole (“Postage Stamp”) seem entirely in place in a city with a faux Brooklyn Bridge and Eiffel Tower.
It will come as no surprise to the fee-paying players at Royal Links that the place isn’t really "royal." True to the image that the entire town has carefully cultivated, the name of the golf course is...well, if not exactly phony, then less than properly authenticated.
Despite an impressive-looking crown as a club logo, Royal Links is a pretender. It's not the only one, mind you. There’s also Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota; Royal Melbourne Country Club in Lake Grove, Illinois, Royal American Links Golf Club in Galena, Ohio; Royal New Kent Golf Club in Providence Forge, Virginia; and ten variants of Royal Oak or Royal Oaks in the U.S.
They all lack the proper credentials attesting to sovereign prerogative from Buckingham Palace. Nobody of certified royal lineage has blessed upon the place the patronage of the royal family. It’s a practice that started back in 1833, when King William IV gave the royal stamp of approval to what had been Perth Golfing Society in Scotland. A year later, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews acquired its newfound status.
Befitting the reach of an empire on whose domain the sun never sets, the royal designation has been affixed to 66 golf clubs around the world, in countries like Malta, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. On two anomalous occasions, the designation was extended outside of Commonwealth domain: Royal Homburger Golf Club in Germany in 2013; Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne in the Czech Republic in 2003; and Royal Port Moresby Golf Club in Papua New Guinea in 2012.
The two Irish clubs on the list were granted status before Irish independence: Royal Dublin Golf Club (1893) and Royal Curragh Golf Club (1910). Two clubs have since abandoned the title: Royal Isle of Wight Golf Club because it closed down, and Royal Hong Kong Golf Club out of deference to its newfound status under Chinese administration.
The royal designation is not just nominal. It generally is bestowed upon clubs with a certain elevated class status, home to elite businessmen and families with considerable wealth and influence. At many British clubs for example, working class and white-collar members will caddie for foreign guests, at a fee of around £50 ($62), roughly enough to cover a month's dues.
That’s the case in Northern Ireland, where the caddie corps at Portstewart Golf Club comprises club members. Not so at nearby Royal Portrush Golf Club, or down the coast at Royal County Down Golf Club, where the members would not stoop to working openly with their hands to pay for their golf.
Not all clubs in the royal family are so proud, however. At two of Scotland’s oldest links, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Royal Montrose Golf Club, members are un-self-conscious enough of status issues and mindful of household economy to the point where they provide the bulk of the caddie corps.
What does it take to become royal? Sometimes the initiative has come at the behest of royal family who enjoyed access to the club. Other times it was a matter of discrete inquiry by the club itself.
So maybe the likes of Royal Links in Las Vegas should sent a letter to her majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Or better yet, to her golf-loving second son, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
U.S. applicants, however, should be wary of a little known part of the U.S. Constitution banning titles of nobility “of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.” That’s the text of Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8, otherwise known (are you ready?) as the Emoluments Clause. Imagine that - politics might get in the way of mixing royalty with golf in this country. Looks we’ll have to make do with fake titles, rather than real ones.
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Comments (16)
Here are 234 with 'Royal' in facility / club name. There are a dozen others with 'Royal' in course name.
- Royal Adelaide Golf Club, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Royal Canberra Golf Club, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Royal Military College Golf Club, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Black Rock, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Park Golf Club, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Pines Resort, Ashmore, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Queensland Golf Club, Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Perth Golf Club, South Perth, Swan, Australia
- Royal Australian Engineers Golf Club, Moorebank, Sydney, Australia
- Royal Sydney Golf Club, Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia
- Royal Hobart Golf Club, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Royal Fremantle Golf Club, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
- Royal Westmoreland Golf & Country Club, St. James, St. James, Barbados
- Royal Golf Club Du Hainaut, Erbisoeul, Hainaut, Belgium
- Royal Antwerp Golf Club, Kapellen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Royal Amicale Anderlecht Golf Club, Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Royal Latem Golf Club, Sint-Martens-Latem, East Flanders, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Tervuren, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club De Sart Tilman, Angleur, Liege, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club Des Fagnes, Spa, Liege, Belgium
- Royal Limburg Golf Club, Houthalen, Limburg, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club Du Chateau Royal d'Ardenne, Houyet, Namur, Belgium
- Royal Waterloo Golf Club, Ohain, Walloon Brabant, Belgium
- Royal Ostend Golf Club, De Haan, West Flanders, Belgium
- Royal Zoute Golf Club, Knokke-Heist, West Flanders, Belgium
- Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
- Royal Thimphu Golf Course, Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan
- Royal Golf Residence Society Course, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
- Royal Brunei Airlines - RBA Golf Club, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
- Royal Brunei Golf & Country Club, Jerudong, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
- Royal Cambodia Phnom Penh Golf Club, Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Royal York Golf Course, Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Colwood Golf Club, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Oaks Estates and Golf Club, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Annapolis Royal Golf & Country Club, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Royal Ashburn Golf Club, Ashburn, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Ontario Golf Club, Hornby, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Estate Golf Club, Maidstone, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Niagara Golf Club, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Stouffville Golf Course, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Michaels Bay Golf Course, Tehkummah, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Estrie Golf Club, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
- The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Quebec, Boischatel, Quebec, Canada
- Le Royal Bromont, Bromont, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Charbourg, Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
- The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Ile Bizard, Quebec, Canada
- Royal Papineau Golf and Resort, Notre Dame de la Salette, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Laurentien, Saint Faustin, Quebec, Canada
- Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne, Mariánské Lázně, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
- Royal Golf Club Malevil, Jablonné v Podještědí, Liberec, Czech Republic
- Royal Golf Club, København, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Royal Golf Club - City Golf Copenhagen Course, København, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Rødding, Vejen, Denmark
- Royal Valley Golf Club, Cairo, Egypt
- Royal Norwich Golf Club, Hellesdon, Broadland, England
- Vale Royal Abbey, Whitegate, Cheshire West and Chester, England
- Oak Royal Golf & Country Club, Withnell, Chorley, England
- Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, London, City of London, England
- Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, Dover, England
- The Royal St. Georges Golf Club, Sandwich, Dover, England
- The Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, England
- The Royal Automobile Club: Woodcote Park, Epsom, Epsom and Ewell, England
- Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club, Worlington, Forest Heath, England
- Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lytham St Annes, Fylde, England
- Royal Blackheath Golf Club, Eltham, Greenwich, England
- Royal West Norfolk, King's Lynn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, England
- Royal Cromer Golf Club, Cromer, North Norfolk, England
- Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, Richmond, Richmond, England
- Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Sefton, England
- Royal North Devon Golf Club, Bideford, Torridge, England
- Royal Epping Forest Golf Club, Chingford, Waltham Forest, England
- Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Forest Row, Wealden, England
- Royal Winchester Golf Club, Winchester, Winchester, England
- Royal Ascot Golf Club, Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead, England
- Royal Household Golf Club, Windsor, Windsor and Maidenhead, England
- Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, Wirral, England
- Royal Mougins Golf Club, Mougins, Alpes-Maritimes, France
- Golf de Pont Royal, Mallemort, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
- Royal Saint Barbara's Dortmund Golf Club, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
- Royal Guernsey Golf Club, L'Ancresse, Vale, Guernsey
- Royal Balaton Golf & Yacht Club, Balatonudvari, Veszprém, Hungary
- Royal Garha Golf Club, Indore, Indore, India
- Royal Jaipur Golf Club, Jaipur, Jaipur, India
- Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Tollygunge, Kolkata, India
- Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar, Srinagar, India
- Royal Cirebon Golf, Ciperna, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
- Royal Sumatra Golf & Country Club, Mangga, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
- The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
- Royal Curragh Golf Club, Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland
- Royal Tara Golf Club, Navan, County Meath, Ireland
- Royal Park Golf and Country Club, Fiano, Piedmont, Italy
- Le Costiere Persano Royal Golf, Serre, Salerno, Italy
- Royal Golf La Bagnaia, Bagnaia, Siena, Italy
- Royal Jersey Golf Club, Grouville, Grouville, Jersey
- Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya
- Royal Golf Club, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain
- Royal Kedah Golf Club, Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia
- Royal Military College Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Kelab Golf Diraja Pahang - Royal Pahang Golf Club, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Royal Perak Golf Club, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
- Royal Kampung Kuantan Golf & Country Club, Bukit Rotan, Selangor, Malaysia
- Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia
- Royal Malta Golf Club, Marsa, Malta
- Benslimane Royal Golf Club, Ben Slimane, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Morocco
- Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Morocco
- El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida, Doukkala-Abda, Morocco
- Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes, Fes-Boulemane, Morocco
- Royal Golf De Kenitra, Kenitra, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen, Morocco
- Royal Golf D'Anfa Mohammedia, Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco
- Royal Marrakech Golf Club, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco
- Domaine Royal Palm Marrakech - Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco
- Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes, Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco
- Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer, Morocco
- Agadir Royal Golf Club, Agadir, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco
- Ouarzazate Royal Golf Club, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco
- Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier, Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco
- Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan, Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco
- Royal Myanmar Golf Club, Zabuthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
- Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club, Yangon, Yangon Region, Myanmar
- Royal Nepal Golf Club, Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Royal NZ Navy Golf Society, Browns Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
- Royal Auckland Golf Club, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
- Royal Wellington Golf Club, UPPER HUTT, Wellington, New Zealand
- Royal Valley Golf Resort - Igosun, Offa, Kwara, Nigeria
- Royal Golf Course, Bida, Niger, Nigeria
- Down Royal Park Golf Course, Maze, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- The Royal Belfast Golf Club, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, Port Moresby, National Capital, Papua New Guinea
- Royal Northwoods Golf & Residential Estates, San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines
- Royal Garden Golf & Country Club, Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines
- Royal Krakow Golf & Country Club, Krakow, Lesser Poland, Poland
- Royal Obidos SPA & Golf Resort, Óbidos, Oeste, Portugal
- Royal Isabela, Isabela, Isabela, Puerto Rico
- Royal Samoa Country Club, Fagalii, Tuamasaga, Samoa
- Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
- Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen City, Scotland
- Duff House Royal Golf Club, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Royal Tarlair Golf Club, Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland
- Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, Barnton, Edinburgh City, Scotland
- Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland
- Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
- Royal Port Alfred Golf Club, Port Alfred, Cacadu, South Africa
- Royal Cape Golf Club, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Royal Oak Country Club, Brakpan, Ekurhuleni, South Africa
- Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban, eThekwini, South Africa
- Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, Linksfield North, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Royal Northland Golf Club, Bela-Bela, Waterberg, South Africa
- Mt Royal Golf & Country Estate - Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury, West Coast, South Africa
- Royal Colombo Golf Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, Basseterre, Saint George Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
- Royal Swazi Golf Course, Ezulwini, Swaziland
- Royal Drottningholms Golf Club, Drottningholm, Ekerö, Sweden
- Royal Kuan-Hsi Golf Club, Guanxi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan
- Royal Country Club, Touwu Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan
- Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
- Royal Lakeside Golf Club, Nong Chok, Chachoengsao, Thailand
- Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort, Mae Faek, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Royal Fleet Golf Club, Sattahip, Chonburi, Thailand
- Royal Thai Army Sports Center, Anusawari, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand
- Royal Dusit Golf Club, Suan Chit Lada, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand
- Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Sarika, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force Thong Yai, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- The Royal Gems Golf & Sports Club, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force Dhupatemiya Golf Club, Khu Khot, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Royal Gems Golf City, Rangsit, Pathumthani, Thailand
- Tublamu Royal Navy Golf Course, Lam Kaen, Phang Nga, Thailand
- Springfield Royal Country Club, Sam Phraya, Phetchaburi, Thailand
- Royal Bang Pa-in Golf Club, Bang Krasan , Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand
- Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
- Royal Thai Army Panurangsi Golf Club, Ko Phlapphla, Ratchaburi, Thailand
- Royal Rachaburi Golf Club, Lum Din, Ratchaburi, Thailand
- The Royal Golf & Country Club, Sisa Chorakhe Noi, Samut Prakan, Thailand
- Royal Samui Golf & Country Club, Bo Phut, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Royal Kiev Golf Club, Zhytomyr, Zhytomyr, Ukraine
- Royal Palms Golf Course, Mesa, Arizona, US
- Royal Vista Golf Club, Walnut, California, US
- Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida, US
- Cape Royal Golf Club, Cape Coral, Florida, US
- Monarch Golf Club at Royal Highlands, Leesburg, Florida, US
- Royal Poinciana Golf Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Palm Country Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Wood Golf & Country Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Club, Ocala, Florida, US
- Royal St. Cloud Golf Links, Saint Cloud, Florida, US
- Royal St. Augustine Golf and Country Club, St. Augustine, Florida, US
- Royal Oak Resort & Golf Club, Titusville, Florida, US
- Royal Lakes Golf & Country Club, Flowery Branch, Georgia, US
- Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, Kailua, Hawaii, US
- Royal Ka'anapali, Lahaina, Hawaii, US
- Royal Kunia Country Club, Waipahu, Hawaii, US
- Royal Melbourne, Long Grove, Illinois, US
- Royal Hawk Country Club, Saint Charles, Illinois, US
- Royal Fox Golf Club, Saint Charles, Illinois, US
- Royal Hylands Golf Club, Knightstown, Indiana, US
- Royal Cypress Golf Club, Sacramento, Kentucky, US
- Royal Golf Club, Slidell, Louisiana, US
- Royal Crest Country Club, Walpole, Massachusetts, US
- Royal Scot Golf Course, Lansing, Michigan, US
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Royal Oak, Michigan, US
- Royal Golf Club, Lake Elmo, Minnesota, US
- Royal Meadows Golf Course, Kansas City, Missouri, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Course, Whiteman AFB, Missouri, US
- Royal Links Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
- Royal Crest Golf Club, Columbia Station, Ohio, US
- Royal American Links Golf Club, Galena, Ohio, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Club, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, US
- Royal Manchester Golf Links, Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania, US
- Port Royal Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Course & Event Center, Maryville, Tennessee, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Dallas, Texas, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Houston, Texas, US
- Front Royal Country Club, Front Royal, Virginia, US
- The Royal Virginian Golf Course, Louisa, Virginia, US
- Royal New Kent Golf Club, Providence Forge, Virginia, US
- Royal City Public Golf Course, Royal City, Washington, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, Washington, US
- Royal Scot Golf Club, New Franken, Wisconsin, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Resort, Waupaca, Wisconsin, US
- Royal St. Patrick's Golf Course, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, US
- Royal Island Golf & Villas, Bạch Đằng, Binh Duong, Vietnam
- Golf Hoang Gia - Royal Golf Club, Tam Điệp, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
- Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales
- Royal St. David's Golf Club, Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
- Royal Harare Golf Club, Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe
You might want to actually read the Constitution before claiming to represent what it says. Art I, section 9, clause 8 provides:
"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."
This would not prohibit most courses in the US from being labeled Royal. It applies only to a person "holding any Office of Profit or Trust." This would prevent Trump, all elected officials, most persons appointed by the President and approved by the Senate, and many, if not all, military personnel from accepting the designation on something they owned, but would not otherwise prevent any average citizen or corporate entity from doing so.
Here are 234 with 'Royal' in facility / club name. There are a dozen others with 'Royal' in course name.
- Royal Adelaide Golf Club, Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Royal Canberra Golf Club, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Royal Military College Golf Club, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Black Rock, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Park Golf Club, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Royal Pines Resort, Ashmore, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Queensland Golf Club, Eagle Farm, Queensland, Australia
- Royal Perth Golf Club, South Perth, Swan, Australia
- Royal Australian Engineers Golf Club, Moorebank, Sydney, Australia
- Royal Sydney Golf Club, Rose Bay, Sydney, Australia
- Royal Hobart Golf Club, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Royal Fremantle Golf Club, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
- Royal Westmoreland Golf & Country Club, St. James, St. James, Barbados
- Royal Golf Club Du Hainaut, Erbisoeul, Hainaut, Belgium
- Royal Antwerp Golf Club, Kapellen, Antwerp, Belgium
- Royal Amicale Anderlecht Golf Club, Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Royal Latem Golf Club, Sint-Martens-Latem, East Flanders, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Tervuren, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club De Sart Tilman, Angleur, Liege, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club Des Fagnes, Spa, Liege, Belgium
- Royal Limburg Golf Club, Houthalen, Limburg, Belgium
- Royal Golf Club Du Chateau Royal d'Ardenne, Houyet, Namur, Belgium
- Royal Waterloo Golf Club, Ohain, Walloon Brabant, Belgium
- Royal Ostend Golf Club, De Haan, West Flanders, Belgium
- Royal Zoute Golf Club, Knokke-Heist, West Flanders, Belgium
- Port Royal Golf Course, Southampton, Bermuda
- Royal Thimphu Golf Course, Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan
- Royal Golf Residence Society Course, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
- Royal Brunei Airlines - RBA Golf Club, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
- Royal Brunei Golf & Country Club, Jerudong, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
- Royal Cambodia Phnom Penh Golf Club, Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Royal York Golf Course, Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Colwood Golf Club, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Royal Oaks Estates and Golf Club, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
- Annapolis Royal Golf & Country Club, Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Royal Ashburn Golf Club, Ashburn, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Ontario Golf Club, Hornby, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Estate Golf Club, Maidstone, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Niagara Golf Club, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Stouffville Golf Course, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Michaels Bay Golf Course, Tehkummah, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Woodbine Golf Club, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Royal Estrie Golf Club, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada
- The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Quebec, Boischatel, Quebec, Canada
- Le Royal Bromont, Bromont, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Charbourg, Charlesbourg, Quebec, Canada
- The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Ile Bizard, Quebec, Canada
- Royal Papineau Golf and Resort, Notre Dame de la Salette, Quebec, Canada
- Club de Golf Royal Laurentien, Saint Faustin, Quebec, Canada
- Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Royal Golf Club Marianske Lazne, Mariánské Lázně, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
- Royal Golf Club Malevil, Jablonné v Podještědí, Liberec, Czech Republic
- Royal Golf Club, København, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Royal Golf Club - City Golf Copenhagen Course, København, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Rødding, Vejen, Denmark
- Royal Valley Golf Club, Cairo, Egypt
- Royal Norwich Golf Club, Hellesdon, Broadland, England
- Vale Royal Abbey, Whitegate, Cheshire West and Chester, England
- Oak Royal Golf & Country Club, Withnell, Chorley, England
- Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, London, City of London, England
- Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, Dover, England
- The Royal St. Georges Golf Club, Sandwich, Dover, England
- The Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, England
- The Royal Automobile Club: Woodcote Park, Epsom, Epsom and Ewell, England
- Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club, Worlington, Forest Heath, England
- Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, Lytham St Annes, Fylde, England
- Royal Blackheath Golf Club, Eltham, Greenwich, England
- Royal West Norfolk, King's Lynn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, England
- Royal Cromer Golf Club, Cromer, North Norfolk, England
- Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club, Richmond, Richmond, England
- Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Sefton, England
- Royal North Devon Golf Club, Bideford, Torridge, England
- Royal Epping Forest Golf Club, Chingford, Waltham Forest, England
- Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club, Forest Row, Wealden, England
- Royal Winchester Golf Club, Winchester, Winchester, England
- Royal Ascot Golf Club, Ascot, Windsor and Maidenhead, England
- Royal Household Golf Club, Windsor, Windsor and Maidenhead, England
- Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake, Wirral, England
- Royal Mougins Golf Club, Mougins, Alpes-Maritimes, France
- Golf de Pont Royal, Mallemort, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
- Royal Saint Barbara's Dortmund Golf Club, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
- Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana
- Royal Guernsey Golf Club, L'Ancresse, Vale, Guernsey
- Royal Balaton Golf & Yacht Club, Balatonudvari, Veszprém, Hungary
- Royal Garha Golf Club, Indore, Indore, India
- Royal Jaipur Golf Club, Jaipur, Jaipur, India
- Royal Calcutta Golf Club, Tollygunge, Kolkata, India
- Royal Springs Golf Course, Srinagar, Srinagar, India
- Royal Cirebon Golf, Ciperna, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
- Royal Sumatra Golf & Country Club, Mangga, Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
- The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
- Royal Curragh Golf Club, Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland
- Royal Tara Golf Club, Navan, County Meath, Ireland
- Royal Park Golf and Country Club, Fiano, Piedmont, Italy
- Le Costiere Persano Royal Golf, Serre, Salerno, Italy
- Royal Golf La Bagnaia, Bagnaia, Siena, Italy
- Royal Jersey Golf Club, Grouville, Grouville, Jersey
- Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Nairobi, Kenya
- Royal Golf Club, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain
- Royal Kedah Golf Club, Alor Star, Kedah, Malaysia
- Royal Military College Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Kelab Golf Diraja Pahang - Royal Pahang Golf Club, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
- Royal Perak Golf Club, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
- Royal Kampung Kuantan Golf & Country Club, Bukit Rotan, Selangor, Malaysia
- Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Malaysia
- Royal Malta Golf Club, Marsa, Malta
- Benslimane Royal Golf Club, Ben Slimane, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Morocco
- Settat University Royal Golf Club, Settat, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Morocco
- El Jadida Royal Golf Club, El Jadida, Doukkala-Abda, Morocco
- Fes Royal Golf Club, Fes, Fes-Boulemane, Morocco
- Royal Golf De Kenitra, Kenitra, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen, Morocco
- Royal Golf D'Anfa Mohammedia, Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco
- Royal Marrakech Golf Club, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco
- Domaine Royal Palm Marrakech - Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Marrakech, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Morocco
- Meknes Royal Golf Club, Meknes, Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco
- Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer, Morocco
- Agadir Royal Golf Club, Agadir, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco
- Ouarzazate Royal Golf Club, Ouarzazate, Souss-Massa-Draa, Morocco
- Tangier Royal Golf Club, Tangier, Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco
- Cabo Negro Royal Golf Club, Tetouan, Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco
- Royal Myanmar Golf Club, Zabuthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
- Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club, Yangon, Yangon Region, Myanmar
- Royal Nepal Golf Club, Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Royal NZ Navy Golf Society, Browns Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
- Royal Auckland Golf Club, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand
- Royal Wellington Golf Club, UPPER HUTT, Wellington, New Zealand
- Royal Valley Golf Resort - Igosun, Offa, Kwara, Nigeria
- Royal Golf Course, Bida, Niger, Nigeria
- Down Royal Park Golf Course, Maze, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Royal Portrush Golf Club, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- The Royal Belfast Golf Club, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Royal County Down Golf Club, Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Royal Palm Golf & Country Club, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, Port Moresby, National Capital, Papua New Guinea
- Royal Northwoods Golf & Residential Estates, San Rafael, Bulacan, Philippines
- Royal Garden Golf & Country Club, Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines
- Royal Krakow Golf & Country Club, Krakow, Lesser Poland, Poland
- Royal Obidos SPA & Golf Resort, Óbidos, Oeste, Portugal
- Royal Isabela, Isabela, Isabela, Puerto Rico
- Royal Samoa Country Club, Fagalii, Tuamasaga, Samoa
- Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
- Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen City, Scotland
- Duff House Royal Golf Club, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Royal Tarlair Golf Club, Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Royal Musselburgh Golf Club, Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland
- Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh, Barnton, Edinburgh City, Scotland
- Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland
- Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland
- Royal Port Alfred Golf Club, Port Alfred, Cacadu, South Africa
- Royal Cape Golf Club, Wynberg, Cape Town, South Africa
- Royal Oak Country Club, Brakpan, Ekurhuleni, South Africa
- Royal Durban Golf Club, Durban, eThekwini, South Africa
- Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club, Linksfield North, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Royal Northland Golf Club, Bela-Bela, Waterberg, South Africa
- Mt Royal Golf & Country Estate - Malmesbury Golf Club, Malmesbury, West Coast, South Africa
- Royal Colombo Golf Club, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, Basseterre, Saint George Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
- Royal Swazi Golf Course, Ezulwini, Swaziland
- Royal Drottningholms Golf Club, Drottningholm, Ekerö, Sweden
- Royal Kuan-Hsi Golf Club, Guanxi Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan
- Royal Country Club, Touwu Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan
- Royal Bangkok Sports Club, Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
- Royal Lakeside Golf Club, Nong Chok, Chachoengsao, Thailand
- Royal Chiangmai Golf Resort, Mae Faek, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Royal Fleet Golf Club, Sattahip, Chonburi, Thailand
- Royal Thai Army Sports Center, Anusawari, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand
- Royal Dusit Golf Club, Suan Chit Lada, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Thailand
- Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Sarika, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force Thong Yai, Kamphaeng Saen, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- The Royal Gems Golf & Sports Club, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- Royal Thai Air Force Dhupatemiya Golf Club, Khu Khot, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- Royal Gems Golf City, Rangsit, Pathumthani, Thailand
- Tublamu Royal Navy Golf Course, Lam Kaen, Phang Nga, Thailand
- Springfield Royal Country Club, Sam Phraya, Phetchaburi, Thailand
- Royal Bang Pa-in Golf Club, Bang Krasan , Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand
- Royal Hua Hin Golf Course, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
- Royal Thai Army Panurangsi Golf Club, Ko Phlapphla, Ratchaburi, Thailand
- Royal Rachaburi Golf Club, Lum Din, Ratchaburi, Thailand
- The Royal Golf & Country Club, Sisa Chorakhe Noi, Samut Prakan, Thailand
- Royal Samui Golf & Country Club, Bo Phut, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Royal Kiev Golf Club, Zhytomyr, Zhytomyr, Ukraine
- Royal Palms Golf Course, Mesa, Arizona, US
- Royal Vista Golf Club, Walnut, California, US
- Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club, Boca Raton, Florida, US
- Cape Royal Golf Club, Cape Coral, Florida, US
- Monarch Golf Club at Royal Highlands, Leesburg, Florida, US
- Royal Poinciana Golf Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Palm Country Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Wood Golf & Country Club, Naples, Florida, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Club, Ocala, Florida, US
- Royal St. Cloud Golf Links, Saint Cloud, Florida, US
- Royal St. Augustine Golf and Country Club, St. Augustine, Florida, US
- Royal Oak Resort & Golf Club, Titusville, Florida, US
- Royal Lakes Golf & Country Club, Flowery Branch, Georgia, US
- Royal Hawaiian Golf Club, Kailua, Hawaii, US
- Royal Ka'anapali, Lahaina, Hawaii, US
- Royal Kunia Country Club, Waipahu, Hawaii, US
- Royal Melbourne, Long Grove, Illinois, US
- Royal Hawk Country Club, Saint Charles, Illinois, US
- Royal Fox Golf Club, Saint Charles, Illinois, US
- Royal Hylands Golf Club, Knightstown, Indiana, US
- Royal Cypress Golf Club, Sacramento, Kentucky, US
- Royal Golf Club, Slidell, Louisiana, US
- Royal Crest Country Club, Walpole, Massachusetts, US
- Royal Scot Golf Course, Lansing, Michigan, US
- Royal Oak Golf Club, Royal Oak, Michigan, US
- Royal Golf Club, Lake Elmo, Minnesota, US
- Royal Meadows Golf Course, Kansas City, Missouri, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Course, Whiteman AFB, Missouri, US
- Royal Links Golf Club, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
- Royal Crest Golf Club, Columbia Station, Ohio, US
- Royal American Links Golf Club, Galena, Ohio, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Club, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, US
- Royal Manchester Golf Links, Mount Wolf, Pennsylvania, US
- Port Royal Golf Club, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Course & Event Center, Maryville, Tennessee, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Dallas, Texas, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Houston, Texas, US
- Front Royal Country Club, Front Royal, Virginia, US
- The Royal Virginian Golf Course, Louisa, Virginia, US
- Royal New Kent Golf Club, Providence Forge, Virginia, US
- Royal City Public Golf Course, Royal City, Washington, US
- Royal Oaks Country Club, Vancouver, Washington, US
- Royal Scot Golf Club, New Franken, Wisconsin, US
- Royal Oaks Golf Resort, Waupaca, Wisconsin, US
- Royal St. Patrick's Golf Course, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, US
- Royal Island Golf & Villas, Bạch Đằng, Binh Duong, Vietnam
- Golf Hoang Gia - Royal Golf Club, Tam Điệp, Ninh Bình, Vietnam
- Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales
- Royal St. David's Golf Club, Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
- Royal Harare Golf Club, Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe
You might want to actually read the Constitution before claiming to represent what it says. Art I, section 9, clause 8 provides:
"No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State."
This would not prohibit most courses in the US from being labeled Royal. It applies only to a person "holding any Office of Profit or Trust." This would prevent Trump, all elected officials, most persons appointed by the President and approved by the Senate, and many, if not all, military personnel from accepting the designation on something they owned, but would not otherwise prevent any average citizen or corporate entity from doing so.
I would love to golf with Pauly. Where are you from
Would be nice if you included the list of the 66. It would probably prompt someone to try to play them all. That is assuming it hasn't already been done.
Interesting article thanks. PNG is part of the Commonwealth so there is no analogy with the unusual status of the German and the Czech clubs.
In a sea of stupid stories from you about raking bunkers (I don’t) to ideas to get more kids and women on the course (the last thing I need are more snot noses and old bags out there), this royal nonsense is the worst.
There's also a "Royal" golf course in Monreal.
I have played all five in southern africa. There is Royal Cape, Royal Durban, Royal Jo’burg, and Royal Port Alfred in South Africa. There is also Royal Harare in Zimbabwe which had been redone by Nick Price about 20 years ago. They are all solid courses and have interesting bits of history. I would recommend them if tou are ever in that part of the world
Also, membership of a Royal club carried reciprocals at some or all of the other Royal clubs around the world.
You didn't mention anything about benefits that used to be included as part of the Royal distinction, often meaning that military and clergy were given the privilege to play the course at a reduced rate. Is that still true?