A seaside course blessed with a rich variety of interesting holes, Royal is always fun to play, whatever the weather conditions. The first hole, named after one of the club’s best remembered members, Hugh Kelly, is what I regard as a perfect opener for the round to follow. At 294 metres you have the luxury of taking any club you like off the elevated tee, depending on how bold or cautious you feel. Beware, however, of the out-of-bounds fence right if you’re planning to rip a driver. It has claimed many victims. The scorecard suggests a short layout, yet unless it’s a calm day you can be fooled by the distances due to the elevation changes which are a feature. Currently it’s in excellent condition, well grassed and superbly presented.