The Newcastle course consistently features prominently in lists of the world's top courses and Jack Nicklaus once remarked of the front nine: " As fine a nine holes as I have ever played."

Of this year's list Golf Digest Ireland editor Dermot Gilleece said: "A consistently high quality of presentation since the Walker Cup, has helped Royal Co Down maintain its position at the top".

The vast majority of the top-rated courses on the latest list are links, with Portmarnock's Old Course holding on to the number two position.

Adare Manor, current home of the Irish Open, is the top-rated parkland course, coming in at number four behind Ballybunion's Old Course.

A total of 11 Northern Ireland courses make the top hundred, with the north coast trio of Royal Portrush, Portstewart Strand and Castlerock the next most highly rated.

Royal Portrush is the only other Ulster club to make the top ten at number nine, Portstewart has dropped six place from last year to come in at number 23 while Castlerock is up three places to number 31.

Also included are Malone and Belvoir Park at 35 and 36, Hilton Templepatrick at 57, Clandeboye at 73, Royal Belfast at 76, Galgorm Castle at 88 and Ballycastle at 92.

Galgorm and Hilton Templepatick are featured on the list for the first time.

Following Adare in fifth place is the European Club where Padraig Harrington won the Irish PGA last year, a success he credits greatly with helping to go on and win the Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Waterville is ranked sixth followed by Baltray and Lahinch with Ryder Cup venue the Palmer course at the K Club making up the top ten.

According to Linton Walsh, managing director, Golf Digest Ireland, " movement is evident on this year's list, due to a massive investment which has seen significant upgrading of a number of courses.

"After the publication of last year's list, the magazine contacted all of the courses on this island, requesting information on any work that was being undertaken. Replies were received from 53 of these clubs.

"A member of the panel or a PGA member inspected each of these courses and the improvements were duly noted during voting on this year's list.

"In total 33 clubs moved up the list, 44 moved down, 12 remained the same and there were 11 new entries".

Meanwhile Rory McIlroy has moved up to 175th on the latest world rankings, thanks to his top ten finish at the Irish Open.

It's the first time the Holywood teenager has broken into the top 200 and he's well on his way to making it into the top 100, which is one of his major goals for his rookie season on th e European Tour.

McIlroy can move further up the rankings with a good performance at one of the Tour's leading events, this week's BMW Championship at Wentworth.

He took the opportunity to get reacquainted with the course yesterday by playing a practice round with Ernie Els, who extensively redesigned the course three years ago,

The three-time Major winner is a stablemate of McIlroy's at International Sports Management.

"I hadn't played the course since it was changed so I was looking to pick up a few tips from Ernie on the way around," said McIlroy.

Ireland's top 100 courses

1 Royal Co. Down (1)

2 Portmarnock, Old (2)

3 Ballybunion, Old (4)

4 Adare Manor (3)

5 European Club (5)

6 Waterville (6)

7 Baltray (8)

8 Lahinch (11)

9 Royal Portrush (7)

10 K Club, Palmer (9)

11 Mount Juliet (10)

12 Killarney, Killeen (16)

13 Tralee (12)

14 Royal Dublin (23)

15 The Heritage (15)

16 Co Sligo (13)

17 Ballyliffin, Glashedy (20)

18 Carton, Montgomerie (22)

19 The Island (19)

20 Druid's Glen (18)

21 Carne (21)

22 Fota Island (22)

23 Portstewart Strand (17)

24 Old Head (25)

25 Portmarnock, Links (29)

26 Headfort, New (26)

27 PGA National (28)

28 Luttrellstown Castle (31)

29 Doonbeg 24)

30 Carlow (27)

31 Castlerock (34)

32 Glasson (30)

33 Mullingar (32)

34 Enniscrone (46)

35 Malone (33)

36 Belvoir Park (37)

37 Cork (36)

38 Dundalk (38)

39 Donegal Murvagh (40)

40 Slieve Russell 35)

41 K Club, Smurfit (43)

42 Carton O'Meara (42)

43 Powerscourt East (58)

44 Rosapenna Sandy Hills (60)

45 Ballliffin, Old (64)

46 Mount Wolseley (52)

47 Tullamore (50)

48 Westport 44)

49 Rathsallagh (48)

50 Seapoint (49)

51 Hermitage (39)

52 Knightsbrook (68)

53 Dromoland Castle (41)

54 Dooks (55)

55 Dundrum House (53)

56 Dun Laoghaire (NEW)

57 Hilton Templepatrick (NEW)

58 Connemara (54)

59 Tulfarris (45)

60 St Margaret's (56)

61 Rosslare (59)

62 New Forest (61)

63 Killarney Mahoney's (62)

64 Athlone (74)

65 Esker Hills (47)

66 Roganstown (80)

67 Shannon (NEW)

68 Woodbrook (76)

69 Grange (70)

70 Portsalon (67)

71 Skellig Bay (66)

72 Ring of Kerry (57)

73 Clandeboye (51)

74 Castleknock (72)

75 Bantry Bay (73)

76 Royal Belfast (77)

77 Ballybunion Cashen (63)

78 Castle (NEW)

79 Moyvalley (NEW)

80 Narin and Portnoo (NEW)

81 Laytown/Bettystown (79)

82 Millicent (69)

83 Rathcore (65)

84 Gowra Park (82)

85 Monkstown (84)

86 Thurles (83)

87 Waterford (88)

88 Galgorm Castle (NEW)

89 Galway (89)

90 Curragh (NEW)

91 Tramore (92)

92 Ballycastle (94)

92 Royal Tara (96)

93 Headfort, Old (92)

95 Lee Valley (NEW)

96 Blainroe (98)

97 Ballinrobe (NEW)

98 Woodenbridge (99)

99 Arklow (NEW)

100 Malahide (75)