Scotland is known as the home of golf, Ireland has the most dramatic courses, and England has at least three distinct regions famous for high quality layouts (the Lancashire coast, the south-east coast and the Surrey/Hampshire/Berkshire sandbelt).
But Wales is often overlooked among British and Irish golf.
Yet it shouldn’t be.
It is small, but perfectly formed – and these five courses are just fantastic.
Royal Porthcawl
The venue for next year’s AIG Women’s Open and there is absolutely no doubt that it deserves the honour. In fact, if it had the infrastructure and space necessary it would probably have hosted an Open. The early holes are an absolute treat, played alongside the Bristol Channel before the course creeps up into higher ground, but the test is never less than elite. And never overlook the clubhouse which is quite possibly the best in the UK – it feels a little like you’re sitting in the captain’s quarters of a ship out on the high seas.
Aberdovey
One of the great gems of the UK never mind Wales. This fantastic track on the Cardigan Bay coast is well-known in golfing circles and anyone you meet who has played there will smile when you mention it. It’s an out and back layout with superb holes among the dunes, not least the short par-4 16th which many hail as being among the finest short par-4s in all of British and Irish golf. Look out for the barman – he can tell you the date and score of every Newcastle United fixture in the Premier League era.
Royal St David’s
Just up the coast from Aberdovey is Royal St David’s in Harlech (see main image at top of page). It’s location is sensational, tucked in between the dunes that back onto the Irish Sea and the imposing Harlech Castle that is built on the hillside. A championship standard test it has a stunning finish among the dunes and never allows even elite golfers to lose concentration.
Celtic Manor
Host of many DP World Tour events and also the 2010 Ryder Cup, it is probably the only facility in the principality that could cope with such elevated events. There are three courses and the ‘2010’ is the most famous. The majority of the test is low down on a plain between a loop in the River Usk, with the final holes clinging to the side of a steep hill. The other two courses are on top of that hill next to the hotel.
Rolls of Monmouth
A remarkable little course near the border with England. Tony Jacklin said he was baffled how few people knew of it and Greg Norman said the short holes are “fantastic”. It’s a parkland layout that surrounds a beautiful mansion house that was once the seat of the Rolls Family (famous for Rolls Royce cars). If you fancy a trip consider the on-course lodges which are superb.
READ MORE: Aberdovey’s 16th hole: is this the best short par-4 in Wales?
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