Top Five Golf Courses in Wales
Wales is one of our most popular holiday destinations. Part of this enduring popularity is due to the abundance of choice offered by the country’s diverse regions. Whether you’re looking for a traditional seaside holiday, a modern city break or the rugged countryside of the brecon beacons, Wales has something spectacular to offer.
And this abundance of choice extends to the country’s many world-class golf courses. Whether you’re looking for a forward-thinking course designed with an American style of play in mind, or a historic British course designed by 20th century masters, Wales is the perfect place to tee off.
5. Celtic Manor
A thoroughly modern course with something of an American design, Celtic Manor doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a traditional style of play – with the large bunkers and bodies of water of its Twenty Ten course presenting a particularly formidable test.
But this 2010 Ryder Cup testing ground does offer a unique challenge to any golfer looking to step outside their comfort zone and test their skills.
4. Aberdovy
A beautiful, traditional course, nestled between a railway and the beach, Aberdovy is a purist’s dream.
Designed by three legendary architects (Colt, Braid and Fowler) to incorporate the untamed elements of Wales’ rolling hills, Aberdovy’s tight lies, rolling fairways, undulating approaches, dry-firm surfaces and fast greens make for a dynamic challenge.
3. Royal St. David’s
As wild and rugged as Wales’ West Coast itself, Royal St. David’s is overlooked by the Medieval Castle of Harlech.
The first twelves holes present their own challenges, but it’s from the thirteenth hole on that the course really starts to come into its own.
Following the 2008 extension of the practice ground and reconfiguration of the eighteenth hole, The Par 69 course has been increased to a challenging 6,629 yards.
2. Pennard
The famous ‘Links in the Sky’, the classic rugged course at Pennard boasts breathtaking views of the Three Cliffs Bay.
The front nine offers a solid warm up, with predominantly a mixture of par 3s and par 4s, before the real challenge gets underway on hole 10.
Designed in 1908 by James Braid, with alterations made after the fact by Ken Cotton and Tom Doak, Pennard is one of Wales’ oldest courses, as well as one of its most prestigious.
1. Royal Porthcawl
Wales #1 ranked course (and ranked ~22 in the U.K. and Ireland), Royal Porthcawl is a world-renowned course with magnificent sea views.
The course doesn’t have a single weak hole, but holes two, thirteen and eighteen are particular highlights.
The Club has hosted The Amateur Championship, The Walker Cup, The Curtis Cup, The European Team Championship, The Home Internationals, The Vagliano Trophy, The Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, The Dunlop Masters, The Penfold, The Ladies European Tour and The Coral Classic.