By Keggy1313 on 14th July

As any die hard golfing fan will be able to tell you, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Bridgend will be hosting the Senior Open Championship between the 24th and 27th of July, the first time that Wales has ever hosted the event. And while Royal Porthcawl may perhaps be regarded as Wales’ top golfing venues, there’s a huge variety of quality courses spanning the length and breadth of the country. So while the professionals are making their way to Royal Porthcawl this summer, why don’t you check out one of these other Welsh golfing gems…

Royal Porthcawl © Crown copyright (2014) Visit Wales

Royal Porthcawl © Crown copyright (2014) Visit Wales

1. Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club – Wye Valley
Set in the grounds of the former estate of Charles Stewart Rolls, it comes as little surprise that this course offers the ‘Rolls-Royce’ of hidden gems, if you forgive us the pun. The elevated sections of the course offer stunning views of the stately home, part of which forms the clubhouse, with the final two holes offering a grandstand finish by combining a testing 550-yard par five with a tricky par three that crosses the lake in front of the listed mansion.
Green fees start at £35 on weekdays and £39 on weekends
http://www.therollsgolfclub.co.uk

Sleep: St Pierre Marriott Hotel
Rooms start at around £87 per night
http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/cwlgs-st-pierre-marriott-hotel-and-country-club/

 

2. Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club – South Wales
Oft overlooked for its famous neighbour, Royal Porthcawl, Pyle & Kenfig (or ‘P&K’ to regulars) overlooks the same gorgeous stretch of beach and is laid out in two loops of nine, with the back half having proved the undoing of many a competent golfer. No matter how serious your game becomes, be sure to take the time to spot The Bristol Channel, the Gower Peninsula, Sker House and the Welsh mountains; all of which can be admired from at least one section of the undulating course.
Green fees start at £55 on weekdays and £75 on weekends
http://www.pandkgolfclub.co.uk/index.php

Sleep: Coed y Mwstwr hotel
Rooms start at around £130 B&B
http://www.coed-y-mwstwr.com

 

3. Cardigan Golf Club – Ceredigion
Cardigan started life back in 1895 as a challenging nine-hole course under the guise of ‘Cliff Hotel Links’ before Fred Hawtree added a further nine holes in the 1970s. The signature hole, a devilishly bunkered 195-yard par three, boasts stunning views out across the Teifi Estuary to Poppit Beach, while the course overall is described as a mixture of parkland and links. A testament to the club’s stature is that it has hosted Golf Union of Wales Championships as well as International matches.
Green fees start at £30 on weekdays and £40 on weekends
http://cardigangolf.com

Sleep: Penbontbren B&B
Rooms start at around £75 per night B&B
http://www.penbontbren.com

 

4. Cradoc Golf Club – Brecon Beacons
Just two miles outside the historic market town of Brecon, Cradoc was founded back in 1967 and is overlooked on all sides by the mighty Beacons. The course is the permanent home to the prestigious Coors Welsh Tournament of Champions, and promises ‘mature tree lined fairways, true greens and not too much of the rough stuff.’
Green fees start at £22 per day
http://www.cradoc.co.uk/pages.php/index.html – top

Sleep: Gliffaes Country House Hotel
Rooms start at around £112 per night B&B
http://www.gliffaeshotel.com

 

5. Llandrindod Wells Golf Club – Cambrian Mountains
One of the shortest courses in the country (measuring just 5,759 in total), where the best is kept until the very end – a ‘Death or Glory’ 18th that’ll test your driving skills. Six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon was enlisted to design the 18-hole course, and he included a number of old-fashioned design traits including back-to-back par threes and several blind holes. Interestingly, you won’t find a single bunker anywhere!
Green fees start at £30 on weekdays and £35 on weekends
http://www.lwgc.co.uk/index.php

Sleep: Beili Neuadd farmhouse
Rooms start at around £80 per night B&B
http://www.beilineuadd.co.uk

 

6. Tenby Golf Club – Pembrokeshire
Tenby lays claim to being one of the oldest golf courses in the country, having been designed right the way back in 1907 (albeit the original 9-hole version). As you might expect from a course perched on the Pembrokeshire coastline, the views are pretty spectacular, while the golfing itself can get much uglier – dense gorse, cruel bunkers and rugged dunes await you at every turn. The green fees also represent pretty good value for such a top course.
Green fees start at £15 per person
http://www.tenbygolf.co.uk

Sleep: Fourcroft Hotel and Restaurant
Rooms start at around £110 per night B&B
http://www.fourcroft-hotel.co.uk

 

7. Nefyn & District Golf Club – north Wales
Jutting out into the Irish Sea from the Llyn Peninsula, Nefyn & District offers true drama with sea views at every hole (you might even spot Ireland itself on a clear day). The spectacular cliff-edge holes are truly unique, with the back eight holes on the old course playing right along the peninsula. Play can be tough, with thick rough, blind drives and bunkers adding to the ever-present coastal wind.
Green fees start at £33 on weekdays and £38 on weekends
http://www.nefyn-golf-club.co.uk/en/

Sleep: Gwesty Ty Newydd
Rooms start at around £65 per person B&B
http://www.gwesty-tynewydd.co.uk

8. Celtic Manor Twenty Ten, South Wales
As the name might suggest, Twenty Ten was the first golf course to be designed specifically for the Ryder Cup, and represents a collaboration between the European PGA, golf course architects and tour pros. The course measures a mighty 7,493 yards in total and is a serious test with no fewer than six signature holes and plenty of water hazards. There’s also plenty of variety with many of the earlier holes having a links-like feel before the middle section reveals its own lake-lined challenge.
Green fees start at £72 on weekdays and £81 on weekends
http://www.celtic-manor.com

Sleep: Celtic Manor Resort Hotel
Rooms start at around £111
http://www.celtic-manor.com

 

9. Royal St Davids Golf Club
Considered by many golf-aficionados to be the world’s toughest par 69, St Davids is guarded by the mighty Harlech Castle with Porthmadog Bay hiding just beyond the dunes. Expect a real challenge, with holes zig-zagging in all directions and the opening twelve fully exposed to the elements before descending into rolling dunes. The course has also been home to many a major amateur championship over the years.
Green fees start at £42 on weekdays and £47 on weekends
http://www.royalstdavids.co.uk

Sleep: Wolfcastle Country Hotel
Rooms start at around £80 per night B&B
http://www.wolfscastle.com

 

10. Aberdovey Golf Club – Snowdonia
Steeped in history and boasting a stunning locale, Aberdovey is located at the mouth of the Dovey Estuary and has been shaped by no less than three legendary architects of the early 20th century: Colt, Braid & Fowler. Take the time to admire the old train tracks running alongside the classic out-and-back links but don’t lose concentration – it may not be the hardest course in Wales, but a little bit of wind and you’ll find yourself in the challenging rough.
Green fees start at around £37.50
http://www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk

Sleep: Fron Haul B&B
Rooms start at around £45 per night B&B
http://www.fronhaul-aberdovey.co.uk

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