CELTIC MANOR RESORT 5*

First of all, let me say that all twelve people had a great time with some glorious weather and no rain! As for Celtic Manor, one of our group thought beforehand that the Montgomerie course was a bit easy, but he has now changed his mind. Beautiful setting and the course had some wonderful holes. The greens were also some of the hardest to read and quite slick. As for the hotel itself, the standard of accommodation was proabably the best of all the hotels we have used for golf. So thanks for everything. Will be in touch soon for our next trip! Regards,
Ian

I just wanted to write a short note to say thanks for organising a great short break - Celtic Manor was superb, both hotel and golf. Your expert guidance beforehand and help in securing what clearly were the last couple of rooms and tee times at late notice was much appreciated. Many thanks,
Richard Amery

Please pass on my thanks to the team for the ease in which they organised my trip for 12 to the Celtic Manor last weekend. The Staff were a credit to the resort and service we received was second to none. Once again thank you all for all your help in making the weekend such a success, and please pass on my thanks to your 'Point of Contact' at the Celtic Manor. Regards,
Tony Baghurst

Just a note to say thank you for the time and effort you put into organising our weekend away a Celtic Manor, the amount of thanks I received from the lads that attended the weekend made me look good! The staff at the Manor were friendly and helpful and the guided tour of the locker rooms at the 2010 with the proposed plans for the new layout was a nice insight. Once again thanks for all your efforts for a smooth weekend away. Regards,
Kev

Just returned from Celtic Manor and had a brilliant time. It was very windy and had quite a bit of rain yesterday but this didn't dampen our spirits. Thoroughly enjoyed the courses and thought the hotel, club house and spa were FAB. We found the course a bit tough in places but a great experience, had a lovely buffet dinner and said breakfast was great too. Thanks for organising and for upgrading the rooms, they were massive and had balconies etc...
Bern

I would like to say on behalf of my wife and I what a wonderful experience Celtic Manor was, from the ease of booking with Your Golf Travel, to checking in and out. The package we bought was great value for money and the entire golf break went off without a hitch.

We played the Roman Roads course, and what a set up it is, the Lodge is a marvellous place, the course with its long wide fairways, lightening quick greens, a real test for any golfer. The long walks and some of the climbs make a buggy a must. I only wish we had more time, and played either the Montgomery or the 2010.

We had the pleasure of eating in Rafters within the 2010 club and it lived up to all of our expectations. The service was second to none and the food was exceptional. Along with fine wines, fine views across the course and over the Usk valley, it was a dining experience to remember.

We stayed at the Manor House and we found it to be more elegant and charming than the main resort, which can be a bit too busy for my liking. The choice of restaurants was amazing and all the staff were enormously helpful and polite. The room in the Manor House was an absolute delight and we thought the fact that the Manor House was connected to the main resort was very clever.

The spa was awesome as it was the perfect place to freshen up. This was much needed because the weather was great and we were all hot and sticky by the time we had finished! The plunge pool was a pleasant surprise and it really woke me up for the evening ahead.

I cannot thank you enough for your help, and the professional way in which you approached all my enquiries. We will be back next year and will hopefully play more than just the one golf course. The 2010 looks amazing so fingers crossed we can get on there! In my opinion Celtic Manor is one of the finest golf resorts in the UK and is a great place for a weekend golf holiday.

Many thanks

Ken Browne

Well, I'm sitting at my desk at work wishing that I was back at Celtic Manor, or, back in bed sleeping off a tiring weekend golf break on the resort!

On our Celtic Manor golf trip we played the Montgomerie and the Roman Road, both for the first time and I thought they were both excellent golf courses. The fairways were lush and sprung under foot with virtually every iron shot giving up a nice, consistent divot. Fortunately I didn’t personally experience the first cut of rough too many times but when I did stray in there I found it to be lush and fair. It didn’t hinder your progress that much but certainly made shots more difficult to control. It always gave you a chance to get a club to the back of the ball...the way rough should be! If you were really off line the knee high stuff was very punishing but again, that’s the way it should be. The greens were fabulous. They were difficult to read but in terrific condition and very receptive to a nice, crisply struck ball when pin seeking. I'm not so sure that these two courses are suitable for a real beginner as they are technically challenging and also physically demanding. I would definitely recommend buggies as some of the walks between tees were a real struggle! As a package these two golf courses are perfect for a short golf holiday and I am eager to organise another Celtic Manor golf trip so that I can get a round in on the 2010 course.

What a fantastic venue the Celtic Manor Hotel is. My breath was taken away by the splendour and magnificence of the place; a truly 5 star establishment. It might be that I should just get out more but I was blown away by the building and all the facilities that are on offer inside. The staff were plentiful, helpful, courteous and welcoming. The rooms were very comfortable and stylish and the catering was outstanding. Of course being a popular 5 star golf resort drinks and food were a little pricey but they certainly weren’t extortionate. Considering the value for money of the golf break package we bought from Your Golf Travel we all felt like we didn’t have to worry about how much we were spending anyway!

The location of the golf resort is absolutely fabulous and it offers stunning views all around from all over the 2 courses and of course from the 8th floor of the hotel where we were accommodated.

The service from Your Golf Travel was on par with the value for money that you are offering and every aspect of our booking was handled in outstanding fashion.

Harry

We went on a weekend golf break to Celtic Manor on a stay and play package from Your Golf Travel. I have to say this was one of the best weekend golf trips I have ever been on...I can see why Celtic Manor is so popular. I thought all the hype might have been down to the Ryder Cup and the 2010 course but the Montgomerie and Roman Road course are both fantastic as well and the facilities on the resort are great.

We scored better on the Montgomerie than on the others and as such enjoyed it a bit more! The third hole, which I think used to be part of the Wentwood Hills course, was fantastic. One of the most exciting par 5s I have played! Our round on the 2010 was hampered by strong winds and rain but we were determined not to let that spoil our round. The 2010 was a real challenge for our ability although my wife did bag a birdie! It would be unfair to describe the Roman Road course as a weak link but it definitely wasn’t as good as the other two golf courses. The condition of all three golf courses was great and on the whole Celtic Manor offers the total package for a weekend golf break.

We stayed in the Manor House which was nicely tucked away from the more lively Resort Hotel. We thought the lift that connected the two accommodations was a great idea walking out and up the slope to get to the spa, restaurant etc would have been a bit of a chore. We ate in the Merlins Bar and enjoyed a lovely seafood platter. The staff throughout the resort were great and all in all we had a wonderful time on our Celtic Manor golf trip.

The usual efficient, professional service from Your Golf Travel was received and we shall continue to book future golf holidays through you.

John

Celtic Manor’s location just off the M4 near Newport makes the resort very easy to access, and from its prominent position overlooking the motorway impossible to miss. The Hotel is 5* and service starts when you draw up to the entrance and your luggage and golf gear is carted off to your room and golf storage room respectively. Valet parking also means no worrying about the car. The staff are very friendly and helpful and checking in is very straightforward. The room was a ‘standard type’ and had everything you would expect of a 5* hotel including air-conditioning, safe, mini bar, free Wi-Fi, bath robes, etc. Breakfast was included as part of the golf break package and was excellent. There was a massive choice to cater for any taste.

There are several Restaurants to choose from with varying prices ranges and all prices reflect its 5* rating. We ate in the Olive Tree Restaurant on our first night which was very relaxing and the food was delicious. On our last evening we ate at the Club House restaurant as we had finished our round of golf a little later than we had expected. The prices here were more reasonable and for a less formal meal we would recommend either here or the Merlin’s Bar.

The hotel is crammed with impressive facilities and we only wish we could have had more time to spend in the amazing spa.

On arrival at the Club house, and checking in with the pro shop for your tee time, you can (and should) spend time on the practice putting greens before going to the starter hut and again checking in. The Courses were in great condition and the greens were tricky; downhill putts were lighting and putting back up the slopes required a good old whack! The Roman Road is fine for carrying or trolleys as is not too hilly and most tees are in pretty close proximity to the previous green. The par 5 3rd has a daunting tee shot for first timers and the second shot is really good fun. You had better be striking your irons well as all of the par 3s are long. On the advice from everyone we spoke too, we took a buggy for our round on the Montgomerie course. I would certainly recommend it due to the long walks required from green to tee and the sweeping undulations that make the course a joy to play...just not on foot!

All in all Celtic Manor is a fantastic destination for a golf holiday or indeed a short weekend golf break and we will certainly be back.

Steve

We have been doing our annual lads golf trip now for many years...usually we go abroad for the weather but this year we thought we would try the Celtic Manor after the success of the Ryder Cup last year. The thought of playing on the same fairways as the pros and trying to emulate some of their shots on the 2010 course was hard to resist.

We booked a three night golf break in the Resort Hotel and were set to play all three of the golf courses.

The Montgomerie was the first course we played and we thought it was a good course but a hell of a hike! If we had known we would have booked buggies. Still, if that’s the only fault we could find then it must have been pretty good in all other aspects.

We played the Roman Road Course on the second day and I have to say that I think this was the best course out of all three. The greens were some of the best I have ever played on but be warned...they were very quick when putting downhill and very slow when putting uphill. This meant it was tough to read the speed but we embraced the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed the round.

The 2010 course was last but not least. I started par birdie par and thought, “well...this is easy”. BIG MISATKE! Oh how wrong I was...the course bit back with narrow fairways and plenty of water, not to mention the rough and the sheer length of the holes. Best leave this one to the pros and the big hitters out there!

We stayed in the main Resort Hotel which was very welcoming and the 5 star service was excellent throughout. Breakfast was very nice and there was plenty of choice. Overall I would rate the Hotel at 8 out of 10 and the Golf at 9 out of 10...a great venue for a golf break in the UK.

Cliff

Having watched the Ryder Cup being played at Celtic Manor we decided it was time to book a golf break to Wales so see how we measured up against the pros. We actually ended up booking a golf break package that included only the Montgomerie and the Roman Road courses as the value for money was simply outstanding. Given the traffic that passes through these two courses they were in very good condition indeed. The layouts would likely necessitate the use of a buggy for most players, with the exception of the very fit. Whilst both courses are testing they would suit most abilities and both make for very enjoyable rounds.

The Clubhouse was very welcoming and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. We had seen a lot of comment s about the price of food and drink but we didn’t think they were too excessive. It is a five star resort after all so it would be foolish to expect costcutter prices! Speaking of five star...

The Resort Hotel was amazing. From the rooms to the facilities and the service; everything was of the highest standard and we really enjoyed the entire golf break from start to finish. Relaxing in the spa was a particular highlight and was the perfect remedy for the aches and pains we picked up on the golf courses!

The location of the resort is excellent. Just off the motorway you will see the Resort Hotel sitting atop a hill so you can’t fail to find it from there! Our overall verdict of the venue was a solid 9.5/10 and as usual the service from Your Golf Travel was 10/10...Knowledgeable, enthusiastic and friendly with a sound level of advice all delivered in an efficient, professional manner.

Mike

My three sons and I, all reasonable golfers, travelled to Celtic Manor on a Your Golf Travel golf break package. From the first encounter with the doorman through to checking out every member of staff was a credit to the resort. The hotel was very impressive, the condition of the two golf courses we played (Montgomerie and Roman Road) were excellent, and overall we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The one piece of advice we were given before we travelled was to use a buggy, certainly needed for the Montgomerie, and I would also recommend one for the Roman Road unless you have a reasonable level of fitness.

We would recommend trying the Lodge for dining, as the hotel restaurant’s, whilst serving very good food, can seem a bit soulless. Would a return visit be in order? I have no doubt we will be back in the future.

Stanley

We greatly enjoyed our golf trip to Celtic Manor and we thought the whole golf break was perfectly organised by Your Golf Travel whom we had used for the first time. The focus was on the golf and unfortunately the weather was a bit disappointing. All three courses were in good condition and despite the weather they were well worth playing and tested our ability to the limits. It was great to play the holes on the 2010 that we remembered from watching the Ryder Cup. There are photos dotted around the 2010 course which we thought was a nice touch. The staff were enthusiastic and they made us feel very welcome.

The Hotel was amazing and the facilities were outstanding. It was a bit quiet in the evening so we drove to Cardiff for a cracking meal and a few beers. All in all we would recommend Celtic Manor to anyone going on a golf holiday in the UK and we will certainly be back to book our next golf break with YGT.

Nick

We had a great time on our golf holiday to Celtic Manor and luckily the weather was on our side as well!

I’m afraid to report that the course beat us up so that’s 1-0 to the 2010! We will definitely be back for a re-match though armed with a new found respect for the rough and the raised greens! It is a cracking golf course and it was in great condition when we played it. We had been excited to play it since watching the Ryder Cup and I’m glad to say it lived up to expectations. We also played the Montgomerie Course on our golf break and having previously played some of the Wentwood Hills holes we were impressed to find that even these have been made more interesting! The rest of the course is great as well although I wish we had hired buggies as we found it tough going to walk the course...still that made our trip to the spa in the Resort Hotel all the more pleasurable!

The Clubhouse was pricey and we shelled out a fare bit for two sandwiches and coffee. There was not a lot of bang for your buck but the quality was undeniable. Same story for the evening meal in Rafters Restaurant. Still, the quality of the food and the friendly service was great and it considering the value for money we got by booking with Your Golf Travel we can’t have too many complaints.

The Hotel was great as always and the friendly and excellent service continued there as well. They really have the staff well trained and they seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs which is a huge plus.

Overall I would give it a 8.5 out of 10 - with pricing for food and drink being the only thing stopping me giving it full marks.

Tom 

Well to start with I'd like to thank you for organising our family golf break to Celtic Manor Resort; it was fantastic!

Where do I begin?! We knew the trip was going to be special and when we saw the hotel atop the hill while travelling along the M4, special was no longer the word...it was going to be epic! The hotel was amazing. All of the staff were really helpful and friendly. The rooms were a delight; really well set out with a lovely view of the welsh countryside from the balcony. There was an added bonus with staying that weekend because the Bolton football team were there too...we didn’t expect to see famous faces around the place! We even met some of the players who were wandering around which was really cool! We had lunch at Merlin’s Restaurant and were impressed with the menu...so much to choose from! I went for the chicken sandwich which was delicious! Everything on the menu was reasonable priced and the service of course was excellent.

With our tee time looming we headed off to the lodge to prepare for our battle with the course. As we got closer to the lodge we got a sense of the tradition and history of the place. So many top golfers had played here, be it the Welsh open or last year’s Ryder cup. Thinking of the players that graced the courses got us even more excited about playing them...it made us feel like professional golfers! As our tee time edged closer we got a little nervous but we all found the first fairway and were underway. We all played well and had a lot of fun! My dad made birdie on the long par five which made his day. He holed out from a greenside bunker and he hasn’t stopped going on about it to this day! The Roman Road course is magical. All of the holes were picture perfect and the course was in great condition. Offering great views everywhere you looked the course was a really good challenge and watching the sun set while we putted out on the 18th was special. We had a bite to eat at the lodge which again was reasonable priced before heading back to our rooms to rest for Sundays battle of the Montgomery course.

The next morning we had recharged our batteries and were ready to go again. Breakfast was really nice and with so much to choose from we opted for the unhealthy option. We checked out of our rooms and made the pleasant journey back to the lodge. With the early tee off time there were no spectators watching us drive from the first tee so no reason to be nervous and our balls hit the fairway. Again the golf course was challenging and the views were magical. We struggled a bit on the back nine but totally enjoyed our Celtic Manor experience.

We were all sad to leave but it will live on in our memories. As Monty said roughly a year ago," boy did Wales deliver!" With luck we will be booking a longer Celtic Manor golf holiday next year and we will be keen to play the Twenty Ten Course when we return. I will definitely book with you guys again...thanks again for a smashing golf break in the best golf resort we have ever been to.

Aaron

Celtic Manor is a great venue for a golf break. All three courses are well worth playing and the hotel is outstanding.

The Twenty Ten is fairly tricky as you would expect, but play it if you can; even off a high handicap as there are some great holes and the overall Twenty Ten 'experience' is excellent. Valet parking, personal locker, shoe clean, shoe bag and free mementos all go some way to making the whole experience a special one and a highlight of a golf break at Celtic Manor.

The Roman Road Course is probably the easiest of the three courses but it’s definitely not easy! The greens are pretty much on a par with the greens on the Twenty Ten course and the layout is enjoyable. The par 5 3rd is a real gem of a hole.

The Montgomerie is very hilly and offers some great views, especially the views over the Twenty Ten Course from the 3rd green; another outstanding par 5. Again the greens were great but be warned...you need a buggy for this one! Some of the walks between holes are lengthy. The booking process via Your Golf Travel was faultless and thwe value for money on this golf break was brilliant. If you enjoy your golf and get the chance to go and play all three courses at Celtic Manor which is a top venue for a UK golf break.

Thanks again and I look forward to booking with you in the future.

Paul

We arrived at the Celtic Manor Resort at 10:30am and proceeded to the golf club to see if we could bring forward our tee time. The golf shop assistant couldn't have been more helpful, he happily brought us forward from 14:10pm to 12noon, I had phoned to book buggy's for both days and we were given a complementary first buggy, great start!

The view's from the golf courses are out of this world, the beauty of the surrounding countryside was breathtakingly splendid. From the Roman Road course there are stunning views across the hills and vales of South Wales. This course also gives you a full and fabulous view of The Celtic Manor Hotel. Views from the Montgomerie Course were even more sensational, walking down the par 5, 3rd hole, we were confronted by exhilarating views across the 2010 Ryder Cup Course. The back nine of this course give you a vantage of views right across the Bristol Channel to Portishead, brilliant!

The service all over the resort is amazing, especially in the Resort Hotel. From concierge, to reception, shops and facilities nothing is too much trouble and we were made to feel extremely welcome. The guestrooms are amazing, from the luxurious furnishings to beautifully granite tiled bathroom and shower, everything was of the highest order. Our dinner in the Olive Tree Restaurant was a three course extravaganza, with reasonably priced booze. We slept like babies in our very comfortable Queen-size bed and enjoyed a fantastic self service breakfast before teeing off on the Montgomerie.

10 out of 10.

Patrick

As usual our golf break to Celtic Manor was most enjoyable and as usual the service from Your Golf Travel was top class.

This was my 4th booking through Your Golf Travel and my 2nd golf break at Celtic Manor. Everything went as smoothly as ever. We enjoyed the fantastic Roman Road and Montgomerie golf courses and the hotel was excellent. We love the relaxed atmosphere, the spa and of course the friendly staff members who go a long way to ensuring guests enjoy their golf holidays. Hopefully next time we'll try the Twenty Ten Course as we have heard only good things and we will be booking through YGT again of course!

Gary

Thank you for an amazing weekend away at the Celtic Manor Resort. Both the Montgomerie and the Roman Road golf courses were fantastic and very challenging indeed. Both courses were in supreme condition and it was hard to pick a favourite hole although the par 5 3rd holes on each course were outstanding. We opted not to go for buggies on the Montgomerie but we wish we had! If we go back next year we will definitely be hiring buggies! The views from both courses were spectacular and we spent a short while gazing over the Twenty Ten Course from the 3rd green on the Montgomerie...definitely on our bucket list!

The staff members all through the resort were very friendly and professional. In fact we were given a complimentary upgrade as rooms became available in the resort hotel. The restaurants were all very good and accommodated us well although the drinks were a tad on the expensive side.

Your Golf Travel have been fantastic and I will continue to book my future golf breaks with you while recommending you to others.

John

What a fantastic two days we had on our Celtic Manor golf break. The service was excellent, accommodation was great and as for the golf; it was top class!

On the first day we played the Roman Road Course which was very good indeed. I wish I could say the same for our golf but unfortunately there were no birdies and there were plenty snowmen on the scorecard! Never mind though because good fun was still had by all.

On the second day we played the Montgomerie Course which was an absolute monster! It was a good job we were feeling al little rough after our night in the Merlin Bar as it convinced us to get buggies which turned out to be a great shout!

Overall we had a great golf break in Wales and will definitely be back to book our future trips with Your Golf Travel. Value for money and a professional attitude is hard to come by these days but both were found at YGT!

Alec

We have just returned from our short golf break with yourgolftravel.com to Celtic Manor. What a memorable experience it was! The venue is so easy to find being just off the M4. As a massive resort complex it may not be to everyone’s taste but it had a comfortable and relaxing feel about it...much more relaxing than other 5* resorts we have visited on previous golf breaks.

We played both the Montgomerie and Roman Road courses over the 2 days and were mightily impressed by both.

The Montgomerie was the more scenic of the 2 and the views particularly on the 3rd were breathtaking and without doubt the best I ever seen on a golf course. Being more hilly than the Roman road, and with more walking between tees, I would advise the use of an electric trolley or buggy on this course. Each hole was unique and a challenge for all levels. In a gale force wind and with weather warnings from course marshals we both managed some memorable shots and a few pars!

In contrast, the Roman Road is a more undulating experience with wider fairways but difficult approach shots and subtle slopes on all the greens. As expected the condition of the golf courses was excellent. My only niggle was the length of grass around the greens. I managed to lose 3 balls all within 5 yards of the green!

We viewed the 2010 course which also looked spectacular with lots of water and we hope to play it in the future.

We found the whole experience difficult to fault. From the excellent service from Your Golf Travel to the helpful course marshals at Celtic Manor it was a truly memorable golf break. I would recommend it to all golfers with a reasonable handicap.

Ivan