With the great wealth of historic, revered, world class golf courses in both Scotland to the North and England to the East, Wales can often get overlooked as a golf holiday destination but be warned; do so at your peril!
Wales, particularly the rugged South coast, is home to a number of golf courses that certainly hold their own when lined up with the likes of St Andrews in Scotland and Royal St Georges on the Kent coastline. From resort courses at the likes of The Vale and the world famous Celtic Manor, home of the 2010 Ryder Cup, to rugged links courses such as Royal St David’s and the stunning Nefyn & District, Wales has it all when it comes to golf.
While it is fair to say there are endless options when it comes to organising a golf holiday in Wales, there is one very special reason why a trip to a spot on the South Coast, just 30 miles West of Cardiff, should be high in your golfing bucket list.
Wander off the beaten track and you will find Wales’ most highly ranked golf course perched within touching distance of the Bristol Channel. A classic links with views of the sea from almost every hole, this course doesn’t get the attention it deserves, this course is Royal Porthcawl.
Royal Porthcawl enjoys an enviable location on the Welsh coastline, just a stone’s throw from the Bristol Channel.
The club was founded way back when in 1891. The professional at Royal North Devon – the oldest golf course in England by the way – laid out a nine hole track which was converted into the 18 holer it is today when an adjacent patch of land was bought in 1895. It didn’t take too long for the course to gain the recognition it deserved as in 1909 the Royal moniker was awarded to Porthcawl by King Edward VII.
As the years have rolled along a number of modifications to the layout have been seen, most notably in 1913 by Harry Colt and in 1933 by Tom Simpson. In its present form, Royal Porthcawl offers a quintessential test of links golf with its fast running fairways, devilish pot bunkers everywhere you turn and oceans of gorse in the middle section of the course, all the while with the sea in full view. The course is totally exposed to the elements so wind direction plays a big part in the challenge of the course. Excellent putting surfaces and a special feeling of historical importance complete the Porthcawl package and make for a memorable day of golf.
The first four holes run alongside the coastline and provide a tough early test for your long game. Following the par 3 4th, the course turns inland and takes you onto higher ground to offer great views of the crashing surf and down the coast in both directions. This is the section of the course where the gorse comes into play so a certain degree of accuracy off the tee is vital. Just ask Gary Wolstenholme who played with a certain Tiger Woods at Royal Porthcawl in 1995. Tiger was blasting his tee shots up to 50 yards past the Englishman but the hazards dotted around the course, as well as the odd ball out of bounds put pay to Tiger at the final hole.
The sea can be seen from almost every hole at Royal Porthcawl.
I suppose the only thing about Royal Porthcawl which deviates slightly from the classic links model is that the holes aren’t routed in a nine out and nine back fashion. They are intertwined and face in all sorts of directions which means the wind direction must constantly be analysed. This adds great character to the course and certainly adds to the challenge; especially when you consider the absence of any trees, or of the giant dunes commonly associated with links courses in South West Ireland, which can add a touch of protection from the wind…no such luck at Porthcawl!
The final handful of holes take you back down toward the sea, with the 18th providing an epic finish to your round. From the final tee you play directly back down a gentle slope towards the sea which, thanks to a bit of perspective, looks ominously close to the crashing waves! With the charming old clubhouse on the left and views of the rest of the course to your right, this is one of the best finishing holes in the UK and when you are forced to play it into the wind it can be a tough nut to crack.
Having played the course on a glorious summer’s day with a group of golfers of, let’s say, varying abilities, I can only describe the course as one size fits all. From the young buck with a plus handicap to the seasoned gent in the high twenties, one and all loved the course. And the hake fishcakes in the comfort of the clubhouse after round. Seriously…they’re almost worth the trip alone!
Don’t be surprised if you find the odd bunker at Royal Porthcawl and don’t be surprised if the ones you do end up in are more penal than this one!
If you are looking to hit the fairways in Wales then Royal Porthcawl is an absolute must and with considerable support acts within easy driving distance, it’s convenient too.
