Celtic Manor
Opened in 2008 and designed specifically to host the 2010 Ryder Cup, the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor in Newport comprises 9 holes from the former Wentwood Hills course at the resort, and nine freshly constructed ones. There are water features on half the holes and the Twenty Ten Bridge links the practice ground to the golf course across the River Usk.
According to Golfing Monthly, this design “succeeded in its aim to provide dramatic risk-and-reward matchplay holes.”
In fact, the Celtic Manor Resort boasts three championship courses, The Montgomerie Course and the Roman Road Course being the other two, whilst the Resort as a whole boasts three hotels, two spas, and six restaurants.
Image credit Lhourahane: https://www.flickr.com/people/allaction/
You’ll also find high ropes courses, adventure golf, laser tag, archery and a multi-purpose conference centre.
Southerndown
In complete contrast is the hilltop course at Southerndown with a very unusual type of terrain described as limestone-heathland”. In fact, it is considered one of the world’s leading golf courses of this type.
eswales / A view northwards from Southerndown golf course / CC BY-SA 2.0
Langland Bay, Swansea
I have a particular fondness for Langland Bay Golf Club in Swansea as it provided the venue for many days of golf hospitality I was tasked to arrange as marketing exec.
With ocean views from 15 of its 18 holes, it is a beautiful venue for a day’s golf. The course is situated high on a cliff top above the Gower sand giving panoramic views across the Bristol Channel and as far as the Brecon Beacons.
Hole 6 is claimed by club members to be the most difficult in Wales whilst Hole 16 is known as “Death Or Glory” with the sea on one side and a 100 feet steep drop on the other. You’ll find small greens and plenty of rough grass and sand traps to manoeuvre at the remaining holes.
The clubhouse is known for its warm welcome and scenic outlook over the broad sweep of Langland Bay.
A view from Langland Bay Golf Course Colin Inverarity / Towards Rams Tor / CC BY-SA 2.0
These are just a few of the beautiful golfing venues to be found in Wales. Have you played golf here? Which course did you find the most scenic, and the most challenging?
