Borth and Ynyslas, Borth, Ceredigion, Wales

 www.borthgolf.co.uk/

White tees 6084 yards, 70.7, slope 128

Red tees 5350 yards, 71.7, slope 120

Set on the magnificent Ceredigion (Cardigan) Bay and on the south side of the estuary of the river Dovey, Borth and Ynslas golf club is reputedly the oldest golf club in Wales although this is disputed by some!  The first mention of golf in the area is in 1876 when Uppingham school, an English public school, relocated to Borth after a typhoid outbreak in Uppingham and some of the masters were said to play golf.  The club claims to have been established in 1885 and there are reports of golf being played on the course in that year.  Two renowned Ryder Cup players cut their teeth as assistant professionals at Borth and Ynslas, Harry Wheetman and Dai Rees.  Dai Rees was to become the captain of the victorious Great Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team in 1957.

The first two holes are narrow,
between the road and the beach

There is a house in the middle
of the 4th fairway

We played with Lynn and David Lawson on a sunny but windy day - the Borth breeze was certainly blowing!  The 1st hole is a straightforward par 4 with the road which runs down the coast on the left.   The course then crosses the road to a narrow strip between beach and road where there is danger on both sides for the next two holes.  For the right hander a slice will end up on the road and a hook on the beach.  On the par 5 4th there is house in the middle of the fairway, the only time we have seen a notice warning the golfer not to play over a house!   After the par 4 5th and 6th holes the course widens out and enters an area of large dunes.  The 8th is a lovely par 5 which is a dogleg to the right after which the course turns back towards home, with the 9th to 14th holes running along the shore.  There is no fairway on the Par 3 11th which requires a well hit shot over the dunes to a green in a dell.  With its undulating fairway and a bunker and dunes guarding the green the 12th is a typical links hole.  The beach comes into play on the right on the par 3 14th. The course finishes with three straightforward holes with wide fairways. 

The 12th is a typical links hole

The par 3 11th

           

Worth playing?  Yes but make sure you are hitting straight!

Aberdovey golf course, Aberdovey, Gwynedd, Wales

 www.aberdoveygolf.co.uk/

Gold tees 6036 yards, 69.6, slope 124

Orange tees 5797 yards, 74.4, slope 138

Set on the north of the estuary of the River Dovey in the natural beauty of the Snowdonia National Park in west Wales, Golf was reputedly played here in the 1880s by Arthur Ruck, an infantry officer,.  He used Aberdovey Common, an area of ground between the railway and the sea and planted nine flower pots as holes.  Among his playing partners was Bernard Darwin, the grandson of the great naturalist who would holiday with his Welsh grandmother.  She did not play golf but gave the club its motto - an old Welsh proverb 'if you can't be strong, be cunning' which perfectly encapsulated the course.  Bernard went on to be an acclaimed golf writer but never lost his love for Aberdovey which he wrote was 'the course that my soul loved best of all the courses in the world'.  Several famous golf architects have shaped the course including Herbert Fowler, Harry Colt and James Braid, making it into the iconic links it is today.

The second green with the railway
 in the background

We played Aberdovey with Lynn and David Lawson on a sunny day with a strong easterly wind.  Like a classic links course it runs more or less straight out and straight back in, with a small zig zag at the turn, much like the Old Course at St Andrews.  With the prevailing wind being west to south-west it will normally be behind the golfer on the way out and against on the way in, leading perhaps to a false sense of security at the start of the round!  It lies on a narrow strip of land between the railway and sand dunes and reminded us of Brancaster or Goswick.

The third green is over a large dune,
hence the name Cader

The first four holes run along the dunes on the left.   The first two have narrow fairways with trouble on both sides.  The third is a blind par 3 over a large dune after which it is named - Cader for the local mountain Cader Idris.  The green lies in a hollow beyond.  The par 4 fourth has a long carry from its high tee and is followed by a par 3 which heads towards the railway line.  The green is sloping and has a ditch in front of it requiring an accurate shot.  The next three holes are classic links holes with the eighth, although a short par 4, being defended by nine bunkers short of and around the green. The par 3 ninth turns at right angles to the dunes with two large bunkers guarding the green.  The next two holes are long par 4s, the tenth heading back in the direction of the clubhouse and the 11th going in the opposite direction.  A par 3, the twelfth has a green high on a sand dune with lovely views of the beach to the right and steep banking front and left.  The next three holes run back towards home, with the thirteenth being a particularly lovely par 5.  There is a tight drive on the short par 4 sixteenth as it is very close to the railway on the left. The green is set into the dunes with a steep runoff on left. The finishing hole is challenging if you tend to hook the ball with water, rough and out of bounds on the left.

The 18th green and clubhouse

The par 3 12th

Worth playing?  Definitely - it is links heaven.

Pwllheli golf club, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Wales

 clwbgolffpwllheli.com/

White tees 70.1, slope 123

Red tees 71, slope 125

Lying on the Llyn peninsula in north-west Wales on the north side of Ceredigion Bay, Pwllheli golf club was founded as a nine hole course in 1900.  The original holes were designed by Jack Morris, the professional at Hoylake and the nephew of Tom Morris.  The course was extended to 18 holes in 1909 with the addition of nine holes running along the sand dunes designed by James Braid.  The extended course was opened by David Lloyd George who became British Prime Minister in 1916.

We played Pwllheli with Lynn and David Lawson on a sunny day with a gentle breeze.  The original nine holes, now the 1st to 7th and the 17th and 18th, are flat, parkland holes with soft fairways and greens and lots of trees.  They are not true links holes.  Unusually this course has no par 5s for men (two for women) and only three par 3s.  The fairways were not in good condition although the greens were good but very variable because of the differing terrain. 

Nine of the holes are on parkland terrain

There are not many memorable holes in the first 7 holes, although the 5th has a pond in front in front of the green which differentiates it from the other holes.  The ground becomes linksland when the course returns to the clubhouse at the 7th green and turns to run along the coast. This section starts with two par 4s and then the 10th is a pretty par 3 with dunes on the left and a green guarded by two bunkers at the front.   The fabulous views over the bay from the 11th tee could be a distraction but concentration is required for the tee shot which is a big carry over gorse and rough. The final par 3 is the 12th which has water awaiting any long shot to the left and back of the green.  The course then turns back in the direction of the clubhouse with some good holes including the par 4 14th which is a dogleg to right.  It may be a short par 4 but water on the right side of the fairway and a pond in front of the green increases the risk.  The 16th is a blind drive where a drive which is too straight can run out of fairway.  It finishes with a sloping green guarded by a big front bunker.  Disappointingly the 17th and 18th return to rather soggy terrain. 

The 14th green is guarded by
a pond and a bunker

A view of the 10th green

Worth playing?  Probably but only if you are here on holiday.