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!