Welsh Golf

[foster300]

Myself and a few others are heading to the Llanelli area next week along the M4 from Swindon. Are there any recommended courses? Celtic Manor Montgomerie course looks like a solid choice. Is there anything closer to Llanelli that anybody has played? Glyn Abbey looks like a good course but is currently playing off fairway mats (not a fan).

Any recommendations at all are welcome.

Thanks

 

[Carpfather1]

I live in Bridgend South Wales so just down from there and if your going towards west http://www.machynys.com/
Machynys is a must absolute beut of a course a must play if your down this end .
https://www.royalporthcawl.com/ another beauty

It’s been very wet down here the last few weeks so I’d stick to the linksy type courses at the moment as they will hold up well my home course is very wet underfoot at the moment

 

[User20205]

Play Pyle & kenfig average front 9, Stella back 9
Neath is supposed to be good also....but I’ve not played it 😱

 

[Carpfather1]

Play Pyle & kenfig average front 9, Stella back 9
Neath is supposed to be good also....but I’ve not played it 😱

I was a member at p&k for a few years as it’s on my doorstep and they had the British amateurs there the one summer ,Being a member of a course which was up to that standard was something special. But during winter they heavily protect it having to use fairway mats or drop on the fringe in the rough so sort of defeats the object of being a links and playable all year .You can score well on the front 9 but the back 9 can destroy you if you don’t keep the ball in play and if the winds up it’s a different animal all together .

Heres the link hope it helps
https://www.pandkgolfclub.co.uk/

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Pennard and Ashburnham are worth playing, both links so should be in decent condition. Little bit further down the road is Tenby, not played it yet myself but heard good things, it's on my radar.

 

[foster300]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. We are only there for three days with the opportunity to play once or twice. Some lovely looking courses though. I fully understand the reason behind fairway mats but they always completely put me off my round (doesn't take much). Links definitely looks like the way to go.

 

[chimpo1]

My opinions for what they are worth...
I would avoid the Celtic Manor courses as they will be a mud bath. You can lose your ball in the fairway sometimes.
Neath is top quality and great value for money.
Royal Porthcawl is the pick of the bunch and is a definite play if you are willing to pay the green fee.
Southerndown is highly rated, is in Bridgend and on your way to Llanelli.
I played P&K in December and they had “winter holes” in play to protect the summer route. I would check this before playing as it is not the same experience as in the summer.

 

[foster300]

I am glad you mentioned Celtic Manor because I was 50/50. If I play there I want to play the 2010 course and there isn't much availability next week. The fact that it would be a mud bath puts me off massively. I don't want to ruin my opinion of somehwhere because I have played at the wrong time of year. After trawling through I think we will be playing the Machynys course due to proximity of where we will be, unless anybody strongly advises against it.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I like Machynys but it isn't a links, it is very man made. The front 9 can get quite wet, back 9 tends to be a bit drier. If it's been dry down there then it's worth playing but if it's been wet then I would check it out before committing yourself.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Ashburnham for me.

Great links course (recently ranked 3rd in Wales) and very friendly and welcoming.

Only 10 minutes from Llanelli.

 

[Grantley1988]

As has been mentioned avoid Celtic Manor after lots of rain. It’s really bad there! Nothing worse than losing balls in the middle of the fairway!

 

[Deleted member 18645]

What's the "middle of the fairway"? Asking for a friend.

 

[Carpfather1]

Another to think about is the vale resort welsh national course but that does get wet.
I played it a few weeks back and considering the weather the course was in top condition for winter we were surprised it was so good for this time of year .

 

[Captainron]

You should play a links

Pennard or Ahburnham would be the best options available

 

[Deleted member 17920]

You should play a links

Pennard or Ahburnham would be the best options available

We need a South Wales tour at some point 😉

 

[Deleted member 17920]

What's the "middle of the fairway"? Asking for a friend.

I think it’s just a myth as no one from the forum has ever seen it on the meets I have been on 🤣

 

[Captainron]

We need a South Wales tour at some point 😉

You sound like you’re developing a nasty cough. Best take a few days off work. Don’t want to pass that on to your fellow employees....

I’ll pack the car

 

[Deleted member 17920]

You sound like you’re developing a nasty cough. Best take a few days off work. Don’t want to pass that on to your fellow employees....

I’ll pack the car

Can you do Thursday to Sunday next week 🤣🤣

 

[Captainron]

Can you do Thursday to Sunday next week 🤣🤣

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You sound like you’re developing a nasty cough. Best take a few days off work. Don’t want to pass that on to your fellow employees....

I’ll pack the car

Pick me up on the way past