Best 18-holes in Wales

[Thomas Dai]

A discussion elsewhere has brought up some interesting candidates for the beat 18-holes in Wales.

Now golf in Wales isn't just about links courses.
There are hilltops and clifftops and downlands and moorlands and parklands all with various degree of conditioning as well as rural and rustics to consider. 18-holers and 9-holers. Courses with great views and courses with lessor views.
There's even a course that has some holes in Wales and some holes in England.
Plus there's a Welsh County that until 1972 was considered by some to be part of England.

One hole per course using that courses hole number. And an honorable mention.

I'll just mention one particular hole to begin with and leave out the honorable mention.

1
2
3 Tenby - par 4
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

atb

[Richard Fisher]

OK. Two completely obvious ones, but both world-class
2nd at Porthcawl
15th at Harlech (the single golf hole in Wales, imho, especially into the prevailing wind)

[Tony_Muldoon]

Sadly have only played 10 courses in Wales...


Pyle
Twickenham
Portugal
Clubs
Clyne
Kennard
Denny
Cardigan
Cwmrhydneuadd
Aberdeen


(The above list compiled with the help of Spellchecker, travelling South to West anticlockwise for those who still care )

[Tom Dunne]

I wrote up a Welsh "Dream 18" for Visit Wales during the run-up to the 2010 Ryder Cup. I could post the whole list, but it seems like that's not what I'm being asked for here. So I'll just nominate one, and an honorable mention:


#14, Porthmadog.


The back 9 at Porthmadog sends golfers into some of the wildest links country I've ever seen. The 14th is a knockout. From the tee, all the player sees is a rough, high ridgeline with an enormous blowout bunker to the left. A solitary directional marker is the only hit that safety awaits on the other side. I love James Braid and sincerely hope I make it back to this little course, which I haven't visited in nearly 15 years.


Hon. Mention: #9, Bull Bay. (H. Fowler)

[Sean_A]

How bout

Pennard 7
P'cawl 14
Welshpool 8
Ashburnham 9
N Wales 17
B&Y 12
Aberdovey 16
P'm'dog 12

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

So far we have the following nomination - with alternatives for the same hole number also stated -

1
2 Porthcawl
3 Tenby
4
5
6
7 Pennard
8 Welshpool
9 Ashburnham
10
11
12 Porthmadog
13
14 Porthmadog .. Porthcawl
15 Harlech
16 Aberdovey
17 North Wales GC
18

Some others to consider as candidates as different courses may have a meritorious hole but with the identical hole number -
Ashburnham - 6th, 14th
Tenby - 4th, 12th
Pennard - 9th, 10th, 11th
Pyle & Kenfig - 13th (maybe 11th through 17th!)
Southerndown - 2nd, 5th, 6th, 16th, 18th
Clyne - 14th
Radyr - 12thPorthcawl 9th, 11th
Newport/Rogerstone - 12th
Cardigan - 16th, 17th
Aberdovey - 11th, 12th
Llandrindod Wells - 18th
Welshpool - 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th
That'll do for now.

atb

[jeffwarne]

Holes 12.5 and 15.5 Nefyn...

[John Mayhugh]

I think Southerndown's par 4 2nd can compete with Porthcawl's.The par 3 5th at Southerndown is another option.Agree with the 9th at Bull Bay and 7th at Pennard.Also agree on the 14th at Porthcawl.
I'm fond of the par 5 8th at Porthcawl as well.

[Thomas Dai]

UPDATED

So far we have the following nomination - with alternatives for the same hole number also stated -

1
2 Porthcawl .. Southerndown
3 Tenby
4
5
6
7 Pennard
8 Welshpool .. Porthcawl
9 Ashburnham .. Bull Bay
10
11
12 Porthmadog
12.5 Nefyn
13
14 Porthmadog .. Porthcawl
15 Harlech
15.5 Nefyn
16 Aberdovey
17 North Wales GC
18

Some others to consider as candidates as different courses may have a meritorious hole but with the identical hole number -

Ashburnham - 6th, 14th
Tenby - 4th, 12th
Pennard - 9th, 10th, 11th
Pyle & Kenfig - 13th (maybe 11th through 17th!)
Southerndown - 2nd, 5th, 6th, 16th, 18th
Clyne - 14th
Radyr - 12th
Porthcawl 9th, 11th
Newport/Rogerstone - 12th
Cardigan - 16th, 17th
Aberdovey - 11th, 12th
Llandrindod Wells - 18th
Welshpool - 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th
That'll do for now.

atb

[Garland Bayley]

Lose Tenby 3, Tenby 4 is the real deal.

[James Brown]

18 at Southerndown is pretty nice!

[Tom_Doak]

18 at Southerndown is pretty nice!

Seconded, and you are still looking for a finishing hole, so that's a good choice.  Yes, the 2nd and 5th might be better holes at Southerndown, but you've got other options for those.


#17 at North Wales ... is that "L.O." ?  One of my favorite golf hole names ever, combined with its predecessor.


Pyle & Kenfig should definitely have a hole.


Was there really nothing on the Ryder Cup course at Celtic Manor that could make an eclectic?

[Thomas Dai]

UPDATE

So far we have the following nominations - with alternatives for the same hole number also stated -

1
2 Porthcawl .. Southerndown
3 Tenby
4 Tenby
5
6
7 Pennard
8 Welshpool .. Porthcawl
9 Ashburnham .. Bull Bay
10
11
12 Porthmadog
12.5 Nefyn
13
14 Porthmadog .. Porthcawl
15 Harlech
15.5 Nefyn
16 Aberdovey
17 North Wales GC
18 Southerndown

Some others to consider as candidates as different courses may have a meritorious hole but with the identical hole number -

Ashburnham - 6th, 14th
Tenby - 4th, 12th
Pennard - 9th, 10th, 11th
Pyle & Kenfig - 13th (maybe 11th through 17th!)
Southerndown - 2nd, 5th, 6th, 16th, 18th
Clyne - 14th
Radyr - 12th
Porthcawl 9th, 11th
Newport/Rogerstone - 12th
Cardigan - 16th, 17th
Aberdovey - 11th, 12th
Llandrindod Wells - 18th
Welshpool - 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th
Celtic Manor 2010 - ?
That'll do for now.

atb

[Sean_A]

18 at Southerndown is pretty nice!

Seconded, and you are still looking for a finishing hole, so that's a good choice.  Yes, the 2nd and 5th might be better holes at Southerndown, but you've got other options for those.

#17 at North Wales ... is that "L.O." ?  One of my favorite golf hole names ever, combined with its predecessor.

Pyle & Kenfig should definitely have a hole.

Was there really nothing on the Ryder Cup course at Celtic Manor that could make an eclectic?

I am struggling to fit P&K in.  The best holes are 14 & 15 and there are already good candidates in place. 


ATB..if we are taking more than one hole per course that opens the deal wide open. 


Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

ATB..if we are taking more than one hole per course that opens the deal wide open.

That would indeed be the case but I’m following Clyde and Jaegers format that’s appearing on Feed the Ball to spark some thought especially about courses that are not the usual bigger name suspects. Plus I suspect that those of us who’ve been there would be lobbying for several from Welshpool (as well as the usual suspects).
Agree about P&K. Lots of fine holes there. Indeed I’ve been told their best hole lies within their winter/extra holes but I’ve not played that part of the course nor know it’s number. Good point about CM/2010 by TD. It might be modern style and have been built for a particular reason but it’s much better than folks who’ve not played it probably realise.
Atb