Aberdovey by Train – Links article by Adam Lawrence

[John Mayhugh]

I already spend too much time daydreaming about courses I want to see, and have now been reminded of another one.  The latest Links has a splendid article on Aberdovey from Adam Lawrence.  I’ve ordinarily taken a car on my visits to the UK, but this makes rail sound well worth a try.

Though isolated, its proximity to the railway makes Aberdovey more accessible at first sight than it might seem. Once there, this part of the Welsh coast is an adventurous golfer’s dream. The equally famous links of Royal St. David’s lies only an hour to the north—and on the same railway line—while the entertaining, if less heralded, Borth & Ynyslas is just across the estuary of the Dovey River. The magnificent mountain scenery of Snowdonia could distract even the most dedicated golfer’s attention, while the ring of castles that King Edward I of England built in the late 13th century to subdue the rebellious Welsh remains one of medieval Britain’s most remarkable achievements.

Adam’s article
http://www.linksmagazine.com/golf_travel/aberdovey-by-train

Sean Arble’s tour of the course
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43564.0.html

And one from Tony Muldoon
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,42867.0/

[Brent Hutto]

I will be accessing both Aberdovey and Harlech by train this coming September. I love golf holidays with no car!

My trip involves the train from Shrewsbury to Harlech on a Friday morning, two and a half daysof golf there, then the short train ride to Aberdovey for a Monday round before continuing on to MAN and home.

[Bill_McBride]

Is Snowdonia a neighbor of Freedonia?

Say the secret word.....

[Thomas Dai]

Curious to know if the nice photo of the 12th green that comes with the article was taken before or after the recent storms?
atb



Aberdyfi by train - "Toot, toot!"

[Brent Hutto]

Definitely before, Thomas. Here's an "after"...



Snapshot of the 12th at "Aberdyfi" from Rhys Butler's blog. He's the former greenskeeper there, lately moved to Royal St. Davids. He has a very interesting blog about maintenance practices in use at Harlech BTW.

[Thomas Dai]

Diolch yn fawr iawn* Brent. A great shame about the damage to the 12th green.

Very interesting blog you've highlighted.

Have a great time when you go to NW Wales.

atb

* thank you very much

[Colin Macqueen]

Gentlemen,

Well done Adam! The pedigree of writing about Aberdovey is, in my opinion, second to none so you have shown great courage in entering this arena!

Bernard Darwin has written an exhaustive description of Aberdovey in the Wales section of "Historic Golf Courses in the British Isles" and almost prophesied the fate of the stretch imaged above in talking of the sandhills;   "there is no turf on the far side of them - nothing but the shore and waves….."

He wrote very lovingly about this pearl and includes the train journey in his musings. The golfer;   "When he is going to this his golfing home he packs up his clubs with a peculiar delight and care; he anxiously counts the diminishing number of stations that divide him from it….."

And in "A Round with Darwin" his long piece on Aberdovey is a gem where he covers the packing (tying this in to another of his favourites -  Pickwickian travels!), the train journey where the "…stations will whirl past. Bletchley, Rugby,……", and the arrival " through the darkness…" to be greeted by "…..a wild rush of small boys outside our carriage window, fighting and clamouring for the privilege of carrying our clubs."

So Brent,  "Escaping with difficulty from this rabble of boys…." ensure you enjoy yer gowf and send us a wee missive with Bernardo in mind!

Cheers Colin

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I'm glad there is renewed interest in Aberdovey and Harlech. I've always loved both courses and, for some time, was rather saddened by the negative reactions of some on GCA. They're both lovely courses in super locations. OK, neither enjoys the dunes as we might hope, but they were there on the only accessible land a very long time ago.