ST DAVIDS CITY GC: Bona-Fide Golfers Only

[Sean_A]

St David's City. The first objective is to make sure the correct course is in the calender. More than one person has failed to understand the difference between Royal St David's GC (Harlech) and St David's City GC. The two clubs are at opposite ends of the country and aspirations. Harlech is a famous club with with royal in the title; host to high quality events and tourists from across the globe. St David's City is a local affair dependant on volunteers to make the club and course work...and a fine job they do. An official of the club wanted to ensure our visit would run smooth so not only did David come early to open the unmanned clubhouse, but also met us on the course a few hours later. The 1960s era house is sparse, not much more than a tea hut with changing rooms. Like the green fee, there is an honesty box for tea and coffee. However, the club would prefer if green fees were paid online. Until the 1970s, green fees were paid at the local chemist in town!









It is thought the course was built in 1903. However, like many courses suffered for the war effort, St Davids CGC was torn up for sand excavation to build a nearby airplane runway. After WWII the course was revived with a new design. I suspect different iterations were used as more land was secured. The current layout probably wasn't settled until the 1980s with the remarkable 8th being the final piece of the puzzle. Sheep were initially used to help the grass grow, but were removed when it was thought the greens would not improve while grazing was permitted. I must admit that I did expect to see sheep and am a bit surprised they haven't been reintroduced.



The opener is a solid downhill hole over easy bumpy terrain. The green is the first surprise of the round.


Back up the incline for the uneventful 2nd. The course was bereft of golfers on this fine Saturday morning. Gangsomes permitted.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Glad you finally made it to StD City.
A splendid, fun course with some interesting features in a terrifically scenic location.
There's a lot to be said for rural honesty box volunteer labour courses with tiny clubhouses.
atb


Later edit - here’s a link to my StDC photo-tour thread from 2014 - https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,58473.msg1372052.html#msg1372052] - you can’t go much further west in South Wales than St David’s.

[jeffwarne]

Glad you finally made it to StD City.
A splendid, fun course with some interesting features in a terrifically scenic location.
There's a lot to be said for rural honesty box volunteer labour courses with tiny clubhouses.
atb

ditto

[Thomas Dai]

Glad you finally made it to StD City.
A splendid, fun course with some interesting features in a terrifically scenic location.
There's a lot to be said for rural honesty box volunteer labour courses with tiny clubhouses.
atb

ditto

Read a splendid phrase for courses along these lines today …… “no frills golf”.
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

Sean, you do go out of your way to find interesting places to play. Thank you.

[Sean_A]

St Davids City Tour Cont

Back down the hill for the 3rd, a longish par 4. The distinctive reverse two-tier green has two flags, one for each nine.


The view inland is also entrancing. Part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Carn Llidi is the background hill.




So far so good. Nothing brilliant, but some good stuff. I certainly wasn't expecting the 4th. At just over 200 yards into a solid 25mph headwind, nobody reached the rather interesting green.  Its a brilliantly evil hole which slopes heavily toward the sea.  This photo is from well in front of the tee. There is a forward tee for the back nine which is about 60 yards shorter and an easier angle...hole still looks great. I will go ahead and stake the claim of 4 as an All-Wales candidate.


The green looks flatish, but take a look at Spangles on the right. There is about a 20 foot break for the two balls just off the green.


The only three shotter, the tee for 5 hangs over Whitesands Beach.


The drive is blind up the hill; looking back toward the tee.


The hole eventually gives out at another two hole green; looking toward the tee.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Tony_Muldoon]

Gangsomes permitted.




The hole in the ground gang. aka The Detroit Golfing Society.


L-R
Essex, Numbers, Weegie, Troozers, Tee Bags (), Potts & Spangles.


Missing Silent Paul, The Hairdresser, Dave and the Capo di Capo, Tin Man.






St David's
Best discovery of recent years. Great fun track.

[Sean_A]

Gangsomes permitted.




The hole in the ground gang. aka The Detroit Golfing Society.


L-R
Essex, Numbers, Weegie, Troozers, Tee Bags (), Potts & Spangles.


Missing Silent Paul, The Hairdresser and the Capo di Capo, Tin Man.

St David's
Best discovery of recent years. Great fun track.

Tee Bags 🤣.

I think of a Weegie as a Norwegian 🤷.

Ciao

[Richard Fisher]

Great that Arble Tours have finally got to St David's City, and absolutely true that confusion with RStD has always been a bit of an an issue. Two competitors for the 2009 Ladies Am at Harlech were DQed for not registering in time, having driven 125 miles south of their correct destination and reached St David's. And in the 1990s an R&A brochure advertising forthcoming championships contained a map in which there was, similarly, a flag in Pembrokeshire rather than one in Merioneth. Interestingly in 'Golf Addict Invades Wales' George Houghton does get to SDC which in those days (1960s) didn't even belong to the Welsh Union. Anyway I hope that the gang was playing a 4-ball 8some, in the classic style...
Much looking forward to the rest of the tour, and likewise v much enjoyed the report from Gwbert -on- Sea. Big thanks to Sean, as always.

[Sean_A]

Thanks all.

St David's City Tour Cont

Its not a looker, but the short 6th gets the job done admirably.


A short par 4, the only memorable aspect of the 7th is that is crosses three holes!  Perhaps the second best hole, the 8th works back to the drop off featured at 1 & 3. Yep, a fall-away green.


The green is highly unusual with its contours, size and precipice location. 






The sun considerably flattens the green contours.


The 9th basically serves to return us to the house.


Seeing the All Wales 4th is enough reason for a golf architecture junkie to stop in, but we are blessed to have nine holes to explore. St David's City is far from great, but If one doesn't find this course charming than it might be an idea to take up a different past time. Thats not all. The cathedral and half pint size city are appealing. With so much cool golf to be had in south Wales, there really is no excuse to miss out on St David's City. 2023



Ciao

[Tony_Muldoon]

The green looks flatish, but take a look at Spangles on the right. There is about a 20 foot break for the two balls just off the green.

Architects please take note.  All you need on a a links (or sandy) course is a green on a sloping ridge or sadleback and you can have a great hole. Firm greens and wind provide all the challenge and fun needed.
NO bunkers needed at
Deal 4th
Princes Himalayas 7th - Pick of the bunch
The one at Portstewart on the front 9 (err no 6?)
Southerndown 5th
Worlington 6th
etc

[Thomas Dai]

I've been trumpeting the merits of St David's City for quite a number of years so it's great to see it get more traction in this splendid thread. Terrific photos too. Well done.
The 4th hole is indeed a cracker and the green on the 8th or alternative tee 17th is diabolically evil yet at the same time delightful.
The essence of golf.
As for the clubhouse, well it's a bit big and flash for my liking!!!
atb