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Mark_Rowlinson

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British Courses 16
« on: September 12, 2004, 12:48:12 PM »
Pennard

Many of you know this South Wales course set on the cliffs of the Gower Peninsula a few miles south of Swansea.  Despite being so high above the sea it is a genuine links (Gullane is similarly elevated), laid out by James Braid and revised by CK Cotton.  It is not a long course (6265 yards par 71) but it is full of vigour, the land bouncing around quite severely in places, the views are magnificent and it's a very friendly place.

Small pictures this time - they're not very clear slides and wouldn't benefit from being made bigger.


7th, 351 yards par 4.  The first 6 holes take you inland, but the 7th first skirts the ruins of an old castle then bursts out onto the headland for the first stunning green location.


11th, 180 yards par 3.  This is viewed from behind the green.  The tee is up beside the green you can see in the distance, the 10th.  The 10th is a great hole with a drive down to a fairway which curves to the left as it crosses a stream.  Then it is an uphill beat to find the green with 3 bunkers in front and 2 behind.  The stream should not come into play on the 11th, but there is a lot of rough country to be carried and the immediate surroundings of the putting surface are very bumpy.


12th, 298 yards par 4.  A hole played across a hollow to a fairway with a marker post.  Another lovely green site.  The 13th can be seen in the background.


13th, 196 yards par 3. Yet another splendid natural hole with all sorts of agonies awaiting the player who comes up short.


16th, 493 yards par 5.  This takes play back to the clifftops for the last time.  It is a long, slow right-hand curve and the green is perilously close to the edge.


17th, 488 yards par 5.  Not an easy hole!  You drive onto a plateau and then begin a long climb as the fairway turns sharply to the left.  There are no bunkers in the later stages of the hole, but there is plenty of gorse.

Photos taken late in the evening at the end of a long dry spell.  The greenkeeper was still at work at 9.30 pm watering approaches by hand from a tractor and tanker.  

Tommy Williamsen

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:British Courses 16
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2004, 01:49:52 AM »
Mark, I had one of my most enjoyable days of golf at Pennard this August.  The course, the welcome and the views were all special.  They are a tad upset that the local farmers can graze their cattle on the course.  The fairways have taken a hit.  Something about common land.  I'd go back in a minute.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Philip Gawith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:British Courses 16
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2004, 10:40:24 AM »
excellent stuff mark. my debut trip to wales draws closer! looks like you got lucky with the weather.

johnk

Re:British Courses 16
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2004, 02:26:14 PM »
Although you do get hoof-prints and worse, for me, the sight of wild ponies galloping up the tenth fairway with the wind was magic.

What a gem Pennard is.

PS. The pro shop is very welcoming indeed, and one of the few places where American football outranks football in the UK :)

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:British Courses 16
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2004, 02:31:54 PM »
John - it might outrank football but I bet it lags far behind rugby.

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