Jonathan, One of them is Welsh!
I know Northop a little. It's an attempt to combine a golf course with housing development which is, I think, unique in North Wales. There is plenty (too much?) golf provision in the area so it is always going to have stiff competition. The course is fairly unmemorable parkland and there is much more interesting golf to be found within a few miles. With clubs such as Conwy having to work very hard to keep member and visitor numbers up the task will be much stiffer at Northop. I'd much rather play the great fun course at Holywell a few miles away.