Welsh Wizard Short Tour of Mid Wales: Marvelous MACHYNLLETH GC

[Sean_A]

The tour continued with a striking drive northwest through the Cambrians to Machynlleth. This trip is worth doing even if there is no golf at the finish. I was taken aback to discover Machynelleth is twinned with Belleville, Michigan...a town I know fairly well. Some might recognize the town as the home of the Belleville Three, a collective who were instrumental in the development of Detroit Techno while I was in high school. I am curious as to the history of this connection.

Machynlleth holds a special place in Welsh history as the ancient capitol of Wales. After four failed English military actions, in 1404 Owain Glyndwr was crowned Prince of Wales in Machynlleth. In revolt against King Henry IV he formed the first Welsh Parliament with the aim of establishing an independant Wales.. The English never succeeded in bringing Owain Glyndwr to terms, but the revolt slowly petered out and was all but over when he died sometime after 1412 (possibly 1415). Glyndwr is a national hero whose namesake was used by a group which burned down several dozen English holiday homes in Wales for a period in the late 1970s to mid 90s.   

Machynlleth originally had an 1892 course, but it is the James Braid 1904 moorland design we enjoy today. Nestled in the Dyfi Valley, Machynlleth benefits from lovely views and a sense of serenity. This rustic nine holer is bunkerless, I believe; it didn't occur to me think about it at the time. However, there are man-made drainage ditches here and there which can influence play. I found the setup utterly charming. So far as I can tell, there is only one person associated with the club that is paid...the cleaning person. The club and course maintenance relies on volunteers. In fact, there was one volunteer digging the ditch along the 8th when we played...that is hard graft!

The setup of the club is impressive.


Even includes a practice ground.


I wouldn't suggest a vending machine can replace people, but balls and tees are available inside the house.
 

The opening tee shot is bewildering. The green is tucked out of sight behind the hill to the right.


The approach...its not for everyone, but I like it.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

The tour continued with a striking drive northwest through the Cambrians to Machynlleth. This trip is worth doing even if there is no golf at the finish.

Some friendly four legged locals with their owner atop his 'Welsh horse', aka Detroit Golfers name for a quadbike, as encountered on the wonderfully scenic A489 between Llanidloes and Machynlleth ......
atb
WW

[Sean_A]

WW

Good thing we didn't have a tee time.

Machynlleth Tour Cont

The par 5 second isn't anything special, but I liked the triangle to communicate the green is free.


Machynlleth comes into its own on the third, a bruisingly long and blind short hole. The terrain feeds from the left to a runaway green.


Machynlleth struggled to stay afloat over the years. Shortly after WWII the course closed to reopen in 1950. Not long later the club closed again and remained so until 1966.  Perhaps this perseverance is one reason why the course feels wonderfully simple.  Another par 3, the 4th is a stern uphill 160ish yarder. The green is benched into the high ground on the right and is a surprisingly tight target. Below is a head-on look from well in front of the tee.


There is the added element of a berm somewhat blocking the kick down from the right. It is holes like this one hopes to find when journeying to country courses.


Perhaps the best hole on offer, the 5th swings downhill over a sneaky ditch. I think the club dug a few drainage ditches here and there over the years to help mother nature. Whomever dug this ditch had some architectural acumen.


The approach from well beyond the ditch. Like most sheep tended courses, the turf is top class.




Behind the green.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Machynlleth Tour Cont

The 6th is a rather straight-forward two-shotter played over the same ditch as on the 5th. However, the 7th is something special. Once again a well placed ditch plagues the otherwise open tee shot. Unlike at the 6th, there is a real benefit the added distance affords in carrying the ditch because the approach demands a highly accurate shot.


The small green leans toward another ditch on the low left side.


A view of the terrific greensite halfway up the hill to the 8th tee.


The short 8th also plays over a ditch. A Welsh horse and a club volunteer are to be avoided.


A common hole, the only terrors the 9th holds is the chance of knifing an approach into a mess of sheep or people behind the green.


Somebody left the gate open!


Hmmmm, Machynlleth, I am impressed. The walk is excellent, the turf is lovely and the setting is calming. The golf is good as well! #s 3-5 and 7-8 are plenty of reason to stop by for a game if heading to Aberdovey or Borth & Ynylslas from the Midlands. The short tour is over, but I have happily found another course to add to my Nifty 50.  2024

Knighton GC
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73199.0.html

St Idloes GC
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73213.0.html

Ciao

[Jesse Kodadek]

Thanks for another fascinating tour, Sean.


For those of us who have never played amongst sheep (or cattle), do they never get hit or are they not that bothered by it if they are? Is it just a risk their owners take for them?

[Sean_A]

Thanks for another fascinating tour, Sean.


For those of us who have never played amongst sheep (or cattle), do they never get hit or are they not that bothered by it if they are? Is it just a risk their owners take for them?

Yer welcome Jesse. Once in a while a sheep or cow is hit. It doesn’t seem to cause permanent harm, but they do move their asses in a hurry 😎.


Ciao

[Richard Fisher]

Thanks so much Sean. I have driven past MGC dozens of times, taking the mountain road from Llanidloes towards the coast and ultimately Harlech, and never to my shame stopped off for a knock (ditto Welshpool). Clearly I should. I did once watch my late brother hit a sheep from 200 yards on the similarly rustic-but-lovely course at Rothbury, Northumberland: the sheep look momentarily perplexed and then pottered away.
Anyway working either or both of Welshpool and Machynlleth into a tour of Borth/Aberdovey/Harlech etc is clearly a super (and vvv inexpensive) thing to do. You just don’t want to be doing this in any kind of low-slung sporty roadster, however!

[Thomas Dai]

As with Knighton, I’d long wished to show Detroit Golfer the delights of Machynlleth GC. I thought he’d be impressed and am glad that he was.
As to his phototour and insightful comments, well I can’t really add much except to highlight that
Machynlleth only has approx 120 members so any visitor income, which can be paid via debit card, will no doubt be very welcome.
Combining a game at Machynlleth with rounds at the likes of Welshpool, Borth & Ynyslas and Aberdovey in particular would make for a splendid short golf tour of Mid & Central West Coast Wales.
Like Knighton I’ve played Machynlleth with both modern era clubs and with retro persimmons and blades. Next time it’ll be with hickories.
Lovely place to play. Go play it!
Atb

[Sean_A]

Richard…you are welcome.

WW…thanks for indulging me!

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

WW…thanks for indulging me!

Delighted that somewhere I’ve been trumpeting the merits of for quite some time has finally found its way into your famous Nifty-50 list. I recommend others take the opportunity to sample its merits too.
Atb