Thinking of holidaying in Wales?  Four local residents return from a weeks golfing in the North West. Read about their fantastic holiday, the courses they played, places they stayed and the delights Wales has to offer.

100 years of golf at Old Fold Manor Golf Club, Barnet, and our friends Centenary at Dolgellau Golf Club, North Wales, prompted us to organise a Centenary Golf tour around North West Wales.  First stop was Dolgellau, awash  with stone cottages, in the wake of Cader Idris (2927ft) nestling in the Snowdonia National Park. Luckily we just missed the annual ‘run-up’ Cadir Idris, which, when I asked a local how it went, was told’ Well, I only heard one ambulance!’

We opted for a tamer walk by a picturesque lake called ‘The Precipice Walk’ which overlooked the glorious Mawddach Estuary. The poet William Wordsworth called it "the sublime estuary" and reported that "it could compare with the finest in Scotland".

After superb cuisine at Y Merionnydd Hotel, the morning of the Centenary match v Dolgellau dawned. The 9 hole golf course really is a gem, up a side of  a hill, with spectacular views of the Estuary and the Snowdonia mountains. We had a huge welcome from our friends and the match was hard fought with the roses edging a win over the dragons.

On to Royal St Davids Golf Club, in the shadow of the late 13th Century Harlech Castle. A tough links course that banks on to the dunes of Harlech beach adjacent to the Snowdonia Range. A true test of golf in windy conditions. Watching a magnificent sunset on Harlech Beach with the twinkling lights of Criccieth in the distance, feasting on fish and chips was the perfect end to the day.

A rest day followed and where better to spend it than the beautiful and unique village of Portmerion along the Estuary. Designed by Sir Clough William-Ellis it was built from 1926-1939 & 1954-1972 and resembles an Italian village beside the sea.  A few miles down the road, Porthmadog Golf Course beckoned.  An 18 hole course of 2 halves, first 9 Parkland and the 2nd half Links. It’s the only course in North Wales where you can see two castles from one tee, Criccieth and Harlech from the 13th. We finished the day with a swim at Black Rock Sands, quite an achievement so early on in June.

That night at Plas Bodegroes, a quiet haven near Nefyn, we sat on a wisteria/rose covered veranda enjoying tea and welsh barabrith, anticipating our dinner ahead, hungry for the menu of the ‘Great British Menu’ Welsh finalist Aled Williams.

The penultimate game was on the challenging course of Nefyn on the Llyn Peninsula.  The first 9 holes safely negotiates its way around the coast, you see the sea from every hole, but we were unprepared for the second half jutting out into the Irish Sea.  Sheer drops on both sides, with a blowhole to contend with and people walking on the paths to the beach, the shouts of ‘Fore’ were ever present. An unforgettable golfing experience.

The final round was at my childhood course, Holyhead Golf Club on the Isle of Anglesey. It’s a Heathland course designed by James Braid with their Centenary in 2012. The course was heavy with a seamist so no wonderful views until the latter part of the round, but they were worth waiting for. 

The end of our tour – a great week. With the Ryder Cup At Celtic Manor this October, Welsh golf is on a high.

For more information on all the courses please visit:
www.dolgellaugolfclub.com
www.porthmadog-golf-club.co.uk
www.royalstdavids.co.uk
www.nefyn-golf-club.com
www.holyheadgolfclub.co.uk