Royal St David's Golf Club *****

Harlech, LL46 2UB

Nearest main town: Harlech

 

Between arriving at Royal St David's and teeing off, you will almost certainly meet someone who tells you this is the toughest par-69 in the world. Of course, you will not believe it and, until you reach the turn, will confidently dismiss the comments as humbug. Then it hits you, an astonishing stretch of holes, played against a backdrop of dunes the size of the Titanic, that eat away at your score and leave you yearning for the warmth and friendliness of the clubhouse.

This imbalance between the two nines may earn rancour from some players, but for the majority it's a great relief, allowing you to hone your game before the real test begins. Whether it's the toughest par-69 in the world is up for debate, and one can imagine it has been the subject of lengthy discussions in the bar at this historic and traditional club.

Set on flat terrain and overlooked by the medieval castle of Harlech (very imposing and somewhat eerie), Royal St David's is a true rival for Royal Porthcawl as the best course in Wales. It may not have the same feeling of space as Porthcawl, but what it lacks in length and openness, it more than makes up for in the intimacy it creates between the player and the course. This is achieved, to some extent, by the visual cloak the dunes present all along the western extent of the course - unless you clamber over the back of the 16th tee, you can never glimpse the sea.

Royal St David's feels like a natural stadium for golf, framed by the hills, the castle and the dunes, and the holes on the back nine mirror this effect, plunging into seemingly never-ending tunnels of sandhills. The 14th is a blind par-3 into a punchbowl green, then the 15th and 16th are resolute par-4s where the dunes funnel towards the green the champagne has been well and truly drunk by the time you reach the 18th, a finish so flat you wish you'd packed up the hole before.

Although the dunes protect the course, it does not mean you will escape strong winds, and on some drives you can be pushed to reach the fairways. But on the hardest par-69 in the world, what did you expect?

 

Secretary: Mr D. Morkill

Tel: 01766 780361 Fax: 01766 781110

Professional: Mr J. Barnett

Tel: 01766 780857 Fax: 01766 781110

Playing: Midweek: round £40.00; day £50.00. Weekend: round £50.00; day £60.00.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11 am-9pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Not as interesting as most links but some super greens... Excellent...Some great individual holes - aura of a championship course... Fantastic back nine... Par-69 that plays to about 72... Different links that is a killer on the back nine. . . Prevailing wind on the back nine makes it an absolute slog... Weak par-3 finishing hole... Super 15th and 16th - great holes anyday . . . Back nine unbelievable.

 

Bull Bay Golf Club **

Bull Bay Road, Amlwch, LL68 9RY

Nearest main town: Amlwch

 

Secretary: Mr I. Furlong

Tel: 01407 830960 Fax: 01407 832612

Professional: Mr J. Burns

Tel: 01407 831188 Fax: 01407 832612

Playing: Midweek: round £22.00; day £22.00. Weekend: round £27.00; day £27.00.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11 am-9pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Superbly natural course covered in gorse... An awesome location in North Wales with views of Isle of Man, Anglesey and Snowdonia... You feel very alone up on this well-drained course.