Royal Porthcawl
Published:
Royal Porthcawl
Rest Bay, Mid Glamorgan. Par 72, 7,065 yards.
Designer: Ramsay Hunter. Green fees: £115 Mon-Thu, £125 Fri, £135 weekends.
Tel: 01656 782251.
It is very easy to be chastened by Royal Porthcawl and you need not feel too ashamed if you are, for you are in good company; Tiger Woods failed to tame the Principality’s old Dame when he played on the American side during the 1995 Walker Cup. He was famously beaten by short-hitting Gary Wolstenholme and didn’t especially enjoy the experience by all accounts. It is also very easy to be seduced by Porthcawl (though perhaps Woods may not agree) and the charm offensive begins immediately, with a trio of holes along the shore which are as good a start to a course as exists in GB&I. They can make a fool of you, make no mistake, but they also leave you in no doubt that this is world-class links golf. With no weak holes, plenty of variety and slick greens, few would argue this is Wales’ No.1. The club has been known to be frosty in the past but is now much more welcoming to visitors.
