South West England and South Wales

Module 5 “Includes England’s oldest golf club, the seaside links at Westward Ho!”

Module 6 “Play the 2010 Ryder Cup Course in Wales”

Module 5 Links Golf in South West England

In England there are some areas that have excellent courses but their location is not suitable to accommodate the crowds that attend major Professional tournaments like the Open Championship. In this module North Devon is an example of such an area, with Saunton East high in the rankings, Saunton West and Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! completing an excellent trio of seaside links. Here you can get quality traditional courses at a very sensible price. On route to or from Devon you can also play another highly ranked seaside links Burnham and Berrow.

Get a Quote Form

Please fill in the form below. We will promptly provide an itinerary and price.

The Park Hotel is in a quiet corner of the bustling market town of Barnstaple and enjoys views over leafy Rock Park. Nearby are the shops, bars and restaurants of the town centre, while the beaches, moors and rolling hills of North Devon stretch, ready to be explored, in every direction. The hotel is elegant and comfortable, with modern amenities and attentive, personal service. Each of the luxury bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom, satellite television and tea and coffee making facilities, and room service is available 24 hours a day. The bar and lounge are beautifully furnished and the restaurant provides comfortable and elegant surroundings, where dining is a pleasure. The dinner menu showcases the finest in locally sourced, expertly crafted cuisine. As a guest of the Park Hotel you are entitled to use the facilities at the Barnstaple Health and Leisure Club, situated at a sister property, the Barnstaple Hotel. Guests can swim in the heated indoor and outdoor pools free of charge, and enjoy the other facilities, including a cardiovascular exercise room, solarium and sauna, at normal member rates.

Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! was founded in 1864, it is the oldest golf course in the England. The course is over 7,000 yards from the championship tees, although most will agree that it’s a suitably stiff test at 6,650 yards, especially when the wind blows. The playing surfaces are second to none, boasting year-round fast and true greens, firm tees and tight fairway lies, which require crisply struck iron shots. To sum it up, this is true golf played out under big skies and against a backdrop of crashing surf. (6653 yards, par 72).

Saunton has two traditional links courses with views of North Devon's beautiful coast and the river, sea and golden sands as a background. Saunton East is a heavyweight proposition that takes no prisoners. The strength of this course lies in the long par 4 holes that usually require a driver from the tee. The wind plays an important part in the decision-making process. Howeve, the perception of toughness is best captured by the story of a former club secretary’s dog who retired after a career haul of 20,000 golf balls - all found among Saunton’s colourful gorse, willow scrub and buckthorn. (6708 yards, par 73).

Saunton West is a championship course in its own right and arguably needs more attention to course management than its wonderful neighbour the East. It needs thoughtful club selection from the tee and precision into well-guarded greens. It is somewhat shorter than the East course, but it has some extreme doglegs that call for astute shot making. (6356 yards, par 71).

Burnham and Berrow was founded in 1890. The first nine skirt the sand dunes and coastline northwards, turning inland and southwards and then following the coast road through Berrow, past the Church and back into Burnham. As with all links golf the wind is unpredictable, which means that the course can play differently almost every day. The greens are true and quick, this championship course demands that you use almost every club in the bag and the experience is memorable and always a challenge. (6793 yard, par 71).

Module 6 “Play the 2010 Ryder Cup Course in Wales”

The 2010 golf course at Celtic Manor Resort in South Wales is the first course to have been built specifically to stage a Ryder Cup Match. You have the opportunity to play the course before watching the United States team attempt to retain the trophy and the Europeans strive to regain it. In South Wales you can also play a range of seaside links courses or a splendid parkland course Monmouth Rolls with a unique connection to Rolls Royce Motors or there are two other courses at Celtic Manor, the Montgomery and the Roman Road.

Get a Quote Form

Please fill in the form below. We will promptly provide an itinerary and price.

Celtic Manor Resort features two hotels: a luxurious 5-star resort hotel that is unashamedly modern in stature whilst those seeking a little more tradition can stay in the 19th century Manor House hotel. The resort has 330 bedrooms each beautifully appointed and decorated, with distinctive design and traditional luxury to create a calm and relaxing environment. All guest rooms have Queen or King size beds and spacious marble en-suite bathrooms with shower. There are five restaurants and several bars where you can indulge yourself with the finest food and drink and outstanding Welsh hospitality. Guests enjoy complimentary telephone calls to national landlines, high-speed Internet access and complimentary use of The Forum Health Club leisure facilities. Celtic Manor Resort is the host venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup and has three championship courses, a world-class Golf Academy and plenty of other activities to keep the body and mind distracted. There are 2 tennis courts, 2 health clubs, both with gym, and 2 luxurious spas, shooting, mountain biking and walking trails and for young families there is a children’s club and crèche, which should give plenty of quality time and space to both parents and the kids.

The Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort opened for play in July 2007 and has already staged the Welsh Open. It is the first course to be built specifically for the Ryder Cup, golf's greatest team tournament. There are water hazards on half of its holes, it has six signature holes and presents many memorable tests and risk-and-reward dilemmas. One of the features of the spectacular new course is its variety. Many of the earlier holes having a links-like feel with some long rough and greenside swales, the middle section of the course then reveals the full extent of the lake-lined challenge. A tough finishing stretch culminates with a real sting in the tail at the 18th. (7493 yards, Par: 71) There are two other courses at the resort, the Montgomery and the Roman Road.

Royal Porthcawl has a magnificent setting sloping down to the seashore. The absence of sand hills usually found on links courses enables the golfer to see the sea from every hole with memorable views. With holes facing in all directions the player is tested by the wind and could need every club in the bag. King Edward VII bestowed Royal status in 1909. The course has hosted many amateur and professional events over the years, the Amateur Championship (six times), the Walker Cup, the Curtis Cup, the European Team Championship, the Home Internationals (eight times) and more. (6885 yards, Par: 72).

Southerndown is a cliff top course founded in 1905. It has been developed over the years by five of the most respected golf course architects in the world, and it shows. Undulating fairways and tight lies give the course a downland/links character. Bracken and gorse punish wayward shots and on windy days golfers need to negotiate the hazards with care. There are many longer courses, but few with a finer set of par-threes. Equally memorable are the closing holes, usually played into the wind. The 18th in particular with its intimidating gorse and renowned split-level fairway will live long in the memory. (6449 yards, Par: 70).

Other Golf Options:

Pennard is often called the 'links in the sky' because, although it resembles a seaside links course, it is perched high on a cliff-top west of Swansea. This brings a double benefit to the lovers of links golf - the sand-based fairways offer the usual pleasures and its lofty position provides outstanding views. It is an excellent golf course and often plays host to big championships of the amateur game in Wales. Founded in 1896, Pennard was designed by the great James Braid whose skill is behind many of Wales' best layouts and it has been developed to meet modern needs with extended tees and improved fairways and greens. (6030 yards, Par:71).

Rolls of Monmouth Golf Course has an unusual history. The clubhouse is the former workshop and garage of the 18th century mansion, which was the home of Charles Stuart Rolls the early aviator, and motoring pioneer. He formed a partnership with Henry Royce and the first engine bearing their famous names emerged from those garage doors, which now form one wall of the clubhouse lounge area. The course is parkland and demands a wide range of shots and each hole has been designed to challenge each aspect of the golfer's game. It is designed in two halves, separated by a large wooded hill. This separation added to the 600 acres of perimeter woodland surrounding the estate, provides peace and tranquillity, which is only broken by the abundance of wildlife including deer, and waterfowl. (6,733 yards, Par: 72)

© Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved. AGS Golf Vacations

Copyright | Privacy