Golf Vacations Wales

Golf in Wales
At present Wales provides the best ‘value for money’ for visiting golfers to the British Isles, good quality courses with reasonably priced green fees and accommodation. The Welsh are descended from tribal Celts who were both fearless warriors and gifted artists. In modern times this can translate into a passion for the National Rugby team and a host of internationally renowned singers and male voice choirs – the country deserves the title ‘Land of Song’. The ‘Eisteddfod’ is an annual cultural festival of music and song begun in the 12th century.

The Welsh are fond of poetry, literature and talking. The country is rich in history with every major period leaving its mark, standing stones, Roman ruins and many castles. It is also a land of myth and legend; you will hear tales of King Arthur, battles between dragons, haunted castles and knightly deeds.

Many Welsh people emigrated and it is estimated that in the USA alone 1.8 million people have welsh ancestral roots including former presidents Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, and many visit to trace their genealogy.

Select Hotels

St Pierre — You stay in the Marriott St Pierre Hotel and Country Club with its sumptuous accommodation in a historic building, set in 400 acres of glorious deer-park. In the park, the huge trees, many of which are several hundred years old, provide some of the natural golfing hazards. The finishing hole is a 245 yard par 3 across a lake which has often been seen on TV during the tournaments staged here which include the Solheim Cup. The clubhouse was once a great mansion and the 800 year-old St Pierre church is nearby. 36 holes, Old Course 6700 yards, par 72. Mathern Course, 5732 yards, par 68.

The Lodge Garden Hotel and Restaurant — is situated on the B5106, six miles south of Conwy at Tal y Bont, a peaceful rural village in the heart of the spectacular Conwy Valley: The site is framed by the Carneddau mountains and right on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. The hotel is within easy reach of all of the natural beauty and heritage of North Wales and is situated close to Bodnant Gardens. The hotel has fourteen rooms with three styles of accommodation, Cottage suites, premier rooms and classic rooms.

B & B accommodation for golf packages in Wales is in good quality small hotels and guesthouses, all rooms have en suite bathroom facilities. Locations are convenient for the golf program.

Golf Courses

Holyhead — is a treeless, undulating seaside links which provides a varied and testing game , particularly in a south wind. The fairways are bordered by gorse and heather and rugged outcrops of rock. Accuracy from the tees is paramount, it was designed by James Braid. 18 holes, 6058 yards, par 70.

Conwy — Was founded in 1890 and has hosted national and international championships. The mountains of Snowdonia provide a stunning background. The course is set among sand dunes and has true links greens. The last three holes have an abundance of gorse. 18 holes, 6647 yards, par72.

Royal St David’s, Harlech — A Championship links that is one of the toughest in Great Britain. It is a pleasant course to play with superb views over Snowdonia and the Castle, easy walking and natural hazards. The last five holes form a loop through the dunes that provide a finish the equal of any. 18 holes, 6571 yards, par 69.

Royal Porthcawl — This course has staged many championships including the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup. It was formed in 1891 and has been on the present location since 1895. The honor of Royal status, was bestowed by the Prince of Wales, later the Duke of Windsor. Although a seaside course, with sea views from each hole, the inland part is more like moor land turf with heather, bracken and gorse. With holes facing every point of the compass, the golfer is often tested by the wind. 18 holes, 6406 yards, par 72.

St Pierre — see hotel section above

Celtic Manor — A five star golf resort set in 1400 acres of parkland. Celtic Manor has recently been selected to host the 2010 Ryder Cup. Complementing the unspoilt beauty of the landscape, the Wentwood Hills, Roman Road and Coldra Woods courses offer three very different 18 hole challenges and provide venues to suit every occasions. 54 holes: Wentworth Hills 7000 yards par 72, Roman Road 6495 yards par 69, Coldra Woods 3809 yards par 59.

Sightseeing

Llangollen — became important because of its prominent position on the main London to Holyhead coaching road. It is best known today for the international music festival each July, but the beautiful valley has many other attractions. These include taking a horse-drawn boat trip on the canal, the steam railway, the ruins of a 13th century castle, reached by a strenuous walk, but rewarded by outstanding views. The towns has interesting shops and walks. The famous Dee Bridge was built in I345. It is a scheduled ancient monument and was widened in the 1960’s to accommodate modern traffic.

Conwy and the Castles of Edward 1st  — Conwy is dominated by the dramatic bulk of Conwy Castle, a magnificent fortress built by Edward 1st in the period 1283-7. The castle forms part of the same defensive system as the town walls, with 21 towers they are one of the most complete in Europe. Other attractions in the town are Aberconwy House and The Quay that is listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest house in Britain; it is furnished in the style of a mid-Victorian Welsh cottage.

Edward 1st built other famous Castles nearby, Caenarfon Castle was built as his headquarters in Wales, the first Prince of Wales was invested here in 1301 and this tradition has continued with Prince Charles invested there in 1969. Harlech Castle, standing on a rocky promontory was once by the sea, but now looks down on Royal St David’s Golf course. Beaumaris Castle which is on the island of Anglesey was Edward’s last great Castle, built by the famous castle builder Master James of St George it was thought to be impregnable. It was however never quite finished and was not put to the test.

Snowdonia — is an area of great natural beauty centered on Mt. Snowdon. There are a multitude of things to do particularly outdoors. Snowdon mountain railway is a rack and pinion railway that takes you to the summit. You can see working sheepdog demonstrations, or go mountain walking, climbing, dry slope skiing, mountain biking, horse riding or bird-watching.

There are other narrow gauge and highland railways, Segontium Roman Museum on the site of a Roman Fort, various museums, castles, a full working woolen mill and shop near Porthmadog, beaches and seaside towns and much more.

Roman remains – Caerleon/ Caewent — Caerleon ranked with Chester and York as Roman military headquarters. It was established about AD 75 and developed as a 500 square yard fortress accommodating a legion of 5600 men. You can view the barrack lines, part of the defensive ramparts and some domestic buildings. The amphitheatre is one of the best discovered in Britain. The Legionary Museum houses a fascinating display of excavated artifacts and inscribed stones. At Caewent are more Roman remains. The former town of Venta Siluram is now in a suburban area but the defensive walls are imposing and two small houses and a temple have been excavated. Many of the finds are on display in museums at Newport and Caerleon.

Newport  — is not a town of great interest but nearby is Tredegar House and Penhow Castle.

Tredegar House is a magnificent mansion occupied for 500 years by the Morgan family. The oldest part of the house dates from about 1485, by the late 17th century it was a wonderful building and it continued in the family until 1951. Many of its sumptuous rooms can be viewed; the grounds are now a country park.

Penhow Castle is considered to be the oldest castle in Wales that is still inhabited. The square tower house was built in 1129 with additional buildings added in the 14th, 15th and 17th century. You can take a Walkman audio tour around the castle at your own pace; secret passages, battlements, a medieval bedchamber, halls and kitchen all contribute to the drama and atmosphere of the various periods.

Chepstow and Wye Valley — Its castle dominates Chepstow, which is in a strategic position on cliffs overlooking the River Wye. It was one of the first stone castles built in Britain having been started in 1068 just 2 years after the invasion of William the Conqueror. It was besieged in the Civil War and twice lost to the parliamentarians. From Chepstow you can explore the beautiful Wye Valley, via Tintern Abbey, Monmouth, Symond’s Yat, to Ross-on Wye, which is now famed for its bookshops.

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