Wales has 10 of the UK's Top 100 golf courses — all but one of them links or links-style, all of them on or near the coast. The concentration in South Wales around Bridgend and Swansea Bay rivals anything in England outside Surrey, and the North Wales links below Snowdonia are among the most scenic courses anywhere in Britain.
Wales's Top 100 Golf Courses
| Course | Rank | Location | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Porthcawl | #17 | Bridgend | Championship links, sea views from every hole |
| Royal St David's | #32 | Harlech, Gwynedd | Links below Harlech Castle, Snowdonia views |
| Aberdovey | #38 | Gwynedd | Classic links on the Dovey Estuary, Bernard Darwin's favourite |
| Pennard | #46 | Glamorgan | Clifftop links above Three Cliffs Bay, Gower |
| Conwy | #48 | Conwy | North Wales links, Conwy Castle and estuary views |
| Tenby | #51 | Pembrokeshire | Wales's oldest golf club, clifftop links |
| Pyle & Kenfig | #54 | Bridgend | Championship links dunes, next to Porthcawl |
| Ashburnham | #58 | Carmarthenshire | Burry Inlet links, Open qualifying venue |
| Southerndown | #61 | Vale of Glamorgan | Clifftop course above the Bristol Channel |
| Machynys Peninsula | #63 | Carmarthenshire | Modern links, Ladies European Tour venue |
The South Wales Cluster
The best-known Welsh golf is concentrated around Bridgend and the Gower Peninsula, within easy reach of Cardiff and Bristol.
Royal Porthcawl — Rank #17
The finest golf course in Wales and the best links course in Britain that most golfers never get to play. Porthcawl sits on a headland jutting into the Bristol Channel — sea views from every single hole, no shelter from the wind, the course changing character completely depending on the direction of the prevailing westerly.
It has hosted the Walker Cup (twice), the Amateur Championship (multiple times), and Curtis Cup. The Open qualifying field has played here. This is a proper championship links with a legitimate place in the story of world golf.
Visitor access is possible but requires planning — phone the pro shop and book in advance. Green fees are serious. Worth every penny.
Pyle & Kenfig — Rank #54
Three miles from Porthcawl, P&K sits in a vast duneland system that rivals anything in England. Less well-known than its famous neighbour but ranked just inside the UK Top 60. An excellent second course on a Porthcawl trip — play P&K in the morning and Royal Porthcawl in the afternoon.
Southerndown — Rank #61
On the clifftops above the Bristol Channel between Bridgend and Barry. Inland parkland character up top, exposed cliff-edge holes with extraordinary channel views. Different in feel to the dunes links nearby — worth including on a South Wales itinerary.
Pennard — Rank #46
On the Gower Peninsula above Three Cliffs Bay — one of the most scenic locations in British golf. The course itself is a wild, windswept clifftop links with the ruins of Pennard Castle on the 18th hole. Not a course for those who want pristine fairways, but remarkable for what it is.
North Wales: The Mountain Links
Royal St David's — Rank #32
Below Harlech Castle on the Gwynedd coast, with Snowdonia rising behind the course and Cardigan Bay in front. The setting alone justifies the journey. The course is a demanding links — flat but relentlessly windy, with the mountain range creating the kind of eerie backdrop that makes Welsh golf unlike anywhere else.
Visitors are welcome. The castle views from the course are extraordinary.
Aberdovey — Rank #38
The golf writer Bernard Darwin, grandson of Charles, described Aberdovey as "the course my soul loves best." Sitting on the Dovey Estuary in Mid Wales, it's a gentle links of considerable charm — rolling dunes, estuary views, and a character that feels unchanged for a century. One of the most beloved courses in the UK for those who know it.
Conwy — Rank #48
On the North Wales coast with Conwy Castle visible from the course and the estuary running along the edge of the fairways. Less visited than Royal St David's or Aberdovey, and the better for it. Strong winds and firm links turf make it a proper test.
Pembrokeshire and West Wales
Tenby — Rank #51
Wales's oldest golf club — established in 1888 on the Pembrokeshire coast. The clifftop setting is spectacular and the course has the personality of a course that's been played seriously for well over a century.
Ashburnham — Rank #58
On the Burry Inlet near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire. An Open Championship qualifying venue with a long-standing reputation for difficult conditions. Less visited than the Porthcawl cluster and one of Welsh golf's hidden values.
How to Gift a Welsh Golf Experience
The South Wales cluster — Porthcawl, P&K, Southerndown — is the most practical combination for a gift paired with a weekend trip. Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig can be played on the same day. Add Southerndown and you have a strong three-round itinerary without driving more than 15 minutes between courses.
North Wales requires a separate trip, but Royal St David's and Aberdovey are worth it.
See also: best golf courses in England, bucket list golf courses UK, links golf guide UK, golf in Wales location guide.
Browse Wales golf experience vouchers on Swyng or use our Gift Finder for a recommendation.
Founder & Tour Professional
Sandeep Grewal is a former tour professional and the founder of Swyng. He personally handles every booking and redemption, using his competitive background to match you with the right course, lesson, or experience. About Sandeep →
