Wales is one of golf's better-kept secrets. Its courses lack the global marketing reach of Scottish golf and the proximity to London's visitors that benefits the south-east of England. But the golf itself — links turf, Atlantic winds, mountain and estuary views — rivals anything Britain has to offer.
A Welsh golf break is good value, uncrowded, and for golfers who appreciate genuine links conditions, often unforgettable.
South Wales: Royal Porthcawl and the Vale of Glamorgan
Royal Porthcawl, Bridgend
Royal Porthcawl is the anchor of any Welsh golf itinerary. It sits on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast between Cardiff and Swansea, fully exposed to the Bristol Channel, and plays with the kind of natural wind drama that defines great links golf. The course has hosted the Amateur Championship multiple times and the Senior Open, and regularly appears in Britain's top 30.
The greens are fast and tricky. The rough is rough. On a windy day, Porthcawl is as demanding as anything in Scotland.
Southerndown Golf Club
Southerndown sits on the clifftops above Dunraven Bay, 15 minutes west of Porthcawl. It plays as a downland course rather than a pure links — firm, fast, wind-influenced — and has hosted Welsh Open Qualifying over many years. Combining Southerndown with a round at Royal Porthcawl makes an outstanding South Wales two-course day.
Porthcawl and Gower: A South Wales Long Weekend
A three or four-day trip to South Wales can comfortably include:
- Day 1: Southerndown or Ashburnham
- Day 2: Royal Porthcawl
- Day 3: Pennard or Langland Bay on the Gower
- Day 4: Depart or play a second Gower course
Cardiff and Swansea both have good accommodation and easy access to the golf coast. The M4 makes the courses straightforward to reach from Bristol and London.
Gower Peninsula: Pennard and Beyond
The Gower Peninsula west of Swansea has a cluster of clifftop courses in one of Wales's most dramatic coastal settings.
Pennard Golf Club
Pennard sits above Three Cliffs Bay with the ruins of Pennard Castle behind the 18th green. The course runs across clifftops and through ancient dune ridges — natural, varied, and wholly different in character to anything built in the last 40 years. Green fees are a fraction of what the course deserves.
Langland Bay Golf Club
A compact clifftop course between the Gower headlands, Langland Bay plays tight and technical with outstanding sea views. A good complement to a Pennard round.
Pembrokeshire: Tenby and St Davids
Pembrokeshire is far enough west to feel like a proper destination, and its golf rewards the journey.
Tenby Golf Club
Tenby, founded in 1888, is the oldest golf club in Wales. The course has evolved on the headland above the medieval town, with clifftop holes above Carmarthen Bay and views of Caldey Island. The seaside turf, the history, and the setting make it one of the most distinctive courses in Wales.
St Davids City Golf Club
Near Britain's smallest city and the famous cathedral, St Davids City Golf Club plays across the peninsula with Atlantic views. It is a shorter, more relaxed course than Tenby, but a worthwhile addition to a Pembrokeshire trip.
North Wales: Aberdovey and the Lleyn Peninsula
North Wales requires a longer journey — the Lleyn Peninsula is three hours from Cardiff — but for golfers prepared to make the trip, it offers two of the most atmospheric courses in Britain.
Aberdovey Golf Club, Gwynedd
Aberdovey is described by many as the most naturally charming links course in Wales. Bernard Darwin — golf's greatest writer — called it "the course of the heart." It sits in a narrow strip between the Dyfi estuary and the town, with views across to the Snowdonia foothills. Blind shots, hidden greens, and fast summer turf combine to produce golf that rewards instinct over calculation.
Nefyn and District Golf Club, Lleyn Peninsula
Nefyn sits on a headland at the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula, with views of Cardigan Bay, Snowdonia, and, on clear days, the mountains of Ireland. The course wraps around the headland, with several holes played along cliff edges above the sea.
The "Point" holes — a loop around the tip of the headland — are among the most dramatic in Welsh golf and are worth the drive from anywhere.
Planning Your Welsh Golf Break
When to Go
May to September offers the best combination of weather and course conditions. Wales is wetter than the east of England but drier than parts of Scotland — and the combination of firm Atlantic turf and long summer evenings makes June and July particularly good for Welsh golf. Autumn rounds in October can be outstanding.
Green Fee Reality
Welsh golf is excellent value compared to Scotland:
| Course | Approximate Green Fee |
|---|---|
| Royal Porthcawl | £100–£160 |
| Southerndown | £40–£70 |
| Pennard | £35–£60 |
| Nefyn and District | £40–£65 |
| Aberdovey | £50–£80 |
| Tenby | £45–£70 |
Suggested Itineraries
South Wales Long Weekend (3 days)
- Day 1: Southerndown
- Day 2: Royal Porthcawl
- Day 3: Pennard or Ashburnham
North Wales and Mid-Wales (4 days)
- Day 1: Arrive, play Caernarfonshire Golf Club
- Day 2: Nefyn and District
- Day 3: Aberdovey
- Day 4: Drive south via Harlech
Pembrokeshire (3 days)
- Day 1: Tenby
- Day 2: St Davids City or Cardigan Golf Club
- Day 3: Ashburnham
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See also: hidden gem courses in Wales, golf break ideas UK, golf break Scotland.
Golf Writer & Course Reviewer
Gavin has been passionate about golf since the age of 12, playing off a handicap of 5 by 15 and representing Wales and North Wales as a junior amateur. He brings a lifetime of playing knowledge to everything he writes. About Gavin →
