How to Find the Best Golf Holidays in Wales

Renowned for some of the best-designed, challenging and scenic golf courses in the world, Wales is a veritable paradise for golfing connoisseurs. Tee off on parkland courses, downland links courses and natural links courses. Whatever your level of game, seasoned pro or beginner, you can look forward to a memorable holiday.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Golf equipment
• Accommodation reservations

1. Research the golf courses in Wales. There are over 200 golf courses spread across North Wales, Mid-Wales, West Wales and South Wales. These include The Rolls of Monmouth GC, Royal Porthcawl GC, Ashburnham GC, Royal St Davids GC, Borth & Ynyslas GC, Betwys-y-Coed GC and Porthmadog GC.
2. Check the websites of golfing holiday tour operators and also individual websites of the golf courses. Study the history of the courses, the location, challenges and special features of each one. Find information regarding course facilities, accommodation, membership or visitor fees, special offers and contact details.
3. Consider the various packages offered by the holiday tour operators. Many golfing holiday tours in Wales include visits to famous golfing resorts like the Celtic Manor Resort, the Gower Golf & Country Club, the Marriott St Pierre, the Machynys Golf & Country Club and the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Golf & Spa.
4. Make your own itinerary based on region, type of course, historic relevance or course designer. Many golf courses in Wales are the creations of leading golf course designers, such as James Braid, John James, Harry Vardon, Harry Colt, C.K. Cotton and Donald Steel.
5. Coincide your holiday with the dates for major golf tournaments like the Welsh Ryder Cup, the Welsh PGA National Championship, the Wales Seniors Open and the British Home International Team Championship. When you aren’t playing yourself, you can watch some spectacular golfing action.

Tips & Warnings

• Wales is easily accessible by road, rail and air from the rest of the U.K. If arriving from abroad, you can fly directly into Cardiff Wales International Airport.
• Make transport and accommodation arrangements in advance.
• In 1898, at the Glamorganshire Golf Club, Dr. Frank Stableford developed the Stableford points system that practically all modern golfers use.
• At 19, Tiger Woods played in the 1995 Walker Cup at the Royal Porthcawl GC. He lost to Gary Wolstenholme.