Golf Club Descriptions
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Royal Porthcawl's entitlements to an honoured place among the world's best golf courses is usually confirmed by playing the first three holes that run alongside and in places seem part of, the scalloped edge of Rest Bay.
The beach can appear all rock and pebbles until the surfer's sea recedes to reveal 300 yards of firm sand across which the prevailing westerly whips. It is by no means a course of fearsome length; it doesn't have a fancy lighthouse, high dunes or deep ditches. It doesn't even have a tree. But it is never out of sight of the sea or blocked from the majestic view of Swansea Bay or out of reach of a wind that is particularly troublesome on the first three and last four holes.
It is a great shame that Royal Porthcawl does not have the infrastructure required to host an Open Championship. With the closing hole playing towards the sea and into the wind, there is perhaps not a single course in British golf that can produce a finer, more dramatic finish.
No. of holes: 18
Length: 6406 yards
Par: 72
Course Type: Links
Green Fees
| JAN - MAR |
APR - OCT |
| Weekday/Weekend |
Weekday/Weekend |
| £75.00/£85.00 |
£80.00/£89.00 |
All prices are Net Tour Operator Rates
The Card
COMPETITION
|
| DATE |
TIME |
Entry No. |
H/cap |
R/cd |
Indicate Tee Used |
| A |
| |
|
|
Par |
SSS |
| B |
|
|
|
White |
72 |
73 |
| C |
|
|
|
Yellow |
72 |
72 |
| D |
|
|
|
Red |
75 |
75 |
| Marker |
No. |
Yards |
Par |
Yards |
S.I. |
A |
B |
C |
D |
Points |
Yards |
Par |
S.I. |
| |
1 |
326 |
4 |
320 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
328 |
4 |
15 |
| |
2 |
429 |
4 |
417 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
370 |
5 |
11 |
| |
3 |
388 |
4 |
373 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
335 |
4 |
3 |
| |
4 |
193 |
3 |
178 |
11 |
|
|
|
|
|
143 |
3 |
13 |
| |
5 |
483 |
5 |
463 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
430 |
5 |
7 |
| |
6 |
384 |
4 |
372 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
352 |
4 |
5 |
| |
7 |
120 |
3 |
116 |
17 |
|
|
|
|
|
113 |
3 |
17 |
| |
8 |
454 |
5 |
439 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
424 |
5 |
9 |
| |
9 |
379 |
4 |
365 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
327 |
4 |
1 |
| |
Out |
3156 |
36 |
3043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2822 |
37 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
10 |
327 |
4 |
315 |
16 |
|
|
|
|
|
304 |
4 |
6 |
| |
11 |
183 |
3 |
154 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
143 |
3 |
18 |
| |
12 |
437 |
5 |
417 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
403 |
5 |
10 |
| |
13 |
425 |
4 |
405 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
360 |
4 |
2 |
| |
14 |
148 |
3 |
146 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
145 |
3 |
16 |
| |
15 |
421 |
4 |
404 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
386 |
5 |
4 |
| |
16 |
420 |
4 |
416 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
397 |
5 |
12 |
| |
17 |
506 |
5 |
494 |
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
456 |
5 |
8 |
| |
18 |
383 |
4 |
368 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
334 |
4 |
14 |
| |
In |
3250 |
36 |
3119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2928 |
38 |
|
| |
Out |
3156 |
36 |
3043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2822 |
37 |
|
| |
Total |
6406 |
72 |
6162 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5750 |
75 |
|
The Course
Hole 1 - Par 4 - Yardage 326 - S/I 15
A short opening hole played into the prevailing wind. The drive is struck down the right side as the fairway runs away to the sea on the left, leaving a short iron to a large green with difficult slopes and undulations.
Hole 2 - Par 4 - Yardage 429 - S/I 3
One of the finest second holes in golf. The drive, a long carry that needs to be positioned on the right of the fairway. The second shot to the green requires nerve and accuracy, too much draw or hook and it is out of bounds.
Hole 3 - Par 4 - Yardage 388 - S/I 7
After a tee shot over bunkers guarding the beginning of the fairway,the shot to the green is a long one over a valley to a plateau green, well guarded by bunkers with out of bounds very close to the left.
Hole 4 - Par 3 - Yardage 193 - S/I 11
The longest par 3 on the course, played with the prevailing wind into a steep terraced green. Club selection is all important.
Hole 5 - Par 5 - Yardage 483 - S/I 13
The boundary wall runs up the left side of the hole, a water hazard has been introduced recently and fairway bunkers are positioned to collect any loose shot. This hole should yield many sub par figures, but beware the wall close to the left side of the green.
Hole 6 - Par 4 - Yardage 384 - S/I 5
It is advantageous to place the tee shot on the right half of the fairway in order to open up the green for the second shot. The green is large but well guarded to the left and behind by bunkers.
Hole 7 - Par 3 - Yardage 120 - S/I 17
The shortest hole on the course. The green is narrow and surrounded by small hummocks and bunkers. An easy green to miss.
Hole 8 - Par 5 - Yardage 454 - S/I 9
This par 5 returns play into the prevailing wind. Cross bunkers, some 75 yards short of the green make the second shot extremely hazardous, especially as there is out of bounds to the left. The green is large but well bunkered.
Hole 9 - Par 4 - Yardage 379 - S/I 1
A classic short par 4, the skill here is a well placed tee shot. The short second is to a steeply sloping green that is well bunkered. Putting in a wind here can be hazardous.
Hole 10 - Par 4 - Yardage 327 - S/I 16
From the elevated tee with its magnificent views over the Bristol Channel, it is advantageous to place the drive on the left hand side. This opens up the long green narrowing to the back with its dangerous bunkers left and right.
Hole 11 - Par 3 - Yardage 183 - S/I 8
The prevailing wind assists the tee shot to this fine par 3 hole with its plateau green guarded by intimidating bunkers. It gives the appearance of being longer than its 186 yards.
Hole 12 - Par 5 - Yardage 437 - S/I 12
With a good drive on the wind and if the bunkers are avoided, this hole offers an excellent birdie opportunity and the odd eagle is not unknown.
Hole 13 - Par 4 - Yardage 425 - S/I 4
This difficult dog-leg par 4 into the prevailing wind allows little room for error. Two deep grass swales, left and right of the fairway await the long ball. The second shot needs to be to the heart of the green as the approach and sides are well bunkered.
Hole 14 - Par 3 - Yardage 148 - S/I 18
This fine par 3 with its plateau green is heavily guarded by deep bunkers and thick rough behind. With the normal cross wind on this hole, any wayward struck shot is trapped.
Hole 15 - Par 4 - Yardage 421 - S/I 2
The start of one of the toughest finishes in golf. A long and testing hole played into the prevailing wind. The carry from the elevated tee is daunting and, if not well up, makes the second shot to the green situated on the brow of the ridge very difficult.
Hole 16 - Par 4 - Yardage 420 - S/I 6
With the prevailing wind assisting, judging the drive is all important. When playing the second shot, the cross bunkers are intimidating and the long bunker guarding the green on the right catches the natural drawing shot.
Hole 17 - Par 5 - Yardage 506 - S/I 14
The drive is blind on this par 5, the only trouble being the rough either side of the narrow fairway. If the bunkers guarding the approach and green can be avoided, this hole offers an excellent birdie opportunity.
Hole 18 - Par 4 - Yardage 383 - S/I 10
This hole emphasises the statement made by a leading golf writer that Royal Porthcawl is a thinking man's golf course. With the wind off the sea, this has to be one of the finest finishing holes in golf. Club selection throughout this hole is critical. The second shot is played to a green running from front to back with magnificent rolls and undulations that require careful putting.
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