Wales is one of British golf’s best-kept secrets. Royal Porthcawl is one of the finest links in Britain. Pennard overlooks the Gower peninsula with views that belong on a travel poster. Aberdovey, the course that Bernard Darwin loved most in the world, sits above a tidal estuary on the edge of Cardigan Bay.
Celtic Manor near Newport changed the perception of Welsh golf permanently when it hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup, but the country’s golf story is older and more varied than one resort.
What Wales Offers the Golf Traveller
- Underrated links courses on two coastlines — Glamorgan and West Wales
- Celtic Manor Resort — Ryder Cup venue, three courses, full spa
- Royal Porthcawl — one of Britain’s finest links courses
- Lower green fees, fewer crowds, genuine character
Best Golf Courses in Wales
Royal Porthcawl, Celtic Manor Twenty Ten, Pennard, Aberdovey, Nefyn & District on the Llyn Peninsula, Tenby — Wales offers a breadth that a focused trip can barely cover in a week.
Golf & Spa Hotels in Wales
Celtic Manor is the anchor property: three courses, Europe’s largest resort spa, consistent quality. Palé Hall near Bala offers boutique luxury. Soughton Hall in Flintshire is a useful northern Wales base.