Best golf courses in South Wales

Wales is blessed with some of the most varied golf courses in the British Isles, with a fantastic mix of layouts throughout the country. South Wales in particular boasts some spectacular destinations, with something available for everyone; whether you’re after one of the world’s most challenging championship links destinations, or to follow in the footsteps of Ryder Cup legends.

Check out some of the best golf courses in South Wales below:

Standing tall along the rugged Welsh coastline, Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is one of golf’s great traditional links and is the top golf course in Wales. Known for its challenging layout and stunning coastal views, Royal Porthcawl has played host to many of the world’s most prestigious events, including the Walker Cup and Senior Open Championship. It’s probably one of the best courses to have never hosted the Open Championship, too!

Play was first enjoyed on this land in 1891, and since its inception the course has been blessed with a fabulous routing (which grew from 9 holes to 18 holes in 1895), making the most of the land, whilst ensuring the elements always play a part here. It will come as no shock that one of Wales’ oldest clubs has a clubhouse packed with rich memorabilia, creating the perfect place to enjoy a post-round drink whilst looking out across the bay.

Royal Porthcawl facts

• Length: front tees – 5,840 yards, back tees – 7,068 yards
• Par: 72/75
• Architect: Charles Gibson, Harry Colt (1913), JH Taylor & FW Hawtree (1925), Tom Simpson (1933)
• Founded: 1891
• Course type: Links

Perched atop the picturesque cliffs of the Gower Peninsula, just outside of Swansea, Pennard Golf Club offers a unique experience amidst breathtaking scenery. Known affectionately as the "Links in the Sky," Pennard is an enthralling mix of undulating fairways, blind shots, and dramatic elevation changes.

The course winds its way through towering dunes and provides panoramic views of Three Cliffs Bay. The course was name-checked in Tom Doak’s famous ‘Confidential Guide’ which has seen a rise in popularity over the past decades, however, Pennard still retains the feel of a cosy traditional members club – albeit one that is fabulously enjoyable for all.

Pennard Golf Club facts

• Length: front tees – 5,375 yards, back tees – 6,420 yards
• Par: 71/73
• Architect: CK Cotton, James Braid, Tom Doak
• Founded: 1896
• Course type: Links

Established in 1894, Ashburnham has evolved into one of Wales' finest championship courses, attracting players from around the globe, and hosting many professional events throughout the 20th century.

The course opens with a downhill Par-3, a quirk which can create a nervy first tee shot; particularly with out-of-bounds to the right! Following this though, golfers enjoy a relatively traditional out-and-back layout, albeit with the ability to stretch the scorecard back to more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees.

Ashburnham Golf Club facts

• Length: front tees – 5,480 yards, back tees – 6,912 yards
• Par: 72/75
• Architect: J.H Taylor
• Founded: 1894
• Course type: Links

A stunning clifftop course that mixes firm and fast links conditioning with some of the finest views in the country, Southerndown is a true championship golf course. It was tweaked in its early years by some of the biggest architects in history; Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, and Willie Park, an enviable trio of designers. The course was the longest in the UK when built at more than 7,000 yards, and thanks to the regular sea breeze and strategic layout of the bunkering, it remains a challenging test to this day.

Southerndown Golf Club facts

• Length: front tees – 5,498 yards, back tees – 6,658 yards
• Par: 71/74
• Architect: Willie Fernie
• Founded: 1906
• Course type: Downland

Situated on the South Wales coastline and one of our favourite layouts in the area, Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club is a hidden gem renowned for its championship layout and stunning natural beauty. Designed by legendary architect Harry Colt, the course winds its way through towering dunes, presenting an imposing landscape for golfers to traverse.

Its testing nature has led the course to host the Amateur Championship, in conjunction with its neighbour, Royal Porthcawl, as well as the Ladies Amateur Championship, and Ladies British Open Amateur. Unusually for a links course, the routing comes back to the clubhouse after 9-holes, allowing you to refuel in the pros hop (or bar!) before your back 9 begins!

Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club facts

• Length: front tees – 5,498 yards, back tees – 6,658 yards
• Par: 71/74
• Architect: Willie Fernie
• Founded: 1906
• Course type: Downland

Home to the 2010 Ryder Cup, the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort offers one of the most famous championship golf experiences in the UK and is one of the top golf courses in South Wales. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., specifically to host the Ryder Cup, the course features plenty of drama throughout; with challenging water hazards, tricky greens, and an iconic Par-5 closing hole.

We hope that your rounds here will emulate the excitement of that famous Ryder Cup, with the match going down to the game between Graeme McDowell and Hunter Mahan, with the Northern Irishman finally coming out on top!

Twenty-Ten Course facts

• Length: front tees – 5,674 yards, back tees – 7,560 yards
• Par: 71
• Architect: Robert Trent Jones Jr
• Founded: 2007
• Course type: Parkland

Another of Wales’ lauded championship venues, The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club offers a tranquil retreat for golfers seeking a blend of natural beauty and first-class golf. Designed by Charles Gibson in the late 1980s, this parkland course winds its way through mature woodland, alongside meandering streams, and past historic ruins, providing a scenic backdrop for a memorable round.

Charles Stewart Rolls was a descendant of the estate’s founder, John Rolls, and enjoyed growing up around the Monmouth property before going on to become half of one of the most well-known car manufacturers on the planet, Rolls-Royce. We hope that your round here will exude the same amount of class as the cars he went on to produce!

Rolls of Monmouth facts

• Length: front tees – 5,730 yards, back tees – 6,733 yards
• Par: 72/73
• Architect: Charles Gibson
• Founded: 1982
• Course type: Parkland

Steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty, The Old Course at St Pierre Marriott Hotel & Country Club offers a timeless golfing experience in the heart of the Welsh countryside. Designed by legendary architect C.K. Cotton, this parkland masterpiece features tree-lined fairways and stunning views of the rolling Monmouthshire landscape.

Being a Delta Hotels by Marriott property, St Pierre offers an excellent level of quality throughout, from the 1st tee to the 19th hole, and it’s one of our guest's most highly-rated properties in Wales.

St Pierre Old Course facts

• Length: front tees – 5,251 yards, back tees – 6,027 yards
• Par: 70
• Architect: C.K Cotton, Frank Pennink
• Founded: 1962
• Course type: Parkland

Named after the ancient Roman road that runs through the resort, the Roman Road Course at Celtic Manor offers an equally challenging, yet significantly different proposition to its big brother, The Twenty Ten. Whilst shorter in playing length, the Roman Road still presents a challenging test, with more of an American-style course, featuring raised greens and lush green conditioning.

It was the last European Tour course to be played as a Par-69, with the title claimed by South African, Richard Sterne. Despite its shorter length, the best score of the week was only a 7-under 62, proving that courses can still challenge the world’s best, even when not stretched back to 7,500 yards!

Roman Road Course facts

• Length: front tees – 5,230 yards, back tees – 6,481 yards
• Par: 70
• Architect: Colin Montgomerie
• Founded: 1994
• Course type: Parkland