Royal St. Davids GC
With the wind whipping off Tremadog Bay, there’s an added premium on accurate iron play
The "must play" course for anyone after a game in the Harlech area is Royal St David?s Golf Club. No one really knows who was responsible for the original layout of the course but whoever it was had a remarkable canvass on which to work. The course sits on a slim strip of pure linksland (much of it's an area of special scientific interest) bounded on one side by the Irish Sea and the dark, brooding Harlech Castle on the other.
The course itself is as tough an examination as you?re likely to find. An SSS of 73 against a par of 69 gives you a clue of what?s in store and right from the first tee shot the quality of the holes and the severity of the test hits you, and doesn?t let up until you?ve negotiated the full 18.
Unlike a lot of the other historic links courses, St David?s doesn?t follow the traditional out and back format, instead it snakes its way across the land with no hole playing in the same direction as its predecessor. And, with the wind whipping off Tremadog Bay, there?s an added premium on accurate iron play. Walking off the 18th green and into the whitewashed clubhouse you just know you?ve played a round on one of the finest courses available in the UK.
Best Hole: The 432 yard par 4 15th might not have any bunkers but the semi-blind approach towards the coast will really test your iron game.
Green Fees: £34-40 per round, £40-£46 per day
Location: Harlech, Gwynedd
Tel: 01766 78036
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Web: www.royalstdavids.co.uk
Looking to get away to North Wales? Click here for our ultimate guide to the area
Mike has been a journalist all his working life, starting out as a football writer with Goal magazine in the 1990s before moving into men’s and women’s lifestyle magazines including Men's Health, In 2003 he joined Golf Monthly and in 2006 he became only the eighth editor in Golf Monthly’s 100-plus year history leading the brand until July 2023. He is now Content Director overseeing Golf Monthly and two other iconic sports brands, FourFourTwo and Rugby World.
His three main passions in golf are courses (he's played over 500 courses worldwide), equipment (he's always in search of something shinny to give him an edge) and shoes (he owns more pairs than he cares to mention!).
Mike’s handicap index hovers at around 10 and he is a member of four golf clubs: Hartley Wintney, Royal Liverpool, Royal North Devon and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Mike's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus+ 9° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 5S
Fairway woods: TaylorMade Sim Max 3/15° - Fujikura Ventus Blue 6S & TaylorMade Stealth 7/20° - Fujikura Ventus Red 6S
Utility Iron: TaylorMade Stealth UDI 3/21° - Aldila Ascent 90HY
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (5-PW) - Nippon Tour NSPro 950S
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 50°, 54° and 58° - KBS Tour Hi-Rev s2.0 hafts
Putter: Evnroll ER2B (Gravity Grip)
Ball: TaylorMade Tour Response (Yellow)
-
JM Eagle LA Championship Prize Money Payout 2024
There’s a record purse for a regular-season LPGA Tour event at Wilshire Country Club
By Mike Hall Published
-
‘I Think I Can Be Helpful’ – Rory McIlroy Opens Up On Potential Return To PGA Tour Policy Board
The four-time Major winner resigned from the board six months ago, but with the game still fractured, he could be about to return
By Mike Hall Published