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Course of the Week - Royal St Davids

Monday, 2 July 2007
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The Golf Monthly Course of the Week is a new feature that showcases the best golf courses that the UK and Ireland has to offer. This week the spotlight is on Royal Saint Davids Golf Club in Wales. The club was first open to play in 1984 and was started by Mr. W H More along with Hon Harold Finch-Hatton.

Edward I constructed a fortress at Harlech in the 1280s, the castle is still an imposing focal point on the coastline and it’s an excellent vantage point from which to monitor the pace of play at Royal St David’s. Although the course is less than 6,500 yards, by no means does it play short – in fact it must be one of the toughest par 69s in the country. Only four of the par 4s measure less than 400 yards, the rough is exceedingly tough and strong westerly winds make this a particularly strict test. Measuring from 144 yards up to 218 yards there are five par 3s at Royal St David’s. It’s difficult to make your score on the short holes but it’s certainly easy to lose it. The 15th hole is perhaps the course’s best. From an elevated tee you must decide how much of the sand bank you are confident of clearing. The bolder you are, the shorter your approach will be. Having negotiated 15, the last three holes loop through the dunes and provide an extremely challenging finish. Royal St David’s is renowned for being a friendly club and visitors will be made to feel most welcome.

Address: Harlech LL46 2UB
T: 01766 780857
W: www.royalstdavids.co.uk
STATs: par 69, SSS 73, 6,427 yards
GF: £32wd, £36we
Design: H Finch-Hatton
Opened: 1894
GM TOP 120 RANKING: 41