The Best Place to Play Golf in Wales
Wales is a hugely underrated part of the UK for golf, with plenty of incredible courses, quiet seaside resorts and scenic parks to discover and explore.
Bringing you the best of golf in Wales, the Golfshake Course section is home to over 300,000 independent reviews submitted by everyday golfers based on their own expectations and experiences, providing unique and valuable insight.
We decided to study this data, dividing Wales into four regions, to try to identify the best place in this deeply proud country to play golf.
What the data says…
Explain Avg Golfshake Rating data – average of all golf courses listed on Golfshake. Average GS Top 20% rating – average for the top 20% of courses. Average GS Top 10 Ranking – average for the top 10 courses in the region. Top 100 – How many courses appear in a top 100 list published in the last two years in GB&I. Top 100% – Percentage of top 100 courses out of total courses.
Every part of Wales is still strong for golf, with little to separate each of the regions in data categories, the main percentage of courses in West Wales, North Wales and the South Wales being particularly formidable. Mid Wales may be the weakest of the group – but that’s only relative given the strength of their best disposition.
North Wales
The North includes; Anglesey, Clwyd and Gwynedd and offers 40 golf courses on Golfshake, two of which are in the UK and Ireland Top 100.
The 5 best courses…
Aberdovey Golf Club
Golfshake Rating: 4.91
Review Comment: “The course is fabulous. Proper links, wonderful sound of the sea just above the dunes. Perfect for link purists with lots of undulations (2nd hole in particular!). On return , there are so many ditches to navigate – reminiscent of Saunton East/West in North Devon (certainly not intimidating but demanding your attention!). Fabulous course.”
Royal St David Golf Club
Golfshake rating: 4.87
Review comment: “We were traveling to the North Wales area for a birthday and decided to book the Royal St David’s. I had visited the area several times before and always wanted to play the course. It’s long and tricky but very rewarding.In windy and heavy rain I found it challenging but very rewarding.The course is in excellent condition and well worth the green fees paid.
Nefyn Golf Club
Golf Shake Rating: 4.63
Review Comment: “I played this course a few weeks ago and Nefyn is one of the best courses I have played on. The fairways were in excellent condition and the greens were great with some sloping and hard but fair bowling. The wind is blowing hard on the first few holes which have great views of the coast. Would definitely recommend this course if you are visiting the Nefyn area. The clubhouse also did great food and drink .”
Abergele Golf
Golf Shake Rating: 4.63
Comment of the review: “Beautiful condition, fairways, greens, tees, signage, everything is perfect. Lovely food, impressive club, well done.”
Betws-y-Coed Golf Club
Golfshake Rating: 4.55
Comment of the review: “Beautiful 9-hole course, very flat, located between two rivers and surrounded by magnificent landscapes. A carefully maintained course with well thought out holes and a really friendly welcome for visitors.”
South Wales
The South comprises 49 golf courses on Golfshake with the regions covering the regions of Gwent, Mid Glamorgan and South Glamorgan, and includes one listed in a published Top 100 ranking in the UK and Ireland.
The 5 best courses…
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.95
Review Comment: “Conditioning was very good, green complexes are challenging but great fun. Must be on every golf enthusiast’s list…even if you don’t get perfect conditions!”
Wenvoe Castle Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.76
Review Comment: “The greens were fast and flowing. Nice layout with a variety of holes to challenge you. The service in the pro shop is first class.”
The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.75
Review Comment: “A wonderful place to go with the great course. Couldn’t recommend better.”
Llanishen Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.75
Review comment: “Enjoyable course. Greens in excellent condition. Not the longest course, but you need to be straight. Will definitely go back and hope to score a bit better next time.”
Golf of the Château de Morlais
Golfshake Rating: 4.65
Comment of the review: “Very good golf course. Great green, beautiful clubhouse. Lovely people. Stunning views.”
Mid Wales
Mid Wales includes Ceredigion and Powys and has 20 golf courses on Golfshake.
The 5 best courses…
Golf of Cradoc
Golf Shake Rating: 4.60
Comment of the review: “Excellent and friendly club, course in very good condition with delicate but true greens. Worth the detour.”
Welshpool Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.47
Review Comment: “From the moment you arrive in Welshpool to the moment you leave, I have no doubt you will love your time here. The course has some stunning holes, stunning views and some of the fastest greens you will ever find. you’re likely to have. to play. Bring your putting game or rack up a score. Be prepared to do some rock climbing, as the course certainly isn’t flat. It’s worth it.”
St Idloes Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.46
Review Comment: “We played here last Thursday and were made very welcome. The course is interesting and challenging for all golfers. A lot of work has been done since my last visit and it is now more open and friendly. We look forward to returning in the future.”
Newport Links Golf Club and Resort
Golf Shake rating: 4.36
Comment of the review: “A beautiful course. Very friendly staff. Great panoramic views of the sea and the beautiful countryside. Challenging but very enjoyable (even if I played badly).”
Cardigan Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.36
Review Comment: “I have a holiday pass here and love this course. It descends, undulates and the wind affects your rides. It is a thought-provoking course with the most spectacular sea views. Highly recommended.”
West Wales
West Wales includes Carmarthenshire and West Glamorgan with 24 golf courses in this area on Golfshake and one featuring in a published Top 100 list in the UK and Ireland.
The 5 best courses…
Pennard Golf
Golf Shake rating: 4.86
Review Comment: “This was our third course on a golf weekend in South Wales and well worth the visit. Fantastic views over the Bristol Channel and Three Cliffs Bay form the backdrop to this very challenging links-style course.”
Carmarthen Golf
Golf Shake Rating: 4.84
Review Comment: “First time playing here and it didn’t disappoint. Greens were carpet like compared to many other courses in the locality, really interesting layout with lots of risk holes /reward.”
Glynhir Golf Club
Golfshake rating: 4.67
Review comment: “What a lovely course and really well maintained. Friendly bar with very good food at reasonable prices. Highly recommended.”
Neath Golf Club
Golfshake Rating: 4.59
Review Comment: “Played only a few times; a few blind driving holes which contribute to a good challenging course. Spectacular views from the top on a clear day.”
Fairwood Park Golf Club
Golf Shake rating: 4.39
Comment of the review: “Pleasant world in a very pleasant setting. Friendly and welcoming staff and players. Very well maintained course. Interesting final stretch requiring precision and with some tricky strategic challenges.”
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