One of the courses I played in my recent trip to Wales was the fantastic Royal Porthcawl; generally regarded as the top course in the country. It’s famous for hosting many amateur championships over the years and one of it’s most well known moments was being the course on which Tiger Woods famously lost to Gary Wolstemholme in the 1995 Walker Cup (his last defeat as an amateur).
After a great lunch, we headed out onto the course to be greeted by fantastic weather and barely a breath of wind. It was ideal for scoring, but sadly no one decided to tell me as I left more than a handful of putts and some brand new Pro V’s out there, but what a course it was! It’s not a long course, but it’s far from easy; with subtle hazards, dramatic slopes and fiery fairways and greens, it makes your approach shots extremely challenging.
I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and it reminded me of some of the great, and more famous, Scottish links courses. It’s definitely one that should be on the ‘must play’ list for regular travellers to the British Isles, because it is as good as many of the Open rota courses – and with some other excellent links courses nearby, such as Tenby, Pennard, Pyle and Kenfig and Royal St David’s, it would be a more than capable centrepiece for a great trip, be it as a couple or as a group of guys.
To read more information on the course, please click here .
By Keith Baird. Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
I recently had the pleasure of playing the 2010 course at Celtic Manor, which is due to host the Ryder Cup later this year. What a great day it turned out to be – helped by the fact the sun was splitting the sky!
The course has been specifically designed for the tournament with many classic match play holes which begin straight from the start with a tough 465 yard par 4. The greens were slick and the fairways lush – which for April was a real treat. Many of the holes include strategically placed water hazards; no more so than the tough 14th where there is water on left and right. At only 413 yards off the back tees it doesn’t sound tough, but the landing area is so narrow that anything off line is heading for trouble.
2010 Course at Celtic Manor
Then follows the 15th which is very much like the famous 10th at the Belfry. It’s officially a 377 yard par 4, but, as the crow flies from tee to green, it’s a good deal shorter than that, so many of the pro’s will be pulling out the driver and going for the green. The safe play is up the left with an iron, but in the fourball…expect fireworks! I didn’t play off the back tees, so it was a bit shorter and I felt brave so had a go at the green and very nearly made it. A chip and a putt later and I’d made a birdie three. I’ll be watching with great interest come the end of September to see how many of the USA and European team members can better that!
The finishing hole will make for a grandstand finish for any matches lasting the distance. It’s a long par 5, not too dissimilar to the fantastic 17th at Valderrama with a massive water hazard directly in front of the green. The brave pros will go for it in two. The more conservative one’s will lay up and play a wedge to the green. I chose the latter and my wedge shot found the green – only for it to spin back into the water. A personally disappointing finish to a thoroughly enjoyable round; but it gave me a taste of what was in store for what will be a fantastic tournament. I know I can’t wait for it…I’m sure you can’t either.
For more information on how you can attend the Ryder Cup with PerryGolf, please click here.
By Keith Baird. Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
One of the advantages of having a partner who was born just outside of Cardiff (and is a very keen golfer) is that we get away to my favourite hotel, Celtic Manor, whenever possible; Wales playing at home in the Millennium Stadium, a family birthday or anniversary is all the excuse we need.
Celtic Manor
Although the main hotel looks somewhat formidable on approach – from the huge wooden dragon sleeping in the foyer, to the menus in the restaurants – it is a delightfully Welsh experience.
My partner always enjoys a lesson with the Pro which then continues onto one of the courses while I hit the Spa! The staff all over the hotel are extremely helpful and welcoming without being obtrusive and no less so at the Spa where you can chat about your treatment, choose your products and generally get into the mood for relaxation in the sunny conservatory.
There are five restaurants in the resort…and believe me, we have tried them all! My favourite is Rafters in the 2010 Clubhouse for superb food in an informal atmosphere. But for a real treat, and if we are being joined by family, the Taste of Wales experience in The Crown Restaurant makes for a memorable evening. Designed for a table of four or more to share, this is a taster menu with suggested wines and it is a lot of fun. The intention is that you will spend the entire evening with them; from pre-dinner drinks to a nightcap… and you are in no hurry to leave!
By Yvonne Shaw. Yvonne has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.
We have always sought “innovation” at PerryGolf and tried to offer interesting and unique ways to enhance the golf travel experience. Our exclusive charter of the 226 passenger Le Diamant (formerly Song of Flower of Radisson Cruise Lines) for Ryder Cup 2010 is one such example. Set against a backdrop of limited accommodations in South Wales, and with the alternative of long road journeys from England along the invariably congested M4 corridor (and that is in normal traffic times), we arranged to charter and berth Le Diamant in a quiet area of Newport Docks less than 5 miles from the venue. All packages include official Ryder Cup tickets and transportation in association with Ryder Cup Travel Services. Regular shuttle transportation, available exclusively for PerryGolf passengers, will operate from the ship directly into the official transportation area and bypass the public park and ride facility. The ship offers cabins and suites from 200 to 400 square feet. If you have plans to attend the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort then this solution really does by far provide the most comfortable and convenient accommodations available.
Ryder Cup - Le Diamant
Packages are available from $4,795 per person, and include 5 nights accommodation onboard Le Diamant with all meals including house wines with dinner, general admission tickets to the 2010 Ryder Cup (Friday to Sunday inclusive) plus Thursday practice round and Opening Ceremonies, daily shuttle transportation to and from the matches, captain’s cocktail party, all shipboard gratuities and port taxes.
We also offer two exciting pre Ryder Cup tours to Scotland to whet the appetite in advance of the matches. We encourage you to join us for 3 nights in Scotland at either Turnberry Resort (with golf at Royal Troon, Western Gailes, Ailsa Course Turnberry and St Pierre Wales) or Gleneagles Hotel (with golf at Kings Course, PGA Centenary Course, Kingsbarns and St Pierre Wales), in advance of the event. All tours are VERY inclusive of accommodations, all breakfasts, almost all dinners, wine with dinners, greens fees or alternative sightseeing program, ground transportation plus air transportation between Scotland and Ryder Cup Wales, and all taxes and gratuities on included items.
Another event operating immediately in advance of the Ryder Cup is the Heritage Fourball in the Highlands of Scotland. Teams of three amateurs and one PGA pro are invited. Why not arrange to bring your golf pro? Following on the success of our event in 2008 which saw teams competing from Scotland, Europe and the USA, the 2010 Heritage Fourball Championship will again be played over 54 holes September 26-29. 2010 courses will comprise Royal Dornoch, Nairn and two rounds over the much heralded new links (rated #1 best new international course 2009 by Golf Magazine) at Castle Stuart. Gross and Net Champions will be awarded but, as always, we expect the most memorable prize will be the unique camaraderie enjoyed with old friends and new. Several evening social functions are naturally included in the entry fee of $2,895 per amateur with complimentary entry for your PGA pro. The tournament format will also mix teams on one of the days. Spouses or non-golfing guests are also most welcome, the cost for them fully inclusive of two full days sightseeing program and all tournament social functions is $1,450.
Whichever combination you might choose, we hope you will make a date to join us in Scotland and Wales at the end of September for one of the world’s greatest sporting events!
The first tee shot has not been hit for the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales, yet the bidding process is officially in full swing for the 2o18 edition of the event when Europe again hosts. The 2014 Ryder Cup will be played at Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland.
I am delighted to read of the creative thinking required to secure the event as described by Reuters and the desire to combine the event with a legacy achievement. however, for the golfing purist I would enjoy seeing the event played over one of the more famous links courses. Some would argue it has become too commercial but if the by product of that is a legacy program, maybe that is a small price to pay.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
