It's not the only links in this neck of the woods either, and although time did not allow on this trip, I had played both Aberdovey and Borth & Ynyslas in the recent past - the former a links of high renown playing over a slender, curving strip between railway and beach; the latter bisected by the coast road just north of Aberystwyth, with the best holes tucked away out of sight of the passing traffic mid-round, where the taller dunes make their presence felt. If you like your links golf with a near-permanent sea view, Borth ticks all the boxes with several holes playing a little too close to the beach for the comfort of my slightly wayward shots!
For a truly unique challenge on your way in or out of the country, find time to savour Llanymynech where Wales' only Major champion, Ian Woosnam, learned his golf. Most of the course lies in Wales, but three holes are in England, and on the 4th you actually tee off in the land of the red dragon and putt out in the land of the red cross, although when I played here a few years ago I'm not entirely sure my ball made it over the border before being consigned to the pocket after one or two ‘issues'! Even without this unique claim to fame, the course is one to remember for the views - the near-360˚ panorama from the 11th fairway and 12th tee stretches for miles on a clear day.
My road trip through Wales had now taken me from the south, across to the west and up through the heart of the country, and at every step I'd been reminded of the wonderful variety there is to the Welsh golfing landscape. You can be playing a majestic parkland course one minute, a rugged moorland layout the next, then a fine links test the next without ever feeling hurried or pressured, invariably parting with less money for the pleasure than seems quite right, and never having to drive too far.
The final leg of my ‘golf as it should be' road trip takes me north to some of the most spectacular courses in the land, including the dramatic clifftop layout at Nefyn which you've probably seen a thousand times in photos even if you've not yet been...
Where to stay, play and visit in Mid Wales:
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DP World Tour Rookie Hit With Slow Play Penalty On First Pro StartJacob Skov Olesen was handed a one-shot penalty for slow play at the Australian PGA Championship in what was his very first start as a professional
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Nelly Korda Claims LPGA Awards Double After Seven-Win SeasonNelly Korda was handed the two top prizes at the LPGA Awards after a seven-win season including her second Major
