Bull Bay

If you go any further north in Wales, you’ll be in the Irish Sea. Bull Bay is the northernmost golf course in the country, and thanks to its coastal location, it is also one of the prettiest. 

 

The club was founded in 1913, with the great Herbert Fowler designing the 18-hole layout. The course was opened with a match between JH Taylor and James Braid, and it has gone on to host several Welsh amateur and professional competitions in its century-long history.

 

 

 

 

Visit Bull Bay's website here.

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Bull Bay is not only the northernmost course in Wales, but it is also one of the oldest courses in the country as well. The club officially opened in August 1913, with the great Herbert Fowler – he of Walton Heath fame – designing the layout. 

 

JH Taylor and James Braid, both five-time winners of the Open Championship, played a match at Bull Bay to celebrate the opening of the course.  

 

1979 saw the course get its championship status, with the European Schools Championship being held at the venue eight years later. The Welsh Boys Championship and the National Inter Counties Championship have also been held at Bull Bay. 

 

The club celebrated its centenary year in 2013, and as part of its celebrations, Bull Bay played host to the Golf Union of Wales Junior Team Championship and the North Wales Championship that year.

 

Bull Bay is the most northerly course in Wales, and few can rival the spectacular setting of the 18-hole championship course. The course is laid out above the rugged Anglesey coastline on with panoramic views of the mountains of Snowdonia and over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man and the distant hills of the Lake District. Bull Bay is the only course in Wales created by Herbert Fowler, and the design was influenced by its creator’s most famous work at Walton Heath. 

  

Using the natural features of the land, each of the course's glorious 18 holes has its own appeal and character as the landscape climbs and falls through the sheltered valleys and rocky outcrops. The views here are genuinely stunning. The club motto is “Her Deg ar Hen Dir” - meaning an honest challenge on ancient land. Bull Bay is by no means the longest course that you will find in Wales, at just 6,160 yards. However, Fowler’s design means there are several blind shots that will cause golfers of all abilities trouble.  

 

The opening two holes play along the boundary of the course, so they have out of bounds down the right side. Avoid that, and both are good birdie opportunities to kickstart your round. The 3rd is the first of five par 3s on the course, and the longest at 220 yards, but there are no bunkers around the green. Don’t go long, though, as there is plenty of gorse ready to swallow up golf balls. 5 and 6 cross over on their tee shots. The former is a short par 3, while the latter is a drivable par 4 for the longer hitters.  

 

7 is the hardest hole on the property, with a blind tee shot to a marker post, and then an approach shot that takes you over (depending on your line) an old stone building. Be happy with a par at the 7th. The 8th is the first par 5 on the course, but at just 475 yards, this is one to look out for as a scoring chance. The front nine closes with a relatively short par 4, and one where you could well put another circle on the card.

 

The 10th is the first of a trio of par 3s on the back nine, and one where you simply cannot go long of the green. 11 is the second par 5 at Bull Bay, and the only hole that hits the 500-yard mark. The 12th is another lengthy par 3, pushing the 200-yard mark, but with just a solitary bunker to the left, there is not much in the way of trouble at 12. Another birdie chance comes at 13, providing you can find the fairway on this sharp dog-leg left.

 

The closing stretch at Bull Bay begins with another sharp dog-leg left par 4, while the 15th is a double-turner, moving to the right first, before then shaping back to the left towards the green. It is the last par 5 on the course, and also the shortest so a good drive could lead to a birdie, or even eagle putt...

 

16 is the last short hole, with a single bunker sitting in front of the putting surface. You then get to the final two par 4s, both of which are sublime, and lengthy. The fairway on 17 is one of the narrowest on the property, while closing hole is gorgeous. Taking you back to the clubhouse, and with views over the water, you need to remember to focus on the golf if you’ve got a good score in your back pocket! 
 

Where is Bull Bay Golf Club located?  
Bull Bay Golf Club is the most northerly golf course in Wales. It is situated at the northern peak of the isle of Anglesey, which is in the northwest corner of the nation. It is between Burwen and Amlwch, and only a short walk from the coast. It is just off the A5025, the main road around the north of Anglesey. 

 

Llanfairpwll is the closest station to Bull Bay, but it is still a 20-mile drive along the A5025 to get to the course. In terms of air travel, both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are around two hours from Bull Bay. The latter is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside London and offers international travellers a range of flights each day.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
Bull Bay is one of three courses on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list that is situated on the isle of Anglesey. The others, Holyhead and Anglesey, are both within a 20-mile drive. Bangor St Deiniol - the nearest club on the mainland of Wales, is around 25 miles southeast of Bull Bay.

What golf facilities does Bull Bay Golf Club offer?  
Along with the championship golf course, there is also a practice area at Bull Bay, just south of the clubhouse and golf buildings. There are a couple of tees and space for long irons and hybrids for most golfers, before you get to the par 3 16th at the back of the range. There is also a practice putting green by the 1st tee, as those nerves build up. 

What are the green fees at Bull Bay Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at Bull Bay Golf Club changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at Bull Bay, visit their website here.

 

 

 

 

Visit Bull Bay's website here.

Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.