Cardigan

Cardigan Golf Club is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list that can say it was founded before the turn of the 20th Century.   The club was founded in 1895 and started out as a 9-hole layout. Tenby professional JE Grant made changes to the course in the 1920s, but it was not extended into an 18-hole course until the 1970s.  Fred Hawtree was the man behind the extension of the course, after the club had purchased extra land. He added in a number of blind shots, traditional with links golf, and turned the layout into a stunning championship track.

Following Hawtree’s extension to Cardigan Golf Club, the course plays as a Par 72, measuring just shy of 6,500 yards. Among its most notable features are the outstanding views from every part of the course - Cardigan Bay, the river Teifi Estuary and the Preseli Hills in the distance. On a cloudless day, Bardsey Island and the Lleyn Peninsula can be seen across the bay. With undulating fairways, boldly contoured greens and strategically placed bunkers, the course provides a good test.   The course opens with five par 4s, with only the opening hole being more than 400 yards. The 2nd has out of bounds down the right side, while the 3rd plays as a dog-leg to the right. At only 355 yards, it is the shortest of the opening five. The par 4 4th, played through a funnel of gorse, is one of the best early holes and it is from here you head to the higher ground. 5 is a sharp dog-leg right, almost 90 degrees. With out of bounds down the right, only the bravest will try and cut the corner, over the gorse. Most will take a fairway wood to find the right spot on the hole, before taking on the green.   After five par 4s to start, there is not a par 4 on the rest of the front nine. The 6th is the first par 3 at Cardigan and plays longer than its carded 180 yard up the hill. The 7th is the opening par 5, and at only 476 yards, it is reachable in two. The 8th is a 170-yard par 3 with a two-tier green and three greenside bunkers. The 9th is the longest hole at Cardigan but is only 515 yards. It plays as a slight dog-leg left and can be reachable in two for the longer hitters.  Just 145 yards is between the 10th tee and green, the shortest hole on the course. 11 and 12 are tough par 4s, before the 13th tee shot is blind and has to be played to a marker post. The 14th is then the toughest hole on the course, with gorse on the left and out of bounds down the right. While the rest of the course doesn’t have a genuine links feel the last four certainly do. The green at the 15th is a peach, surrounded by sculpted bunkers, and the real pick comes at the next. Hillocks and bunkers surround a sloping green but your eye, from a raised 16th tee, will be caught by the views across the estuary to Poppit Beach. 17 is a short, uphill par 4, while the closing hole is a par 5, with the fairway narrowing towards the landing zone for most drivers.

Chris Myatt: Quite possibly the highlight 'find' of 2023. Conditioning was excellent, holes varied and mostly provided several routes to the green enforcing the need for strategy. Aesthetics of the course and surrounding views a real highlight - builds to grand finish of 16th hole - a short par 3 played towards the sea.

Greg Webber: The course is set above, and has splendid views of, Cardigan Bay. Interesting holes and a terrific set of greens complexes add to the challenge of this highly enjoyable course.

Sean Arble: I am easily reminded of 4-7, 12 & 14-18. That's ten high quality holes. It must also be noted that the greens are of a simple nature, yet their interest is not in question.

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Where is Cardigan Golf Club located?  Cardigan Golf Club is found in the southwestern part of Wales, near the border of the counties of Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Golfers are blessed with views over the Teifi Estuary to Poppit Beach, along with views out to the Irish Sea. Gwbert and Ferwig are the nearest towns, while Cardigan is just under four miles to the south of the golf course.  For international travellers to Wales, both Swansea and Cardiff Airports are within 100 miles of the golf course, with the latter being the busiest airport in Wales. For a wider range of flights, Bristol Airport is a further hour down the road from Cardiff. There are no train stations with a 20-mile drive of Cardigan Golf Club, unfortunately. The nearest are Fishguard Harbour and Fishguard & Goodwick, with trains running to Swansea along the West Wales line. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
Cardigan is one of two venues on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list that is located in the southwestern corner of the country. The other, Tenby, is around 40 miles to the south. Aberystwyth, Ashburnham and Machynys Peninsula are all within 50 miles of Cardigan.
What golf facilities does Cardigan Golf Club offer?  
Along with the championship-standard golf course, Cardigan Golf Club also has a driving range at the eastern side of the property, at the back of the 3rd and 12th tees. There is a putting green and chipping green by the 1st tee. 
What are the green fees at Cardigan Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at Cardigan 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 Cardigan Golf Club, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit Cardigan's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.