Celtic Manor (Twenty Ten)

The Twenty Ten Course is one of three wonderful golf courses at Celtic Manor, and the venue of one of Europe’s great victories in the Ryder Cup. 

 

The course was designed and constructed to host the 2010 edition of the team competition between the United States and Europe. It opened in 2007, after Ross McMurray had pieced together nine holes from the original Wentwood Hills Course along with nine brand new holes, creating a masterpiece.  

 

The Twenty Ten Course is one of three courses at the Welsh venue, which is just outside Newport. Celtic Manor is also the home of the Roman Road Course and the Montgomerie Course.  

 

  

You can read our full piece on the Celtic Manor Resort here.  
Visit Celtic Manor’s website here.  

Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage. 
 

The Twenty Ten Course is somewhat of a hybrid golf course. Nine holes of the original Wentwood Hills Course (which hosted the European Tour on five occasions in the 2000s) and nine new holes were brought together to form the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor.

 

Ross McMurray, from European Golf Design, was the man behind the new layout, which would open in 2007 and go on to play host to the Ryder Cup just three years later.

 

Europe defeated the United States under the stewardship of Colin Montgomerie, in a historic edition of the biennial competition, the first to ever go through to a Monday finish. 

 

Since then, the Twenty Ten Course has also played host to the DP World Tour on several occasions, including a two-week stint during the COVID-19 era. The Cazoo Wales Open made its return to the venue in 2020. 
 

The Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor is one of the newest courses that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list, and very modern compared to some. Opened in 2007 and host of the Ryder Cup and DP World Tour, the latter on several occasions, the course was made with championship golf in mind. It is just shy of 7,500 yards and plays as a Par 71. With water hazards on half of the holes - including in front of the grandstand 18th - it has drama at every turn.  

 

After a tough opening hole, the 2nd is one of the longest holes in Wales, pushing past 600 yards from the championship tees. Eight bunkers guard the hole, with two of those sitting greenside. The 9th then goes even further, pushing up to 620 yards, and it plays as a tricky dog-leg left.  

 

The 3rd is the first of five par 3s on the Twenty Ten and plays entirely over water to a diagonally shaped green. The other on the front nine is the 7th, which at more than 215 yards, is the longest par 3 on the course. 4, 5, 6 and 8 are all long par 4s to test your game, with the 6th playing as a dog-leg right around one of the several water hazards on the golf course.  

 

The back nine starts with another 200+ yard par 3, before another long par 5, while the 12th is a testing par 4 that features water on both sides of the fairway. 13 is another par 3 played over water, and to a shallow green with a pair of bunkers sitting behind it, making club selection crucial. 14 is in a similar vein to the 12th, while the 15th is the epitome of a risk-reward hole. 

 

Most will opt to play down the left side, where the fairway is, and then have a wedge to the green. However, there is a gap in the trees which means the green is visible from the tee, but it is a narrow landing strip if you do opt to take it on. The penultimate hole on the Twenty Ten is a lengthy par 3, and a tricky one at that. Get through that, and you find the final hole on the course, a stunning par 5. The third to play at more than 600 from the tips, there is a gorgeous water feature in front of the green. Anything that does not make the putting surface, will come down the large slope in front of the green and your ball will end up in said water hazard. The clubhouse sits behind the green and it is the perfect place for a well-earned drink.  
 

Where is the Celtic Manor Resort located?  
Celtic Manor is less than four miles from the centre of Newport. Cardiff is only 15 miles to the west, while the English border is around the same distance to the east. The Twenty Ten Course is in its own section of the resort, bordering the River Usk at the northern point of the resort.  

 

Newport Train Station is around five miles from the Celtic Manor Resort, and has trains from London Paddington, Portsmouth, Cardiff, and Manchester hourly throughout the day. Cardiff Airport is the nearest international airport to Celtic Manor, while Bristol Airport is only 30 miles from the resort.

 

How many courses are there at Celtic Manor?  
The Welsh resort is home to three stunning 18-hole layouts. Along with the Twenty Ten Course, Celtic Manor also has the Roman Road Course and the Montgomerie Course as well.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
Along with the three course at the Celtic Manor Resort, this part of southeast Wales is also home to the Old Course at St Pierre Country Club, just ten miles east of the venue. The Monmouthshire and Rolls of Monmouth are both 20 miles north, with The Vale Resort - home to the Lake Course and the Wales National Course - 25 miles to the west.

What golf facilities does Celtic Manor offer?  
Along with the championship golf course, there is also a beautiful practice area next to the Twenty Ten Course. The driving range is played off grass, and hits in the opposite direction to the first couple of holes. There is also a large putting green and a practice chipping area with two bunkers, all to allow golfers to practice prior to taking on the Twenty Ten.  

What are the green fees at Celtic Manor?  
The price of a green fee at Celtic Manor changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Celtic Manor, visit their website here. 

 

  

You can read our full piece on the Celtic Manor Resort here.  
Visit Celtic Manor’s website here.  

Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.