Newport

Willie Fernie, Harry Vardon, Harry Colt. There are not many venues that can say that a trio with such calibre have designed the golf course. 

That is the case at Newport, with Fernie and Vardon – both winners of the Open Championship – designing both the original layout at Ladyhill Farm. The pair also designed the course at Newport's current location, with Colt then making alterations over the next few years. 

It is a proper parkland classic, playing more than 6,500 yards from the tips, and with tree-lined fairways throughout. Five par 3s and five par 5s give the course plenty of variety. 

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The history of Newport Golf Club dates to the early part of the 20th Century, when a 9-hole course was laid out at Ladyhill Farm. Open Champion Willie Fernie was the man to design the original layout. 

Just a couple of years later, Fernie was drafted in again – this time alongside six-time winner of the Claret Jug Harry Vardon – to extend the course to 18 holes. 

However, just eight years after its founding, the club made the move to Rogerstone, its current location. Vardon and Fernie was called in once more to lay down the new course, with Harry Colt then making alterations in the next few years. 

Over the years, Newport has played host to several major amateur competitions, including both the Welsh Men’s Amateur and Welsh Ladies Amateur Championships. Newport also saw one of the rising stars in female golf, as Lottie Woad was victorious in the Wales Ladies Amateur Open Championship at the venue in 2021.

Following the club’s move to Rogerstone in 1911, there has been more than a century’s growth in the woodland that surrounds the course. This means that the layout winds its way through mature trees, though there is still plenty of space to work your way round the course, which stands at 300 feet above sea level. It is a proper parkland delight, but at 6,500 yards from the tips, don’t be fooled into thinking it will be an easy ride! 

It does ease you in to the round though. The opener is only 335 yards in length and if you can find the left side of the fairway, then there is a chance to go -1 through 1. The 2nd is the shortest hole on the course, and the first of the quintet of par 3s at Newport. It is 145 yards to the centre, but the two-tiered green will mean you need to work out what club to hit... At 465 yards, the 3rd is one of the longest par 4s you will find in Wales – it is even a yard longer than the closing hole here, which is a par 5! The 3rd at Newport has OOB for anything wayward to the right off the tee, but the distance will be the problem for most here, as the approach will come through a long iron or even more. 

Three of the five par 5s on the course come within the next few holes - at 4, 5 and 7. At 485 yards, some will fancy their chances of reaching the 4th green in two, but beware of the six large bunkers that sit in front of the putting surface. The 5th and the 7th are both in and around the 520-yard mark, playing as true three-shotters. 5 plays longer thanks to its uphill nature, while the 7th has a two-tiered green which makes even short approach shots tricky. In between those lies the short 6th, where coming up short of the green is probably the best miss. 

The 8th is the longest of the par 3s at Newport, coming in at more than 225 yards from the tips. Three bunkers greenside and a putting surface that gets narrower at the back, coming away from the 8th with a par will feel like a birdie! 9, 10 and 11 are all tricky par 4s, but there are scoring chances, especially at the first of those. Drive might not be necessary as the fairway tightens around the 220-yard mark. Even from there, it is a relatively simple wedge shot to the green. 10 is a slight dog-leg from right to left, and the longest of this trio at 410 yards, while water comes into play on the right of the 11th green, for anyone who blocks their approach. 

The 12th has one of the most undulating fairways on the course, which makes laying up on this par 5 tricky. It is just shy of 500 yards, so the longer hitters will fancy their chances, but those laying up really do have to work out their distances. The Stroke Index 1 comes at the 13th. 425 yards of brutal par 4 lie in front of you, with anything missing the fairway meaning that you won’t be finding the green in regulation. 14 and 16 are the pair of par 3s on the back nine. The green on the 14th is surrounded by sand, with seven bunkers in your eyeline. 16 is the longer of the two at 180 yards, with a right miss being much better than the sand or trees on the left. 

In between lies the par 4 15th. The fairway cambers strongly from right to left, so aim down the right side of the fairway for the best outcome off the tee. 17 also moves in the same direction, but has a much flatter landing zone to find. The green sits slightly below the golfer, so make sure to take that into consideration when choosing club for your approach. The last hole at Newport is a green light to attack. A par 5 of only 465 yards, it gives you one final chance to put a red number on the card!

Where is Newport Golf Club located?

Newport Golf Club sits to the northwest of the city of Newport, in South Wales. It is located next to the village of Rogerstone, on the outskirts of Newport, with the Welsh capital city of Cardiff just 12 miles to the southwest of the golf club.

Rogerstone has its own train station, which services running between Newport and both Maestag and Ebbw Vale Town on a regular basis. For international visitors, Cardiff Airport – the biggest and busiest airport in Wales – is situated on the opposite side of the Welsh capital, but still within a 20-mile drive from Newport Golf Club.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?

The Celtic Manor Resort sits on the other side of Newport, within a five-mile drive. The venue plays host to the Twenty Ten Course, Roman Road Course and Montgomerie Course – all of which occupy spots on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list. Two more resorts, the Old Course at the St Pierre Country Club and The Vale Resort are also within 20 miles. The Vale is home to the Wales National Course and the Lake Course.

What golf facilities does Newport Golf Club offer?

There is a driving range at the southeast of the property, sitting alongside the right of the opening hole. There are matted and grass bays at the range, along with a short game area and a putting green as well.

What are the green fees at Newport Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Newport 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 Newport, visit their website here.