North Wales

North Wales Golf Club is one of the oldest in the region, dating back to before the start of the 20th Century. Tancred Cummins founded the club in 1894, and he would remain the Club Captain and Club Secretary for almost four decades.  The course has gone through several changes over its lifetime, mainly due to housing developments. The biggest change of those came around the turn of the 21st Century, when one of the greens was lost through coastal erosion.   North Wales has hosted several major nationwide and county level tournaments. 1995 saw its peak, as North Wales was the host venue for the Welsh Team Championships.

Playing along the coastline of the Irish Sea, players at North Wales Golf Club are in the hands of the elements and the conditions throughout a round. With the way the holes in the middle of the round play out-and-back, first going south and then back north up the coastline, there will always be a point in a round at North Wales where you play against the wind. However, there will also be times when the wind is at your back.  At just 6,310 yards, North Wales is not the longest golf course on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list, not by any means. Three par 5s and four par 3s set the course up as a Par 71, and if the conditions are brutal, then scoring will be very, very tough. Three holes around the turn – the 9th, 10th, and 11th – all play with the coast and the beach on their left side, while many other holes play towards the sea or have the sea at their back from the tee box.   The layout begins with a trio of gentle par 4s, with the opening two both turning to the left after the tee shot has landed in the fairway (hopefully!) The 4th is the opening par 3 on the course and plays alongside the railway line, a traditional feature of many links courses in the United Kingdom. 5 is the first of those three par 5s, and the longest hole on the course at more than 540 yards. It plays as a dog-leg left, with the ideal line off the tee being down the right side to try and open up the hole and give yourself the best view of the green. The 6th is a tough par 4, with the 7th also being a par 5, and one that some will be able to reach in two, depending on the direction of the wind. The 8th takes you to the edge of the course boundary at the southern tip, before turning for home and along the coastline. It moves slightly from right to left, with the green surrounded by gorse and trees. 9 and 10 both turn slightly left from the fairway to the green to hug the coastline, while the 11th is the hardest hole on the course. The 415-yard par 4 has plenty of danger, with the beach on the left, and plenty of thick rough and gorse by the green.  If you get through the coastline trio unscathed, then there are scoring opportunities on the way in. 12 and 15 are both short par 4s where you should only have a wedge in hand with your second shot. The 13th is a tough par 3, while the 14th is the last par 5 on the property, and at 530 yards, it does require three good shots.  The 15th is another par 4 on the pack nine that gently moves to the left, though at 15, there are three large bunkers on the outside corner to avoid off the tee. 16 and 17 are back-to-back par 3s which cross over each other, with both being less than 155 yards. The closing hole at North Wales has one of the widest fairways on the course and offers players the chance to let rip with driver. Find the short stuff and you will have a mid to low-iron in hand for your final approach shot, played to a green guarded by a trio of bunkers and with the car park at its back.

Chris Myatt: A very interesting golf course with some very good holes.

Mike Robertson: 16 and 17 are such a great set of holes that must be a joy during matchplay. A bit raw in places but enjoyable and playable.

Sean Arble: Conditions can be rustic which is in keeping with the club and very reasonable green fee. For those willing to skate over the inconsistent quality of the design and instead focus on the highlights of 2, 8, 9, 10 and 15-17, North Wales will handsomely repay your efforts.

David Walker: From the 8th tee to the clubhouse, the course turns into a classic quirky links course with wonderful views and some challenging risk and reward holes, including the par 3s.

Peter Rudd: North Wales has many links elements including fast fescue/bent greens. The setting is very special with a backdrop of sea and mountains.

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is North Wales Golf Club located?  
As it says in the name, North Wales Golf Club is in the north of the country. Llandudno is just to the north of the venue, with the outer boundary of the course backing on to West Shore Beach and the Irish Sea to the west.  In terms of train travel, Llandudno Station is the closest to North Wales Golf Club, sitting less than a mile northeast of the golf course. Trains from Llandudno Station go as far as Manchester, Crewe and even London Euston through the summer. The two nearest major international airports are across the border in England. Both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are within a 90-minute drive to the east of North Wales Golf Club. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
North Wales sits directly next to Llandudno Maesdu, with the two courses being separated by the railway line running north-south. Conwy is also within a five-mile drive from North Wales, with Bangor St Deiniol, Abergele and Prestatyn also within 25 miles.
What golf facilities does North Wales Golf Club offer?  
Along with the golf course on the coast, North Wales Golf Club also has its own practice facilities. There is a driving range and a short game area for guests and members to hone their skills on before taking to the 18-hole layout.  
What are the green fees at North Wales Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at North Wales 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 North Wales Golf Club, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit the North Wales website here (opens in a new tab).Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.