Pwllheli

Most golf courses would be proud to have one Open Champion designing their layout. Pwllheli is blessed to have a helping hand in their design from two winners of the tournament, with nine Open Championships between them.   Old Tom Morris laid out the original nine holes in 1900, along the coastline. Just under a decade later, five-time Open Champion James Braid came to Pwllheli to extend the course to an 18-hole layout.   Further alterations have taken place over the last century, including major changes in the 1970s. More land was purchased and five new holes (3rd, 4th, 12th, 13th, 14th) were created to turn the course into the 18-hole track that it is today.

Surrounded by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pwllheli is blessed by its position on the Llyn Peninsula looking inland towards Snowdonia and on the other side to the western coast of Wales. The original nine are formed by the seaside holes, where the immaculate fairways are flanked by dune banks and tall fescue grasses while the small greens are protected by natural undulations.    Utilising mature parkland, the second nine begins and ends in the midst of tree-lined fairways, with the constant threat of the River Penhros and picture-perfect countryside accompanying you all the way. The course now measures over 6,100 yards, with four holes playing along the coastline through the middle of your round. There are only three par 3s at Pwllheli, while you won’t find a single par 5 to make the course a Par 69.   The 1st tees off with the sea at your back, taking you inland for the opening stretch. It is a gentle par 4 to open, ahead of the tough 2nd. With trees either side of the fairway, 2 is a tricky hole to navigate. The only par 3 on the front side follows, ahead of a run of par 4s to close out the front nine. Holes 4 through 6 are birdie opportunities if you can find the fairways. Longer hitters may try and take the 5th green on at just 320 yards. However, a pond in front of the green may put some off. The 6th is a straightaway par 4, and at just 335 yards, it could well be a long iron and wedge for some.   From the 7th onwards, things get tough around the turn. 7 is the last of the inland holes on the front nine, and it is also one of the toughest. A shallow ditch splits the fairway at just over the 300-yard mark, while up at the green, two bunkers protect the front and out of bounds looms at the rear. The links part of the course then opens up, with the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th all playing with Traeth Crugan to their left. All four holes basically have their tee boxes on the beach, and you play ever so slightly inland to allow for the next tee box to appear on the left of each green.   8 and 9 are both mid-length par 4s, with the 10th being a very tricky par 3. The well-guarded green is protected by two deep-faced bunkers at the front and two bunkers to the right. The Tanbwlch Cottage at the back of the hole and behind the green also makes this one of the most picturesque holes on the course. 11 is a drivable par 4 at just 295 yards, but five greenside bunkers might put some people off. That is followed by the shortest (and last) par 3 on the course – the 12th. At just 140 yards, it is a low iron or wedge for most, and with just one bunker in front, it is one of the easier holes you will face at Pwllheli.  Back inland for the final six, and the closing stretch starts with the tough 13th hole. 14 is then a short dog-leg right, while the 15th is the most difficult hole on the course. Danger is plentiful and all around as the River Penhros, gorse and trees follow the dogleg all along the left. More gorse awaits an errant shot to the right and even if your drive is both long and straight, a good shot, and a long one, will still be needed to reach what is a well-protected green. The final three holes offer scoring opportunities, each with generous fairways. The 18th green is well guarded, with four greenside bunkers awaiting any mis-hit approaches as your round concludes.

Greg Webber: The original 18 hole links course was laid out by Tom Morris and then, with the acquisition of more land, redesigned by James Braid to become an even mix of links and parkland holes. The links stretch in particular features some strong and memorable holes.

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Where is Pwllheli Golf Club located?  
Pwllheli Golf Club is located on the western coastline of Wales. It is on the Llyn Peninsula, with the Llyn Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) just to the northwest of the venue. The town of Pwllheli is a mile to the north of the venue, while the golf course itself sits adjacent to Traeth Crugan and the Irish Sea.   Just a mile away from the golf course is Pwllheli Railway Station. It is the final stop on the Cambrian Line, with trains running east to Shrewsbury in England. Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports are just over two hours from Pwllheli Golf Club, and the nearest major airports to all venues in the north of Wales. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
Pwllheli is one of three venues on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list to be situated on the Llyn Peninsula. The others - Abersoch and Nefyn & District - are both within a ten-mile drive. Porthmadog and Royal St David's are within a 25-mile drive to the east of Pwllheli. What golf facilities does Pwllheli Golf Club offer?  Due to the nature of the land, with the town and the beach in close contact, Pwllheli does not have its own driving range. There is a mid-size practice area between the 17th and 18th holes, along with a putting green by the 1st tee. A pair of hitting nets allow golfers to hit longer clubs during their warm-ups. 
What are the green fees at Pwllheli Golf Club?  
The price of a green fee at Pwllheli 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 Pwllheli Golf Club, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit Pwllheli's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.