Royal St David's

Established in 1894 in Harlech, Wales, Royal St David’s is one of the best courses in Wales and there are incredible views out across Cardigan Bay.
 

Royal St David's provides a great test of seaside golf with Harlech Castle looking down on the course and the Snowdonia mountain range providing a wonderful backdrop for a round of golf.

 

 

You can also play at Royal St David's as part of our West Wales Swing.
 

Visit the Royal St David's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

 

1894 saw the birth of golf in Harlech, with Harold Finch-Hatton and William Henry More laying out the original 18-hole design. The St David's Golf Club was founded. 

 

John Ball, the 1890 Open Champion and also an eight-time Amateur Champion, was present at the club's first meeting that November.

In 1909, the club made history, as it became the first golf club in Wales to be designated 'Royal'. 25 years later, King Edward VIII became captain of the club.

2022 marked a century of championship golf at Royal St David's, dating back to the Welsh Open Amateur Championship 100 years earlier. Men's, Women's and Boy's Home International Matches have all been played at Harlech, with Royal St David's also playing host to the Jacques Leglise Trophy, British Boys Championship and the Welsh PGA Championship.
 

From the back tees, the Blues, Royal St David’s still remains short of 6,700 yards. However, with just two par 5s and a quintet of great par 3s, Royal St David's is commonly known as "the toughest par 69 in the world". It is a true links test, in every sense of the phrase, and one where the elements will, more often than not, come into play.

 

The course opens with a slight dog-leg right par4 4, but at 440 yards, it requires a solid drive to have a chance at birdie to kick off your round. You then turn and play the 2nd, a 345-yard par 4, which offers up the first real scoring chance. Harlech Castle in the close background, and a beautiful backdrop for the 2nd. At 465 yards, the 3rd is the longest par 4 on the property, and the Stroke Index 2. The tee shot almost makes you aim out to the right, but the longer hitters will try to cover the bunker on the inside corner of this dog-leg. Anything to the right of the green on the approach is in danger of going OOB.

The first of the par 3s comes at the 4th at St David's, and at 185 yards, it requires a solid long iron for most to find the putting surface. 5 and 6 are both par 4s that are shy of 400 yards from the White tees, and holes where avoiding sand off the tee is vital. You then come to back-to-back par 5s - the only two par 5s on the course - at 7 and 8. The former is reachable in two at just 485 yards, playing as a dog-leg left. The 8th turns the other way, and is 515 yards in length, making it more of a three-shotter.

 

The front side at Royal St David’s closes with a par 3. Three bunkers lie in wait for any shots short and right, but at 170 yards, it is a pretty simple short hole. 10 is the hardest hole on the golf course, at 415 yards from the Whites. Although you might focus on the incredible dunescape in the background, the 10th requires an accurate drive to let you even have a chance of going for the green in two. The 11th is the shortest hole on the property at 143 yards, and has two large traps that guard the green.

 

12 and 13 are both long par 4s, with the latter coming in at almost 450 yards. They take you to the 14th, the longest of the par 3s, in what is the toughest run of holes on the course. 14 pushes past the 210-yard mark, and although there are no bunkers by the green, it is still a narrow entrance due to the gorse that does surround the putting surface. Another tough par 4 follows at the 15th. It is another of more than 420 yards, and with perhaps the narrowest fairway on the course.
 

The 16th is a good chance, at just 350 yards. Keep your tee shot short of the myraid of bunkers, and then you'll have a clear shot at the green. The 17th measures in at over 420 yards and with bunkers guarding the green, your approach needs to be very accurate. The final hole in Harlech is a 200-yard par 3, which requires a long iron or hybrid to find the putting surface. You’ll be very happy to par the last ahead of entering the clubhouse.
 

Where is Royal St David's Golf Club located?
Royal St David’s is situated on the west coast of Wales, around 10 miles south from the town of Porthmadog. It is just outside the village of Harlech, with the course overlooking Harlech Beach and Ceredigion Bay. Caernarfon is 30 miles to the north of Royal St David's, with Aberystwyth around 50 miles to the south.

 

The venue is just half a mile from the nearest train station, which is Harlech. Trains run between Pwllheli and Birmingham International on a semi-regular basis. The nearest international airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which sits around 100 miles from Royal St David’s. Both Manchester and Birmingham Airports are within three hours from Royal St David’s, with Cardiff Airport, the biggest in Wales, around four hours away to the south.

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
Just around the River Dwyryd sits Porthmadog, which is 10 miles from Royal St David's. Nefyn & District, Abersoch and Pwllheli are all within 30 miles to the west, while Aberdovey is 40 miles to the south.

What golf facilities does Royal St David's offer?  
Along with the fantastic championship offering, Royal St David's is also home to a full-length driving range and a cracking little short game area with its own practice bunker. There is also a putting green by the clubhouse, for those finishing touches.
  

What are the green fees at Royal St David's?
The price of a green fee at Royal St David's 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 Royal St David's, visit their website here.

 

 

You can also play at Royal St David's as part of our West Wales Swing.


Visit the Royal St David's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.