The Monmouthshire

The Monmouthshire has been home to two different golf courses in its long and storied history, which dates all the way back to 1892. That makes it one of the oldest clubs that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list. Back then, a 9-hole course was opened, and offered views of the surrounding hills.   The course was extended to an 18-hole layout in 1938 by a man whose name features on this list a lot! Five-time Open Champion James Braid was the architect of the course’s extension and redesign.  In The Monmouthshire’s more recent history, a new watering system was implemented for tees and greens, to keep the turf in great condition. More trees have been planted, along with improvements to the clubhouse.

The Monmouthshire Golf Club’s 18-hole layout, designed by James Braid, is a Par 70 in today’s game. It is a short course, measuring less than 6,000 yards, and there is a unique order to the card, with a Par 37 front nine and a Par 33 back nine, but is not where the abnormalities end. There are four par 5s on the layout, and three of those come in successive holes, at 6, 7 and 8 – and none of them are more than 500 yards.   The 1st hole at The Monmouthshire is a gentle opener to a round. The 325-yard par 4 is a slight dog-leg left and only features a pair of greenside bunkers as possible trouble. 2 is the first of five par 3s on the course, and it is only 144 yards long. Two bunkers left and trees all around make it a somewhat daunting prospect, though. Two more par 4s follow before you come to the 5th hole. ‘The Grandstand’ is the shortest hole on the course at just 131 yards, but five bunkers surround a small green, while water is also in view, but that should not be in play unless you hook one left.   You then get to the run of par 5s at The Monmouthshire. The 6th is the hardest hole on the front nine, and the longest hole on the property at 490 yards. The River Usk runs all the way down the left side of 6, while the fairway is tree-lined for added danger. 7 runs in the opposite direction, with 8 then further infield. The 8th does run back towards the river, with anything long of the green being wet. The front nine finishes with the longest par 4 on the property, with the 9th being 414 yards from the tips.  10 is the first of four par 3s on the back nine at The Monmouthshire and plays 175 yards from the back tees. Despite being shorter, the closing side of the course is arguably the more difficult one. 11 is a 400-yard par which turns around trees, while the 12th and 16th are both par 3s of some 230 yards long. The latter features a small water hazard to its left for anything hooked. 14 is the other short hole on the back nine, but the 180-yard hole features five bunkers for anything slightly offline.   The 15th is the hardest hole on the course. With out of bounds (thanks to the B4269) down the left, and with a thick row of trees to the right, it is a tight driving hole. The long par 3 16th follows, before you get to the final two holes. 17 is a 375-yard par 4, which despite not being the longest hole, has enough danger to catch you out. The closing hole at The Monmouthshire is a 470-yard par 5 and offers a final birdie opportunity. Two fairway bunkers need to be avoided if you want to go for the green in two, and anything long of the green is in trouble. If you’re unsure, take one less club and come up short before chipping on for your third.

Greg Webber: This prettily set course is very nicely defined and presented, and a pleasure to play. The flatter front nine is adjacent to the River Usk, whilst the more undulating back nine is the more challenging set of holes.

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Where is The Monmouthshire located?  
The Monmouthshire is based in southeast Wales, less than ten miles from the Welsh border with England. It is just outside the towns of Llanfoist and Abergavenny, with the A40, A465 and A4042 all in close order to provide a strong road network in and around the venue. Newport is the nearest major city, just under 20 miles south of The Monmouthshire.  Abergavenny is home to the nearest train station to The Monmouthshire. Abergavenny is on the line between Manchester Piccadilly and Cardiff Central, while trains from the station also run to Wrexham General and Holyhead. In terms of air travel, visitors looking to play The Monmouthshire have two main options. Cardiff Airport is the busiest and biggest airport in Wales, while Bristol Airport, one of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom outside of London, is only a few miles further away by road. Both options are within 50 miles of the club. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
The Monmouthshire is one of two venues on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list that is in the Welsh county of Monmouthshire. The Rolls of Monmouth is 15 miles to the east, while the Celtic Manor Resort - home to the Twenty Ten Course, Roman Road Course and Montgomerie Course - is 20 miles south.
What golf facilities does The Monmouthshire offer?  
Due to the tight nature of the property, there is no driving range. However, there is a hitting net for golfers to get warmed up, along with a putting green for those last touches before taking to the course.  
What are the green fees at The Monmouthshire?  
The price of a green fee at The Monmouthshire 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 The Monmouthshire, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit The Monmouthshire’s website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.