Wales is the quiet bargain of British golf: Harry Colt links with the sea in view from every hole, a Ryder Cup course, and a string of clifftop and dunes courses that cost a fraction of their neighbours across the border. Here are the ten we would plan a trip around.
Our ranking weighs the quality and character of the golf first, then history, condition and the strength of the wider experience. We lean toward the courses that define Welsh golf, the great links of the south and west and the Ryder Cup stage near Newport, while noting the value that runs through all of them. Every verdict here is ours; where we cite rankings or records, they rest on published championship history.
Wales rewards the travelling golfer who likes raw, traditional links and clifftop drama without the crowds or the price of the marquee Scottish and Irish coasts. The courses below cluster in the south around Porthcawl and the Gower, and along the west coast from Aberdovey up to the Llyn Peninsula, with Celtic Manor's parkland the modern outlier.
Reviewed June 2026 by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and fees verified at publication. How we research and review.
From the country's number one links to the clifftop and dunes courses of the west coast, ranked with our verdicts and the reasons to play each one.
The undisputed number one in Wales and a regular in the world top one hundred. A Harry Colt links where the sea is in view from every hole and the wind is ever present, it has staged the Walker Cup, the Amateur and the Senior Open. Firm, exposed and strategic, with views across the Bristol Channel to Somerset and Exmoor, it is Welsh golf at its very best.
The only course in the world purpose built to host a Ryder Cup, the Twenty Ten staged Europe's 2010 victory and stretches to 7,493 yards along the floor of the Usk valley. Big, watery and theatrical, with the closing holes that decided that match, it is the country's premier resort and parkland test and a bucket list round for match play fans.
A storied links beneath the walls of Harlech Castle, founded in 1894 and often called the toughest par 69 in the world. Tight, firm and deceptively demanding off the Cambrian coast, with the castle and the mountains of Snowdonia as a backdrop, it is one of the most atmospheric rounds in Britain.
Known as the links in the sky, Pennard sits high on the cliffs of the Gower Peninsula above Three Cliffs Bay, a James Braid layout where the golf is wild, quirky and utterly memorable. The setting, with castle ruins and sweeping sea views, is among the most beautiful in the game, and a cult favourite of links connoisseurs.
A traditional links strung along the Cambrian coast that holds a special place in golf writing as the home club of Bernard Darwin. Genuine dunes, blind shots and firm turf make it a pure and old fashioned links experience, beloved of those who value character over length.
A clifftop stunner on the Llyn Peninsula often compared to Pebble Beach, where holes run along a narrow headland with the sea on both sides and a famous pub reachable only on foot at the turn. Not the longest or sternest test, but for sheer drama and joy it is hard to beat in Wales.
One of the oldest clubs in Wales and a genuine championship links on the north coast, used for final Open qualifying and the Curtis Cup. Tough, gorse lined and exposed to the wind off the estuary, with the Carneddau mountains behind, it is a serious and underrated test.
The oldest golf club in Wales, dating to 1888 and lengthened to eighteen holes by James Braid, a natural links of humps, hollows and blind shots along the Pembrokeshire coast. Raw, fun and full of history, it is the heart of golf in the far southwest.
Porthcawl's near neighbour and a fine links in its own right, with the back nine climbing into towering dunes that feel a world away from the opening holes. Quietly excellent and far less heralded than its royal neighbour, it makes an ideal pairing on a south Wales trip.
A modern Jack Nicklaus design on the Carmarthenshire coast near Llanelli, laid through links land and saltmarsh beside the Loughor estuary. Polished, watery and well conditioned, it offers a contemporary contrast to the historic links and has hosted professional women's golf.
Welsh golf is among the best value in Britain, with even the leading courses costing far less than comparable links in Scotland or Ireland. The season runs from spring to autumn, with the firmest links turf from April to October. Royal Porthcawl and Celtic Manor sit at the top of the fee range; the historic west coast links are gentler still and rarely need booking far ahead.
| Course | Type | Indicative green fee |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Porthcawl | Links | £160 to £250 |
| Celtic Manor, Twenty Ten | Resort parkland | £150 to £230 |
| Royal St David's | Links | £90 to £150 |
| Pennard | Clifftop links | £70 to £110 |
| Aberdovey | Links | £70 to £110 |
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The best of Welsh golf splits into two clusters. The south, around Porthcawl, the Gower and Newport, is reached easily from Cardiff or Bristol airports, while the west coast links from Aberdovey up to the Llyn Peninsula suit a touring trip by car, often combined with Snowdonia. A hire car is essential to link the courses, and the relaxed pace means tee times are usually straightforward to secure.
Plan for April to October for the firmest turf and the longest days, and consider pairing a south Wales weekend around Porthcawl with a west coast tour for the full range, from championship links to clifftop drama. We can build the itinerary, sort the tee times and handle the logistics.
Royal Porthcawl is widely regarded as the best course in Wales and a regular in the world top one hundred, a Harry Colt links near Bridgend with a sea view from every hole. Celtic Manor's Twenty Ten course and the links at Royal St David's lead the chasing group.
The 2010 Ryder Cup was held on the Twenty Ten Course at Celtic Manor Resort near Newport, the only course in the world purpose built to host the match. Europe won, and the course remains open to visitors as the country's premier resort layout.
Indicative 2026 peak green fees run from around 70 pounds at the historic west coast links to 160 to 250 pounds at Royal Porthcawl and Celtic Manor. Welsh golf is markedly cheaper than comparable links in Scotland or Ireland. Always confirm directly before booking.
April to October offers the firmest links turf and the longest daylight, with summer the peak. The relaxed pace of Welsh golf means tee times are usually easier to secure than on the busier Scottish and Irish coasts, even in high season.
Very. Wales is one of the most affordable parts of Britain to play top class golf, with leading courses costing far less than their equivalents across the border. A touring trip combining south and west coast links is excellent value for the quality on offer.
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