Bull Bay
The highest course on Anglesey, and one of the most quietly admired in Wales. Bull Bay is a Herbert Fowler heathland from 1913, a par 70 of roughly 6,276 yards that twists through gorse, heather and rock above the Irish Sea, with the mountains of Snowdonia filling the southern horizon.
Photo: Bull Bay Golf Club via Google, by Tony Dean.
The verdict
Bull Bay is a connoisseur's course, the sort that architecture lovers seek out and ordinary golfers stumble upon and never forget. Opened in 1913 to the design of W. Herbert Fowler, the man behind The Berkshire, Walton Heath and Saunton East, it occupies rugged clifftop ground above the village of Amlwch on the wild north coast of Anglesey. The club marked its opening with an exhibition match between James Braid and J. H. Taylor, fitting company for a course of this pedigree.
It plays as a par 70 of around 6,276 yards, and Fowler's minimalist hand is everywhere: holes that follow the natural fall of the land, greens set into the contours, and barely a contrived feature in sight. As the highest course on the island it is gloriously exposed, the wind a near constant and the views, across the Irish Sea and down to Snowdonia, simply magnificent. For golfers who prize character, setting and classical design over polish, Bull Bay is one of North Wales' great rewards.
Bull Bay at a glance
- Opened
- 1913
- Design
- Herbert Fowler
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- ~6,276 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Opening year, design, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Bull Bay Golf Club and leading course databases. Designed by W. Herbert Fowler and opened in 1913, the course plays as a par 70 of roughly 6,276 yards. Bull Bay welcomes visitors; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Fowler's genius at Bull Bay lies in restraint. Rather than impose bunkers and shaping on the land, he routed the holes to use the rock outcrops, the natural hollows and the run of the gorse, so the course feels discovered rather than built. The fairways rise and fall with the clifftop terrain, and the greens sit where the ground invites them, demanding that you read the slope as much as the yardage.
The exposure is the great defender. Because Bull Bay stands higher than any other course on Anglesey, the wind rarely rests, and the same hole can ask for a wedge one day and a long iron the next. Holes that hug the cliff edge are exhilarating, with the sea below and nothing between you and the horizon, and the bolder line off the tee is often a flirtation with the wild ground beyond the short grass.
What lingers, beyond the golf, is the sense of place. Few courses set you so high above the water with so little between you and the elements, and on a clear day the panorama from the Irish Sea round to the peaks of Snowdonia is one of the finest in British golf. Bull Bay is proof that length is the least interesting thing a great course can offer.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A friendly members club that welcomes visitors throughout the season; book a tee time ahead, especially in summer and at weekends when member play is heaviest |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 30 to 50 pounds depending on day and season (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Bull Bay pro shop or office; pairs naturally with Holyhead and the other Anglesey courses on a North Wales golf trip |
| On the day | Smart golf dress; a walkable but exposed clifftop course, so bring a layer for the wind and steady footwear for the rugged ground |
| Getting there | Just outside Amlwch on the north coast of Anglesey, around 30 minutes from the A55 and an easy add to a tour of North Wales and the island |
| Best months | May through September for the driest, firmest turf and the long evenings, though the views reward a visit in any settled spell |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Amlwch and the nearby villages offer welcoming inns and guesthouses within minutes of the course, while the wider Anglesey coast adds country hotels and seaside boltholes for a relaxed golf and coast break.
Bull Bay is best enjoyed as part of an Anglesey and North Wales golf tour, paired with the island's other courses and the great links of the mainland coast for a varied and scenic few days.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Bull Bay.
Build a North Wales golf trip
We arrange tee times at Bull Bay and across the courses of Anglesey and North Wales, pair them with the best lodging and handle the logistics. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bull Bay questions
Who designed Bull Bay Golf Club?
Bull Bay was designed by W. Herbert Fowler, the architect behind The Berkshire, Walton Heath and Saunton East. The course opened in 1913 with an exhibition match between James Braid and J. H. Taylor, and is celebrated as a fine example of Fowler's natural, minimalist style.
What is the par and length of Bull Bay Golf Club?
Bull Bay plays as a par 70 of roughly 6,276 yards. As the highest course on Anglesey, set on exposed clifftop heathland, it plays firm and breezy and asks for thoughtful, varied golf rather than sheer length.
Why is Bull Bay considered special?
Bull Bay is the highest golf course on Anglesey, laid out by Herbert Fowler over rugged heathland of gorse, heather and rock with panoramic views across the Irish Sea to the mountains of Snowdonia. Its natural routing, lack of artifice and dramatic setting make it a long admired hidden gem of North Wales.
Can visitors play Bull Bay Golf Club?
Yes. Bull Bay welcomes visiting golfers throughout the season. Book a tee time through the club, and confirm the current green fee before you travel, as rates vary by season and day.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.