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Is Royal Portchawl in Wales the British Isles' most underrated championship links?

Wednesday August 22, 2007 | 12:31:41 pm 527 words, 3515 views  

I’m thumbing through the new Golf Magazine World Top 100 Ranking. I like the world rankings better than the U.S. version, because just about all of the world courses offer at least limited public play, versus the private-heavy American list that only helps to justify why country clubs can demand $100K initiation to new members because of it’s ranking. This also explains why I’ve played so many more top world courses than the American ones.

Of course, we all know these rankings, despite all the mathematical categories involved, aren’t perfect. How do you judge man-made, multi-million dollar marvels like Whistling Straits and Shadow Creek with the same criteria as historic, natural links like Portmarnock and Cruden Bay?

Even so, these rankings are taken incredibly seriously by many golfers and clubs. When I was up at Tullymore Golf Club in Michigan, one of the pros told me about a recent guest who was only playing there because he was driving around America in his RV playing every public course on Golf Digest’s Top 100 list.

The biggest snub on this year’s World List from Golf Magazine I can think of has to be Royal Porthcawl in Wales.

I played it a few weeks back during a tour of Wales’ south coast, and found it to be one of the top links I’ve played in the British Isles and Ireland. Seaside beauty at every turn, deep, penal pot bunkers, solid hole and shot variety, a routing that always changes direction, and a fantastic pint of Pimms in one of the most charming clubhouses around. I loved the long, daunting, 14th and 15th holes. The 18th plays downhill towards the water and it feels like there is no fairway from the tee, you’re simply hitting straight into the sea.

Royal Porthcawl held the 1995 Walker Cup, and add a little distance to it (which they’re doing, most notably the par-5 11th hole, building a new green 40 yards further down) could be considered a British Open venue. I’m serious. Don’t rule it out.

For the mid-handicapping links enthusiast, Royal Porthcawl hits the mark in every category you could ask for in a 19th century championship links: beauty, memorability, variety, playability, difficulty.

So where would I rank Royal Porthcawl?

Among links I’ve played, I’d throw it ahead of Kingsbarns (#61), which is too expensive (£155) and has greens that seem too unnatural, and just behind Lahinch (#54) - and way ahead of Dublin’s Portmarnock (#49), which is always ranked in the Top 50, which I never understand.

Once Wales becomes a more fashionable destination in the coming years, it’s safe to assume the panelists will suddenly wake up and smell the Pimms - and put Royal Porthcawl where it rightfully belongs.

The good news is that since it’s not on the Top 100, fewer golfers are rolling up in their RV or making travel plans to play it. The result for my round was a wide-open links on a sunny, August morning. We saw maybe three other groups during our round, none within several holes of us. That doesn’t happen in the summer at Scotland and Ireland’s top courses.

Royal Porthcawl’s famous first hole with four deep pot bunkers to the left.
Permalink 11 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Golf Goddess [Visitor]
So let me get this straight:
1. Wales offers gorgeous, challenging, moderately priced golf courses
2. The cources welcome everyone, even children
3. Wales has more castles per square mile than any place in Europe.

Sounds like a great family vacation. What are z' looney Americans waiting for? The Jolie-Pitts to vacation there first?

PermalinkPermalink 08/23/07 @ 14:13
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Goddess, most Americans suffer from herd mentality. Not too much original thought going on around here. But that's ok by me. The more in demand these courses become, the higher will be MY greens fees when I go over.

B-Tuck, I realize it's all a matter of taste - of course, but some travel "experts" prefer Pennard to Royal Porthcawl. No less an authority than James Finegan calls Pennard one of the best 20 courses in the world. To be fair, he loves RP also. Can't wait to try em both myself!
PermalinkPermalink 08/24/07 @ 13:43
Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
Funny you should mention Mr. Finnegan, Shanks. He was on our trip for a few days, though he took off north before we went to Porthcawl and Pennard. A real treat to hang with for sure!

Pennard has a lot of things going in its favor, but its more of a novelty than a championship links. You wouldn't stage a big tournament on it. The first time you play here you'll be lost - it's the kind of course you need to play 10 times before really knowing what's going on. 20 best in the world? No, but probably one of the 20 most unique. It's definitely worth seeing - truly a one-of-a-kind links.

PermalinkPermalink 08/24/07 @ 13:55
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
What a horrible life Finnegan must lead. Hell, he's over there more than you are, B-Tuck!!

Sounds like a caddy is in order at Pennard. Quirky is fun if you know where you're going. I really enjoyed Prestwick and North Berwick in Scotland, which are also not your usual tracks.
PermalinkPermalink 08/27/07 @ 09:55
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
Speaking of quirky - though I've never played it - I understand that Lahinch has a bit of that personalityas well.
PermalinkPermalink 08/28/07 @ 10:18
Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
Lahinch is far different from Prestwick and Pennard and Tenby and the "quirky" ones. Lahinch's two most famous holes are quirky, yes, but on a whole it is more of a championship-style course with all sorts of shots. They've rebuilt a lot of the bunkers and greens in the last few years and now it's right up there with Royal Portrush in my opinion.
PermalinkPermalink 08/28/07 @ 16:24
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
If only I could speak from experience ....
PermalinkPermalink 08/29/07 @ 10:38
Comment from: Shanks [Member] · http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/shanks
B-Tuck, my boys & I have finally made a decision. We're going to Northern Scotland next June. Will play Cruden Bay and Royal Dornoch (twice each), as well as Brora, Nairn, Old Moray, Royal Aberdeen and Montrose.
PermalinkPermalink 09/05/07 @ 12:10
Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member] · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
Can't go wrong there, Shanks.

I hit Nairn, Dornoch and Aberdeen in that cycle and I've heard great things about Brora and Cruden Bay. Seems like a pretty compact trip too, so you won't be stuck in the car too much!
PermalinkPermalink 09/05/07 @ 12:18
Comment from: Bruce Baker [Visitor]
Thanks for the article sbout Royal Porthcawl.I hope to be there next year. What I really wanted to sat was BRAVO re your cooments about Portmarnock. A more highly overrated course you'd be hard pressed to find. When in Dublin play at The Island course instead. Much better course at half the price. Fully agree with Brandon's comments about Lahinch. The blind par 3 and par 5 get all the publicity but no one ever talks about the other fabulous 16 holes.
PermalinkPermalink 09/05/07 @ 19:46
Comment from: Erik [Visitor]
I´m going to England/Wales in a couple of weeks, playing amongst others Royal Porthcawl, Pennard & Ashburnham. Saw that Brandon thought that RP is just ahead of Kingsbarns in the rankings because of Kingsbarns expensive greenfees. Even though I think RP is pretty expensive (£95 incl.lunch) you could also put those 3 great golfcourses together against Kingsbarns. We´re using Open Fairways and the total greenfee is pretty much the same as one round on Kingsbarns.
PermalinkPermalink 04/08/08 @ 07:18

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Brandon Tucker Brandon Tucker

a WorldGolf.com Blog

WorldGolf.com blogger Brandon Tucker offers his unique perspective on golf and travel destinations from Scotland and Ireland to Myrtle Beach. He also chimes in on news events on the PGA and LPGA Tours, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and other happenings around the world of golf.