Wonderous Wales - a private, escorted Welsh golf holiday
A private golfing adventure through one of the most beautiful and surprisingly undiscovered corners of the British Isles.
Your journey begins among the vineyards and rolling countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan, playing three wonderfully contrasting courses along the South Wales coast: the formidable championship links of Royal Porthcawl, the gloriously idiosyncratic Southerndown and Pennard, the celebrated “Links in the Sky”, set high above Three Cliffs Bay.
From Pennard, you leave the road behind. While your luggage and golf clubs travel separately, a private helicopter carries you north on a spectacular flight along the wild western coastline of Wales. Below lie the Gower Peninsula, Carmarthen Bay, the beaches and cliffs of Cardigan Bay, the Cambrian Mountains and, eventually, the magnificent Dyfi Estuary.
En route, there is the opportunity to land at Ynyshir for lunch at Gareth Ward’s extraordinary two Michelin starred restaurant, hidden between the mountains and the Dyfi Estuary. From there, your flight continues into North Wales and Penmaenuchaf, your elegant country house base.
The final chapter of your adventure takes you onto two of Wales’s great traditional links. Aberdovey lies between the mountains and the sea at the mouth of the Dyfi Estuary, while Royal St David’s sits beneath the medieval ramparts of Harlech Castle. Few golfing journeys conclude against a more dramatic backdrop.
Highlights include
Two contrasting luxury bases: a contemporary vineyard retreat in South Wales and an intimate country house in the mountains of North Wales.
A private helicopter transfer from Pennard or a nearby approved landing site to North Wales.
A spectacular scenic flight following the western coastline of Wales above the Gower Peninsula, Carmarthen Bay, Cardigan Bay and the Dyfi Estuary.
The opportunity to land at Ynyshir for Gareth Ward’s remarkable two-Michelin-starred dining experience.
Royal Porthcawl GC, widely regarded as the finest championship links in Wales.
Southerndown GC, an extraordinary combination of links and heathland overlooking the Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
Pennard GC (the “Links in the Sky”) perched high above Three Cliffs Bay and the Gower Peninsula.
Aberdovey Gc, one of the most wonderfully traditional and unspoilt links in the British Isles.
Royal St David’s GC beneath the walls of Harlech Castle, with the mountains of Eryri providing an unforgettable backdrop.
Accommodation and dining
Llanerch - Set among the vines and rolling countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan, Llanerch is part boutique hotel, part working vineyard and part gastronomic retreat. It provides a relaxed and sophisticated base for your South Wales golf, with contemporary accommodation, excellent food and the opportunity to discover the estate’s own wines. After a day on the links, you can change out of your waterproofs, enjoy a good bottle of wine and allow the evening to unfold at its own pace.
Penmaenuchaf - Arriving at Penmaenuchaf feels more like entering a private Welsh country house than checking into a hotel. Beyond its gardens rise the mountains of Eryri, creating an appropriately dramatic setting for the northern half of your journey. Intimate, individual and deeply connected to its surroundings. After golf at Aberdovey or Royal St David’s, you can return for drinks, dinner and a relaxed evening in one of the most beautiful corners of Wales.
Ynyshir - Set between the Cambrian Mountains and the Dyfi Estuary, Ynyshir is a destination in its own right. Gareth Ward’s two Michelin starred restaurant combines exceptional Welsh ingredients with fire, smoke, precision and bold flavours. Its unconventional dining experience provides a memorable interlude during your journey, while arriving by private helicopter makes the experience even more spectacular.
The golf
Royal Porthcaw GC - The heavyweight of Welsh golf: imposing, uncompromising and magnificently exposed to the Bristol Channel. Natural coastal ground, firm turf and fast-changing winds demand imagination, patience and control. With the sea constantly in view and every hole presenting new challenges, it remains one of Wales’s defining golfing experiences.
Southerndown GC - Southerndown belongs entirely to its extraordinary landscape, perched above the Glamorgan Heritage Coast among limestone, heathland and windblown sand. Springy turf, heather, bracken and gorse create a wonderfully individual character, neither conventional links nor traditional heathland. Less celebrated than Royal Porthcawl, it is a connoisseur’s choice and frequent Welsh golfing surprise.
Pennard GC - High above Three Cliffs Bay, Pennard tumbles across the wonderfully rugged landscape of the Gower Peninsula, earning its enduring nickname, the “Links in the Sky”. Rumpled fairways, coastal winds and ancient castle ruins create a course that rewards imagination rather than mechanical golf. Quirky, exhilarating and spectacular, Pennard is never dull.
Aberdovey GC - Occupies an exceptionally peaceful setting between Cardigan Bay, the Dyfi Estuary and Cambrian Mountains. This is traditional links golf in its purest form, with firm turf, pot bunkers, subtle greens and ever-changing breezes. Remote and restorative, the course rewards creativity, keeping the ball low and thinking carefully around every hole.
Royal St David’s GC - Beneath the medieval walls of Harlech Castle, Royal St David’s combines extraordinary scenery with a demanding traditional links. Fast-running fairways, strong par fours, natural defences and winds from Cardigan Bay test every aspect of the game.
A different side of Wales
Wales has always rewarded those prepared to venture beyond the obvious. Its great golf courses are separated not simply by distance but by mountains, estuaries and a spectacularly convoluted coastline. Travelling conventionally between north and south can therefore consume much of a day. Travelling by helicopter transforms that inconvenience into one of the highlights of the expedition. Instead of looking through a windscreen, we follow the coastline from the sky.
The beaches of the Gower disappear behind us, the empty shores of Cardigan Bay stretch northwards and the Cambrian Mountains rise inland before we turn towards the Dyfi Estuary and eventually the mountains of Eryri.
The golf may provide the framework for the journey, but it is everything that happens between the first tee and the final green that makes this Welsh golfing expedition special.
Every Bravo Whisky Golf adventure is unique. Wondrous Wales is presented as an example to inspire you, but every element can be tailored to your individual requirements and preferences. To find out more, or to register your interest in creating your own bespoke, fully escorted adventure, please contact us.