The Most Scenic Golf Courses in South Wales

Classic links courses near Cardiff

Just half an hour from the Welsh capital, you’ll find some of the country’s most dramatic coastal courses. Royal Porthcawl (pictured) is probably the best-known - it’s played host to the Walker Cup, the Ladies Open Championship, and the Senior Open Championship, to name a few. Consistently ranked as the top golf club in Wales, it’s one for your bucket list - the opening three holes hug the coastline, and the 18th is a dramatic, downhill finish toward the sea. But there are sea views at every hole.

A little further west is the lesser-known Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, or P&K to those in the know. This gem of a course rivals its famous neighbour, serving up sweeping views of the Bristol Channel, the Gower, and the distant mountains. It’s not a stranger to major tournaments either, having co-hosted the Senior Open Championship and the Ladies' British Open Amateur Championship. Out on the green, the front nine eases you in, while the back nine makes the most of the links land and towering dunes.

Closer to Cardiff, Southerndown perches above the striking Glamorgan Heritage Coast, not far from Ogmore-by-Sea. It’s host to its very own Duncan Putter tournament, a World Amateur Golf Rankings event. This limestone heathland course is playable in every season, though the open setting means you’ll often feel the wind in your hair. Expect wide open sea views and the occasional sheep or horse wandering by.

Countryside golf courses in South Wales

Great views don’t always mean ocean vistas. Leave the salty air behind, and you’ll discover golf courses wrapped in lush countryside with views of hills, mountains, pretty villages, and historic towns. From the exposed mountain tops of the valleys to the pretty parklands of Monmouthshire, there are dozens of courses with unique panoramas to soak up.  

Monmouth Golf Club is a classic parkland course set in some classic rolling Welsh countryside, offering superb views of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley. Steep climbs reward you with the best sights. Nearby, Monmouthshire Golf Club hugs the River Usk and frames mountain views, including the Sugar Loaf and Skirrid Fawr. And for a slice of grandeur, the Rolls of Monmouth course features a stunning Victorian mansion and lovely Black Mountain views.

Close by in Chepstow is the prestigious Old Course of the Delta Hotels St Pierre Country Club (pictured), once host to the Solheim Cup, the Curtis Cup, and the Dunlop Masters. This green was once a deer park, and the resort is set in 400 acres of beautiful, mature parkland.

High in the South Wales valleys, Rhondda Golf Club pushes players with its mountain-top layout. It has great views of the valley’s slate-roofed cottages, chapels, and winding lanes. And, on clear days, the Bristol Channel sparkles in the distance. At 1,000 feet, the weather keeps things interesting, but the green fees are a pleasant surprise. For more great value golf with a view, try Woodlake Park Golf Club near Usk, where championship-standard greens overlook the tranquil Llandegfedd Reservoir and distant Brecon Beacons.

For a spot of luxury, the legendary Celtic Manor Resort (pictured) just outside Newport is another for the golfers’ bucket list. Of its three championship courses, the Montgomerie is a favourite for its panoramic views of the Usk Valley, while the Roman Road has stunning vistas over the Severn Estuary. And the Twenty Ten Course, built for the 2010 Ryder Cup, is a giant golf stadium set in the lush Welsh countryside.