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The par
PWLLHELI Set on the south-facing coastline of spectacular Cardigan Bay( an 8-mile drive across the other side of the Llyn Peninsula) is Pwllheli Golf Club( or Clwb Golff Pwllheli in Welsh), situated on the outskirts of the friendly seaside town of the same name. This interesting golf course is a tale of two halves, blending a collection of parkland holes( 1-7) with a links back nine- the best of both worlds. Standing on the elevated tee of the par-4 8th, with the pebbly shoreline to your left, it is possible to time travel back to 1900 when legendary Old Tom Morris carved Pwllheli ' s first nine holes out of the exposed links land bordering Traeth Crugan beach. The layout was later extended to a full 18-holes in 1909 by another famous Scot of the time, five-time Open champion James Braid. Braid ' s tree-lined fairways are routed through mature parkland, with the last of the inland holes, the tough 440-yards par-7th requiring two good hits to reach the putting surface. A memorable hole that typifies Pwllheli ' s links section is the testing 197-yards par-3 10th, with the beach to the left, and beyond the green well-protected by deep-faced pot bunkers is a white-washed cottage adding to the picturesque scene as you play. clwbgolffpwllheli. com
PORTHMADOG A 16-mile drive heading east along the coast takes you to Porthmadog Golf Club designed by James Braid in 1905. Like the aforementioned course, this is another hybrid mix of a parkland / heathland front nine and a links inward half set on a headland at Morfa Bychar, three miles from the attractive harbour town of Porthmadog. The golf course is something of a split personality- and although the front nine is decent enough, its after playing the downhill par-3 9th and crossing the road to tee off on the par-4 10th, that the feel and landscape totally changes into 9-holes of memorable links golf. Before hitting off from the elevated tee of the par-3 13th, make sure to take a few moments to soak in the stunning panorama of Samson ' s Bay on one side and the coastline extending back towards Pwllheli on the other – it ' s worth the green fee alone. www. porthmadog-golf-club. co. uk
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