Royal St. David's Golf Club

Beneath Harlech Castle's Walls

The golf course at Royal St. David's Golf Club was established in 1894 beneath Harlech Castle, with Harold Finch-Hatton and William Henry More responsible for the original layout. The club soon became a recognised championship venue and later received royal patronage.

The routing zigzags across exposed linksland, bringing the prevailing westerly wind into play from several angles. The opening 12 holes cross flatter ground, where long par fours and subtle changes in direction make the par of 69 especially demanding.

From the 13th, the landscape becomes more enclosed by dunes. The bunker-free 15th asks for a strong carry to a narrow fairway before a partly blind approach to a raised green. The course then turns inland after the 16th and finishes with a long par three in front of the clubhouse. Harlech Castle remains the constant backdrop, giving the round a setting found nowhere else in Welsh golf.