Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

Royal Porthcawl occupies a dramatic stretch of the South Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel from the headland north of Porthcawl. Founded in 1891, the club moved to its present site in the 1890s, where the course has evolved through the work of several important architects, including Ramsay Hunter, H.S. Colt, J.H. Taylor, Tom Simpson and, more recently, Martin Ebert. The setting is exposed and elemental, with the sea influencing the character of the course even when it is not immediately beside the fairway.

The course is a test of control and adaptability, with firm running ground, natural undulations and a succession of greens that demand precise approaches. Rather than following a conventional out-and-back routing, the holes sweep through a broad crescent, creating constantly changing angles to the prevailing wind. The opening holes are particularly close to the Channel, while the higher inland ground still retains the sense of a coastal course. Its combination of championship pedigree, exposed terrain and subtle architectural evolution gives Royal Porthcawl a character all of its own.