Borth & Ynyslas

Tenby Golf Club (established in 1888) may officially be regarded as the oldest club in Wales but that’s not the case at Borth & Ynyslas where the club protest that they pre-date their Welsh cousins by three years – even though no officially recognised document has ever been produced to substantiate their assertion!

Regardless of its exact date of existence, this Grand Old Lady has been described by one commentator as “a great but often ignored Welsh masterpiece” which is as good a claim to golfing fame as any in our book.

Lying just north of Aberystwyth, on the other side of the Dovey estuary from the more renowned Aberdovey course, the old-fashioned links at Borth & Ynyslas was modified by Harry Colt's design firm in 1947 when the club received compensation for damage caused by the military during the war.

In particular, the 7th was extended from a par three to a short par four, the 8th and the 10th were both lengthened to become par fives and the 9th was reduced to a par three. Colt also modified the 14th and 16th holes.

The length of the course is just over 6,100 yards (for a par of 70) and only two of its par four holes are in excess of 400 yards long so getting to the green in two shots should be no problem. The five par three holes are a difficult proposition though as they all measure at least 170 yards from the medal tees. And if the Borth Breeze blows… well, be prepared for a torrid time here!