Machynys Peninsula - West Wales - Wales

3rd West Wales - Best in Area 11th Wales Ranking
Machynys Peninsula Golf Club,
Nicklaus Avenue,
Machynys,
Llanelli,
Carmarthernshire,
SA15 2DG,
Wales

  • +44 (0) 1554 744888

Championships hosted: Senior Amateur, The Womens Amateur, Wales Amateur

It is easy to understand why Machynys Peninsula was seen by many as the best new course built in Britain in 2005. With a hefty total of ₤3.5 million shelled out for the layout and an even greater sum of money spent on the clubhouse, Machynys enjoyed the sort of budget that should deliver one of the very best modern golf designs.

Money alone can never ensure success with a new golfing project as location has a large part to play in determining whether a new course will attract rave reviews but the stunning site that Machynys (Monk's Island) is built on – situated beside the Wild Fowl and Wetlands Trust at Penclacwydd and the Millenium Coastal Park – as good as guarantees its position as a “must play” venue in Wales.

The course is routed in two distinct loops with a parkland front nine and an inward half that has more of a links feel beside the sea. Gary Nicklaus acted as chief designer on behalf of his famous father and his favorite hole is the 451-yard 16th which, as he says, “is played across the lake from right behind the clubhouse [and] is probably one of the most beautiful holes on the course. The view from the green of the whole bay is spectacular, whether the tide is in or out”.

The standard scratch score here from the tournament tees is three over par, letting you know Machynys Peninsula can be set up for some serious competitive golf, and indeed, it has hosted the Wales Ladies Championship of Europe every year since it opened for play.

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Reviews for Machynys Peninsula

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Description: With stunning views of Carmarthenshire Bay and the Gower Peninsula, the Nicklaus-designed 7,100-yard links-style Machynys Peninsula is set to become a Welsh flagship course... Rating: 6.9 out of 10 Reviews: 30
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Daniel rees

Loved this course. The layout is a Modern Links!! Excellant for golfers of all abilities. A different course off the back boxes than than the yellows. No temporary Greens or temp tees all year round which is amazing. Great Value for money and a must play in my opinion.

February 09, 2010
8 / 10
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michael evans
Overated is a good word to describe this place. They hype it up so much. When we played it was soaking wet on the front nine in August! Played it last year and wanted to see if it was better, but found that the course is worse than last year. Fairways wet and scruffy. Bunkers shocking and unkept. Greens slow and bumpy. Staff in clubhouse generally uninterested. Lacking the atmosphere of a real golf club. Not a patch on Ashburnham for quality or value for money. And please stop calling your course a links. It is american parkland near the sea!
September 15, 2009
2 / 10
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Crow Man
January 07, 2010
I really think you need to revisit this excellent golf course. With all due respect you have played the course in two of the wettest summers ever! I agree with the bunker issues but the tees and greens are probably the best in Wales and right up there with the best in the U.K.. Even Laura Davies and the R&A raved about the course and greens and I think they know what they are talking about. Yes it is not a classic links but it is links type and offers something different and modern.
Adrian
I know others have said it but this course has some of the best putting surfaces that I have played on. I am personally a fan of modern courses in that they tend to have better drainage, flatter tees and more interesting greens than some of the older courses. I thought the course had a lot of interesting tactical holes which relied less on muscle and more on brain. That being said I thought the gold tees were a bit too short whilst I didn't feel like slogging it out on the blacks given the wind the day I played. It's a pity the gold tees were not about 400 yards longer. The food in the clubhouse was excellent.
August 31, 2009
8 / 10
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Bobo
Played Machynys in the Welsh "Tournament of Champions" at the start of August 2009. Thought the course was magnificant. Being a local player, I have played the course quite a few times and never really thought much of it, but having now played it off the very back tees the course is so much more difficult and a MUCH better test of golf.On some holes there is about a 70 yard gap between the gold tees and the black (championship) tees. Off the golds, it is not much more that a pitch and putt but is a bit of a monster off the blacks. Being a 1 handicapper, I really enjoyed the challenge and hit it very well for a 78 :-(The greens were excellent, the chipping and putting greens superb as was the driving range.If you are in the area, it is well worth a visit (providing they let you go off the blacks!)
August 17, 2009
8 / 10
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Jim McCann
August 18, 2009
I NEVER have been able to get my head round why some golfers think a course is only ever TRULY difficult when played from the back tees - maybe I'm missing some non machismo golfing technicality here and if so, would be delighted for someone from the "grip it and rip it" brigade to enlighten me!!!
Little Chris
August 28, 2009
I am not part of any 'Grip it brigade' and am a member of a relatively short course which you have to plot it around to make a score rather than bashing a driver everywhere (my preferred option when it comes to course design actually). Off the front tees, this is not a 'plot your way around' course. The first hole is not much more than a rescue club off the tee par 4. The par 5 3rd is a driver 8 iron. This is not a test of golf in my opinion. Maybe you are a high handicapper and struggle when it comes to the challenge presented from the back tees, but speaking as a club champion and a low handicapper, IN MY OPINION, this is only a test from the backs.
Martin Booth
A course of contradictions. Taken individually, each of the 18 holes can be considered as very good golf holes. Taken together, there is a plethora of lakes and an over reliance on water with few of the subtleties of a true links course. The greens were excellent but the fairways were in poor condition and generally flat, again lacking the undulations of a true links . The course marshals were very helpful and the bar staff prompt and attentive. However, despite the positives outlined above, I have no intention of returning to Machynys Peninsula.Like a previous reviewer, we paid in full some months before visiting. Sadly, due to a family bereavement, our numbers fell from 7 to 6. However, getting any refund or any form of meaningful credit from the club was like getting blood out of a stone and their attitude was less than helpful. In short, this money-grabbing attitude left a pretty bad taste in the mouth and was in sharp contrast to the very understanding approach of the other six courses we played that week. Despite the courses evident shortcomings, you’ll enjoy your round but, if you do visit, just make sure you’re not fleeced by paying in advance!!
July 04, 2009
4 / 10
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Alex
This course will split opinion – is it a links ? is it an American manmade earth moving project ? We had a divide 2 liked and 2 disliked, the clubhouse though is one of the best we have been in (on a level with the St Andrews) with the first floor level / balcony providing awesome views of what you will go out to tackle (we spotted 13 flags from the balcony). The 1st is poor opener but after that the layout is very good as the harder front 9 (played more into the breeze) loops back to the clubhouse, the back 9 has some testing holes, the 16th being the hardest Par 4 (uphill and into the wind) while the 18th is a very short Par 5. For me there was too much water around and it all seemed like the course is trying to be a links when is really isn’t, However don’t let this report put you off it is well worth a visit. Also try to ignore the over squashed in houses around the back of the 11th + 13th greens !
June 13, 2009
8 / 10
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Haydn Stone
Firstly I would like to say it is a great course. Unfortunately we played on a day when they were dressing the greens. Also the days leading up to us playing were rainy days and the bunkers hadn't been raked all day.Also one of our group of 12 had to return home due to illness. As we had already paid in full beforehand they wouldn't refund the green fees. We asked for the equivalent in credit for food/drink and they we not accommodating. So be warned if you pay for a group, make sure that number play.
June 10, 2009
6 / 10
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Ralph
I played Machynys in September as part of the PGA festival. It’s a wonderful modern club which has a “pro” feel about the place, very relaxed in the clubhouse and every practice facility you could possible need.The course whilst good does not really capture the imagination. The tees were immaculate and some clubs would like them as putting surfaces, the greens were good and true. You just don’t come off the course and think “crikey the 11th was a great hole” or “the 4th was a real test” it’s just a “nice” track.A point touched on by others – there had been no rain for over a week prior but we still had placing and the fairways were pretty damp still, also a lot of plugged balls just off the fairways too.
November 07, 2008
4 / 10
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Alan Trowbridge

Excellant Greens and Tees. Considering the rain we have had the course dried up in no time. Excellant warm welcome from all the staff, superb facilities and food. A must for any golfer of all abilities.

September 23, 2008
8 / 10
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Ted
This course proved to be a disappointment - the front nine is flat and uninspired, and although the tees and greens are excellent the fairways were unplayable, wet and very muddy – we looked as though we had been on a building site on finishing the round! Although the fairways were slightly drier and the holes more varied on the back nine we felt a little deflated afterwards. The clubhouse is smart but has a very corporate feel to it. This course would be a reasonable test given good drainage – although close to the estuary the land seems marshy in nature. I wish them well as the club are obviously keen and striving to improve – perhaps given time this will mature into a very good course.
September 14, 2008
4 / 10
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