Neath - South Wales - Wales

First couple of holes at Neath are uphill from the clubhouse, the 1st being an ok par 5 but the 2nd is a totally blind par 3 which for me is fairly pointless. Hole 3 is also uphill, a short dogleg par 4 but it is very clever in that there is a concealed brook running across the fairway. The course then plateaus out for a few holes. I thought holes 3-7 all had a merit, in particular nr 5 which was a very good looking par 3. Unfortunately torrential rain curtailed my game at Neath and it was on 7 that the heavens opened so after that I was restricted to either looking at holes or walking down them on way back down to clubhouse. I did notice an old James Braid tee for hole 3 which looked interesting and the short 14th looked good, whilst the last couple of holes running down to the clubhouse looked more mundane. Moorland style on some of the holes with a dry stone boundary wall very much a feature. Difficult to judge course condition because of weather but some of the greens seemed to have interesting slopes and bunkers were well cared for and good to play out of. Enough encouragement for me to revisit hopefully on a sunny day !

Neath is truly one of Wales unsung golfing gems. Whatever criteria you base your assessment of Neath it matters little for it is a course that has James Braid architecture, quality in terms of conditioning and an appeal from its friendly atmosphere and warm welcome. Above all though this course has “Location, Location, Location”! The scenery is breathtaking and the design of the course takes advantage of this fine landscape and of every elevation on the golf course.

As you play from the 1st tee though there is however only the smallest of hints of the fun and golfing pleasure you will experience playing this course. All good things come to those who wait and it is not until you reach the third hole that you are on-top of the plateau and beginning to soak in what this course has to offer. In fact the 1st hole is a par 5 slog up the hill and the second an uphill par 3 to a semi-blind green. From the third you start to have to think your way around this course. You do though have a few chances to get some pars under your belt before you reach the difficult, but impressive stretch of holes 6,7 and 8. These 3 holes define the difficulty of the front nine offering long straight hitting down through pine tree tunnels to well guarded greens. The length and challenge of some of these holes was equally matched by some very good, but well contoured greens, where certainly in the summer landing in the wrong area would spell trouble for securing an easy 2 putt.

The start of the back nine heads towards the highest and most spectacular scenery on the golf course. The 9th takes you to the ridge and by the time you are on the putting surface you start to peer over the brow in anticipation of a truly awe-inspiring panorama. The tee shot at the 10th gives you time to dwell on this breathtaking view, but focus is required to find the tight fairways at both this hole and the 11th. An easy par 5 is then followed and offset by a challenging par 4 (13th) where a long straight tee shot from your 5th highly elevated tee rewards you with a chance of a long iron to a narrow green. The 14th is a delightfully petite par 3 framed again with good bunkering and pine trees before you face the best elevated drive of all from the par 4 15th signature hole – a fairly easy par 4 if you can hold your nerve and get the drive away. The last 3 holes at Neath present an excellent mix (a par 4,3 and 5) where none are easy pars and I am sure have been card wreckers as well!!

A pre-requisite of playing (and enjoying) Neath is being fit!! Rest assured your heart will be pounding as you putt on many of the holes, but equally to play well here you have to keep the ball straight, preferably be long and at times really think yourself to around the golf course. If you like the challenge of championship golf and seek to play those courses which etch on the memory a stunning and unique location then Neath will be a course most golfers will enjoy. Ian Henley