Porthmadog - North Wales - Wales

7th North Wales - Best in Area 21st Wales Ranking
Porthmadog Golf Club,
Morfa Bychan,
Porthmadog,
Gwynedd,
LL49 9UU,
Wales

  • +44 (0)1766 512037

  • Golf Club Website

  • 2 miles S of Porthmadog near Balck Rock Sands

  • Welcome - Contact in advance

  • Gwilym T. Jones

  • James Braid

  • Peter Bright

Visit Golfbreaks.com for a golf holiday at Porthmadog

The course at Porthmadog Golf Club has a split personality. The front nine is really parkland (and this is where a score can be made) but it’s the back nine that makes you want to re-visit as it has some super links holes.

As you tee off the 2nd, the large hills beyond will stay with you whilst you go ‘out-and-back’ on the flat parkland side. Make your score on the three par fives, as the testing 4th hole is a tough par four. The 9th is a lovely par three down the hill with the clubhouse acting as a backdrop.

Now cross the road to start the back nine and you’ll soon appreciate why we all visit Porthmadog. It really is a case of ‘where are we going’ when you stand on the 10th tee, but yes, do aim for the marker posts as they really are there to be followed. The trip around Samson’s Bay is lovely as you will puzzle over how to play the par four 12th. But after the climb up to the 13th tee take in the views across to the castles of Harlech and Criccieth, but also focus on the dunes, as shortly you will be facing the ‘Himalayas’… two huge mounds that you must drive between on the par four 14th stroke index 1 – a super golf hole.

As you close your round look into the gardens behind the 16th green as the old clubhouse still stands to the right of the modern house and please be aware of the tiny hidden brook that ‘zigzags’ across the front of the green on the par five 17th as it could spoil your card if you’re attempting reach the green in two.

We always enjoy our winter trip to Porthmadog and it is nice to see the course being updated year after year (humps added to the 3rd to create a better featured hole as well as the water on the 5th being dug out more into the fairway to create a bit more thought for the tee shot). The clubhouse is spacious and relaxed and also note there is a snooker room.

Please give Porthmadog Golf Club a go because the back nine is worth the trip alone, especially for those lovers of links golf. Enjoy!

The above article was written by Alex and was added to the website in December 2006.

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Reviews for Porthmadog

Av. Reviewers Score:
Description: Porthmadog Golf Club was founded in 1905 and James Braid designed it. The course is an exciting hybrid mix of parkland and links holes. Rating: 4.3 out of 6 Reviews: 23

The drive into Porthmadog from the North, down the A487 from Caernarfon, is an amazing and beautiful journey. As you descend down to the harbour town, situated on the Glaslyn Estuary, you get a distant glimpse of the course located close to a sandy beach with rugged duneland. The pulse quickens with anticipation of what lies in store.

As it transpires you have to wait a little while longer than you might think for the best of what Porthmadog has to offer. The two nines can best be described as ‘chalk and cheese’; the difference between both halves is remarkable. Eight of the holes are played over fascinating linksland that created some wonderful golf holes. The other ten holes are flatter in nature and more of the parkland variety, albeit fast-running…

I enjoyed my round at Porthmadog and holes 10 to 17 alone make the green-fee worth every penny.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

3 / 6
Porthmadog
February 14, 2017


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The front nine is unremarkable - nothing wrong with it but nothing to rave about either - other than it gets you to the 10th tee, where the whole feel and landscape changes into 9 holes of stunning links golf. Such a pity the Club cannot get the land between the sea and the back nine ( back from the cow farmer) and make another six or so holes in the wild dunes - the money for land for housing on part of the front nine would easily pay for the work but no doubt there is an sssi or something in place to stop such ideas ?!?! It could be a truly wonderful links track

5 / 6
Porthmadog
April 20, 2016


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I arrived early yesterday to play quickly on my own but unfortunately two others were just going out in front of me. This would be my first visit to Porthmadog Fortunately the 10th tee is adjacent to the 1st so I played the back nine so as to avoid any delay. I was aware from reviews of the back nine being the standout half of the course but wasn't prepared for just how fantastic it was. It is simply stunning (think Gleneagles or Rosemount but with dunes and by the sea!) and I can't remember having more fun on 9 holes of golf than this - 10, 11, the much photographed 12th and 13 were just superb - 15 and the 17th are great holes too. I finished the 18th and went out and played the back nine again so I still have no idea what the front nine is like!
5 / 6
Porthmadog
February 28, 2015


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Alex
February 28, 2015
Response submitted: I possibly agree with a back-9 5-ball rating (maybe nearer a 4 in saying that) but you have to play the front nine to get the balance - overall this is only a 3-ball course.
Played here early March 2014 after high rainfall fr the previous months although a nice day for the round.As has been said in other reviews, this really is a course of two halves! The front nine is a fairly bland parkland type affair with a couple of nice holes. The back nine however is in a different league with some wonderful links holes with the stretch of 12, 13 and 14 some of the loveliest I've played. 3 balls for the front nine, 5 for the back = 4.
4 / 6
Porthmadog
March 08, 2014


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A good start to our week in North Wales; after a 4 hour car trip the rain stopped and late on a Sunday the bar staff were most helpful in getting us on the course. First couple of holes are fairly bland with the only trouble being some ditches around the greens. You then cross the road for holes 3-9, with the 9th a nice downhill par 3. Some good links holes followed on the back nine with some neatly concealed bunkers and some lovely sea/bay views around 10-14. Hole 14, the 'Himalayas' was the best hole with a straight drive into the wind over dunes and the second shot requiring threading through bunkers short of the green. Although the greens were not great the round was most enjoyable. DB
4 / 6
Porthmadog
July 04, 2013


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Despite the parkland-links contrast between the front and back nine, the parkland nine was not without interest and challenge. In other words, the parkland holes were far from perfunctory (i.e. "muni course" quality) in nature. And yes, the back nine is a great set of links holes. Due to the relative paucity of links land, this bifurcation is unavoidable on many courses (Panmure and Portstewart come to mind). In no way should this discourage golfers from giving Porthmadog a fair shake. I think it should be rated a bit higher in the Welsh 100. Friendly staff as well.
4 / 6
Porthmadog
July 11, 2012


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It is hard to add anything significant to previous reviews : this is very much a game of two halves. Very little about the front nine sticks in the memory but the coastal stretch contains some terrific holes and spectacular settings. Certainly worth the visit!
4 / 6
Porthmadog
July 10, 2012


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First 9 are park, with a few tricky holes, and 3 kind of short par 5s. Last 9 turns into a true links with a few blind shots. Last 9 will be, I think, even more fun second time you play it. We played it during the fall (october 2011) and the greens were good but a bit uneven and not that fast. First 9 was a 2 in our rating, last 9 was a 4, so an average rating of 3.
4 / 6
Porthmadog
October 24, 2011


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I've played here a few times over the years and love it, if only for the back 9. Unfortunately the greens weren't as good as I remembered but they were still pretty true as I holed a 60 footer on 3 for birdie! I will keep coming back to try and drive the 12th, just love the views on the back 9.
4 / 6
Porthmadog
June 15, 2011


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So our tee time for Porthmadog was at 830AM. We arrived at 8AM, and except for the house cat, it was completely deserted. By 825AM, there were 20 players congregating outside of the locked pro shop door. The head pro arrives at 831AM, and we were promptly off at 835AM. The front nine is disappointing and not very memorable. The back nine has 7 interesting holes, and then 17 and 18 revert back to the front nine environment---very parkland. But those 7 holes are really worth seeing, and probably why people play here. If they could find a way to change the other 11 holes to something like holes 10-16, they would have quite an amazing golf course. For now, just interesting to see (and dont get there too early if playing in the AM!)
4 / 6
Porthmadog
September 17, 2010


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Ben Burkill
February 08, 2011
The 17th is a quality par 5, what are you talking about?
Nick Kjelgaard
February 12, 2011
I played here in June 2010, and have to agree in main with the comments, although holes 1-2 are okay as are 17 and 18. I believe the holes that let the course down are 3 through 9, although I believe this is because 10 through 16 are so good. I would recommend the whole area to anyone your won't be disappointed.
Stuart Bendoris
February 28, 2015
The 17th is a strong hole imho. Good drive required (how much of the dogleg and bushes to carry?) and then a scary approach if you go for it in two over gorse and a burn. I certainly didn't feel it was parkland although I'd agree the 18th feels that way.