Rolls of Monmouth - South Wales - Wales

Gareth, Ian and David all nominated the Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club as a gem and we added the course to the site in October 2006. Since then “Rolls” became a ranked Welsh course after we published the first Top 20 for Wales back in 2008. We didn’t feel the need to write an article on the Rolls of Monmouth because the nominees say it all.

Gareth writes: “Rolls of Monmouth is a strange place in that when you first visit you wonder why on earth nobody told you about it before. The reality is that it’s so well hidden and they’re so low-key in their marketing that you have to make the effort to find it, but when you do what a treat you are in for.

The views of the magnificent building, part of which forms the clubhouse, are just stunning from the elevated parts of the course and everything to do with The Rolls oozes class. The starting holes are long sweeping par fours through mature avenues of trees. Come the 7th and you are faced with the most spectacular rollercoaster par five which sweeps downhill and doglegs to a green protected by water. It really is just stunning and you’d play the hole over and over if you didn’t have to walk back up the hill.

The back nine starts with a tough uphill dog-leg then tempts you with a driveable par four through a tight avenue of trees to a green set in a natural bowl. Another great par three from an elevated tee to a green protected by water and trees is followed by a nice mix of holes before a great finishing par three over a stream in front of the great clubhouse which was once the home of Mr Rolls of Rolls-Royce fame. The greens are generally superb and with the big undulations can be a real test of your short stick.

All in all it’s one of those places that reminds us all why we play golf - just stunning and so affordable too.” David writes: “Beautiful parkland course, superbly manicured with water, huge oak trees and undulating greens to contend with. The old mansion of the Rolls Royce family provides a stunning backdrop to a number of holes including the 9th & 18th.” Ian writes: “The Rolls of Monmouth is in every sense a hidden gem given that perhaps it is not that accessible to the golfing masses. It is however a golfing gem for all the right reasons – firstly the setting is within Mr Rolls (of Rolls Royce fame) former country estate and the course meanders around glorious mature woodland with the back drop of the Black Mountains.

At 6,700 yards from the back tees it is challenging and snakes through this woodland and around various lakes that come in to play on the flatter area of the course close to the old stately home (which is now the clubhouse). There are so many good holes on the course all with individual characteristics and great opportunities for risk and reward golf. For example the par five 7th, where a good drive to the ridge of the hill gives you sight of the pin and the opportunity to go for the green in two but it needs an extremely accurate shot to a narrow entrance with water front and left.

There are some great two shot par fours that require a focused drive and the right club in to tricky greens (6th SI1, 10th, 14th and 15th are all lovely holes). The 17th and 18th offer a great finish – the 17th a par five of over 550 yards with an approach to a narrow well guarded green and the 18th a great par three requiring a 200-yard carry across a lake in front of the spectacular listed mansion. The other par three that has real wow factor is the 12th – fairly short down hill to a small green with water front and to the side and a pine forest to the left – well guarded it is and very satisfying to hit close.

When I played (start of October) the course was not at all busy and we were able to play all day for £40. The course had taken some rain but was in fairly good condition given the time of the year. I will be playing this course again soon and would recommend it to anyone – just for the setting and sheer tranquillity of getting away from it all.”