West Wales
Covering an area of around 2,200 square miles, the maritime county of Pembrokeshire, the adjacent county of Carmarthenshire to the east and Cardiganshire (or Ceredigion as it is now known) to the north are tucked away in the southwest corner of Wales and they combine to form the West Wales region in the country. This largely rural part of Wales relies heavily on agriculture for its economy – Carmarthenshire is often called “The Garden of Wales” – though tourism also plays a large part in sustaining the local population.
Two controlling bodies handle ladies golf in the Dyfed region of West Wales: Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire Ladies County Golf Association and the West Wales Ladies Golfing Association. Male golfing requirements are administered by the Dyfed Golf Union.
Two long established courses, Tenby and Ashburnham, stand out amongst the others in West Wales. One of nine founder member clubs of the Golf Union of Wales in 1895, Tenby engaged James Braid to lay out a course for its members in 1907 and this 18-hole links layout has been charming golfers for over a century since. It has hosted the Welsh Amateur Championships on eight occasions between 1922 and 2010. JH Taylor made alterations to Ashburnham in 1914 and further enhancements were carried out by Fred Hawtree and Ken Cotton, both respected architects in their day. The course has hosted the Welsh Amateur Championships eleven times and the Men’s Home Internationals twice, the first time during the club’s centenary year in 1994 then again in 2010.
