Royal Porthcawl Course Guide

The first of three opening holes that run parallel to the Bristol Channel. With the sea and three bunkers to the left, the safer option from the 1st tee is a drive down the right-hand side, where just one sand trap is in play. Finding the fairway leaves a short iron into a large green – the first of many with menacing, deceiving contours.

The 2nd hole dog-legs to the left, necessitating a long tee shot down the right. The positioning of the green – with the beach directly behind – brings its own unique challenges and an accurate approach is absolutely vital; anything wayward could well go out of bounds.

Avoid the fairway bunker on the right off the tee and players are left with a very straight – but long – approach into a plateau green, guarded by bunkers front left and right. Out of bounds is also left of the green, as is the beach and the sea.

The first – and longest – par-3 on the course, club selection is crucial here, with seven bunkers placed ominously around another tiered green. Anything short or wayward is at risk of finding sand.

The best early birdie opportunity at Royal Porthcawl, this par-5 – which dog-legs slightly to the left – does not come without its dangers. Bunkers are scattered across the middle of the fairway, while there is a water hazard to the left. Although the green is relatively unprotected, a wall is positioned nearby to the left.

The 6th is another hole where players should be aiming right off the tee, to open up their second into the green, although two mischievously-placed bunkers adds a shade of risk to this approach. The green is guarded by a large bunker on the front left and a smaller one back right.

At just over 100 yards, this is by far the shortest hole on the course. It is, however, far from straightforward with a small, tiered green surrounded by six bunkers. A brave tee shot could yield reward.

The elevated tee at the 10th provides a stunning view of the Bristol Channel. This is one of the few holes at Royal Porthcawl where a drive aimed to the left would be advantageous, as it would open up a clear view of a long, narrow green with bunkers on each side.

An excellent birdie opportunity awaits for long, accurate drivers at this relatively straight par-5. The fairway is narrow but if found, it could allow players to land their second into the heart of the green. Eagles are not out of the question.

A dog-leg as tricky as they come. If two thick grass swales both right and left of the fairway aren’t dangerous enough, any approach shot – or lay-up – needs to be as precise as possible, courtesy of the collection of bunkers surrounding the green, particularly front right.

On a day of bad weather, the 14th could prove to be the most difficult of all the par-3s at Royal Porthcawl. A tiered green is protected by sand on both sides, making a tee shot into the normal cross wind as hazardous as any on the course.

Local golfers pride themselves on the difficult finish at Royal Porthcawl – and it begins at the 15th. A tee shot from an elevated position into the prevailing wind is a tricky opener. Two bunkers in the heart of the fairway must be avoided before a treacherous approach is attempted. Anything short, long or right and the ball will likely roll straight off the raised putting surface.

A line of intimidating cross bunkers are the main feature of this difficult par-4. There’s not much fairway to play with either before or after these four hazards, with two more planted on the right of the green.

Eagles are possible on this par-5, as Jazz Janewattananond found out to his credit on his way to qualifying for The Open at Royal Porthcawl in 2023. If a narrow fairway can be located from a blind tee shot, and three bunkers avoided in and around the green, some crucial moves could be made on this hole late in the day.

A finishing hole for the purist, with the wind off the sea and a green rolling from front to back with undulations aplenty, if a leading light can hold things together here it could be the difference between success and failure.