Celtic Manor (Roman Road)

Celtic Manor (Roman Road)

Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course)

Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course) | NCG Top 100s: Wales

The Roman Road Course is one of three wonderful golf courses at Celtic Manor, with the Welsh venue played host to one of Europe’s great victories in the Ryder Cup
 
It was the first golf course to open at the Celtic Manor Resort, dating back three decades, and has stood the test of time at the Welsh resort.  
 
The Roman Road Course is one of three courses at the Welsh venue, which is just outside Newport. Celtic Manor is also the home of the Twenty Ten Course and the Montgomerie Course.  
 
 
You can read our full piece on the Celtic Manor Resort here.  
Visit Celtic Manor’s website here.  
 

A Brief History of Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course)

1994 saw the Roman Road Course open, the first course designed and constructed at the Celtic Manor Resort.  

World renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr was the man to lay the course out, and it was named after the old Via Julia Roman highway. A new road, constructed on top of the old highway, divides the course into two. 

Since opening, the course has played host to several DP World Tour events, including hosting the Wales Open from 2005 to 2007. It has also hosted European Senior Tour events in its three-decade history. 

Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course) Review | NCG Top 100s: Wales

The Roman Road Course is seen by some as the ‘third course’ at Celtic Manor, behind the Ryder Cup-hosting Twenty Ten Course and the Montgomerie Course. However, Robert Trent Jones Sr – the world-renowned golf course architect – designed a course that has stood the test of time, and it remains a challenging course for golfers of all abilities. The Roman Road overlooks the Severn Estuary and offers views across to Somerset and Devon. 
 
The Par 70 Roman Road Course is in the southwest part of the estate and plays more than 6,400 yards from the championship white tees. That comes down to less than 6,000 if you opt to play from the yellows, making the Roman Road Course suitable for golfers of all handicaps and abilities.  
 
The 1st is a tough par 4 or more than 450 yards, and it sets you up for the round. After the opening hole, the rest of the front nine plays on the other side of the road, and it is where all three of the par 5s on the course are held. They come at 2, 5 and 9, and they are three very different holes. The 2nd offers the first real birdie opportunity of the day, while the 5th pushes towards 580 yards. 9, the final hole on the west side of the old Via Julia Roman highway, is only 460 yards, and gives golfers a chance at eagle.  
 
The front nine also features a pair of par 3s – the 200-yard 4th which has no bunkers, and the 155-yard 7th which plays less than its yardage as it is downhill. 6 is a gentle par 4 while the 8th is one where you will be happy with par. After crossing back over the road, the back nine begins. It is the shorter of the two nines, with three par 3s and no par 5s, but that doesn’t make it any easier. 
 
Both the 11th and 14th are par 3s of more than 200 yards, while the opening hole of the back nine – the 10th – is a 450 yard par 4. 12 and 13 are tough par 4s, with the latter requiring two good shots to reach the green thanks to a large split in the fairway. The signature hole on the Roman Road Course is the 16th, the shortest hole on the entire Celtic Manor property. At just 140 yards, this short par 3 plays over a pond, and with three bunkers awaiting anything errant, accuracy is key. 17 could then be seen as drivable for the longer hitters, with the closing hole is a long par 4, and another where you are more than happy to take a par and run! 

FAQs about Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course)

Where is Celtic Manor located?  
Celtic Manor is less than four miles from the centre of Newport. Cardiff is only 15 miles to the west, while the English border is around the same distance to the east. The Roman Road Course is in its own section of the resort, bordering the River Usk at the northern point of the resort.  
 
Newport Train Station is around five miles from Celtic Manor, and has trains from London Paddington, Portsmouth, Cardiff, and Manchester hourly throughout the day. 
  
Cardiff Airport is the nearest international airport to Celtic Manor, with TUI Airways using the airport as a hub and flying to several European destinations. Only 30 miles from the resort is Bristol Airport, which also has easyJet, Jet2.com and Ryanair, along with TUI, that use the airport as a base. There are more flights and more destinations from Bristol than Cardiff. 

What golf facilities does Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course) offer?
 
Celtic Manor is also home to a Golf Academy. There is a 28-bay driving range, over two tiers, with each bay having the latest TopTracer technology so golfers can use the tech to perfect shots, play games and enjoy practice.  
  
There is also a specific short game area with three chipping greens, all of which have artificial hitting areas around them so they can be used throughout the year. Celtic Manor also has an Indoor Putting Studio which can be used in lessons with qualified professionals.  

What are the green fees at Celtic Manor (Roman Road Course)?
 
The price of a green fee at the Roman Road Course changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  
 
For more information on current green fees on the Roman Road Course at Celtic Manor, visit their website here
 
  
Visit Celtic Manor’s website here