Royal St David's

Royal St David's

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Royal St David's Golf Club

Royal St David’s Golf Club | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Established in 1894 in Harlech, Wales, Royal St David’s is one of the best courses in Wales and there are incredible views out across Cardigan Bay.

Royal St David's provides a great test of seaside golf with Harlech Castle looking down on the course and the Snowdonia mountain range providing a wonderful backdrop for a round of golf.


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A Brief History of Royal St David’s Golf Club

1894 saw the birth of golf in Harlech, with Harold Finch-Hatton and William Henry More laying out the original 18-hole design. The St David's Golf Club was founded. John Ball, the 1890 Open Champion and also an eight-time Amateur Champion, was present at the club's first meeting that November.

In 1909, the club made history, as it became the first golf club in Wales to be designated 'Royal'. 25 years later, King Edward VIII became captain of the club.

2022 marked a century of championship golf at Royal St David's, dating back to the Welsh Open Amateur Championship 100 years earlier. Men's, Women's and Boy's Home International Matches have been played at Harlech, with Royal St David's also playing host to the Jacques Leglise Trophy, British Boys Championship and the Welsh PGA Championship.

Royal St David’s Golf Club Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

From the back tees, the Blues, Royal St David’s measures at over 6,600 yards, and plays as a par-69. The course opens with a gentle dog-leg right par-4, but at 440 yards, it requires a solid drive to have a chance at birdie to kick off your round. You then turn and play the 2nd, a 340-yard par-4, with Harlech Castle in the close background. The 3rd is the longest par-4 on the golf course, at 468 yards, and it is also the hardest hole on the front nine. 

4 is the first par-3 at Royal St David’s and is followed by back-to-back 400 yard par-4s. 7 and 8 are both par-5s, measuring just shy of 520 yards each. Both holes could be reachable for the longer hitters, but bunkers are strategically placed down the side of both fairways to catch any errant tee shots. The front side at Royal St David’s closes with a par-3. Two bunkers lie in wait for any shots short and right, but at 170 yards, it is a pretty simple short hole.

10 is the hardest hole on the golf course, at 458 yards from the tips. Don’t focus on the incredible dunescape in the background, the 10th requires an accurate drive to let you even have a chance of going for the green in two. The 11th is the shortest hole on the course, measuring just 150 yards, but club selection is vital. Two long par-4s follow, before the 221-yard par-3 14th. 

The closing stretch at Royal St David’s begins with the par-4 15th. Find the fairway so you can play your approach over a hump to a blind green. Take par and run to 16, where birdie is a definite chance. The 17th measures in at over 430 yards and with bunkers guarding the green, your approach needs to be very accurate. The final hole in Harlech is a 201-yard par-3, which requires a long iron or hybrid to find the putting surface. You’ll be very happy to par the last ahead of entering the clubhouse.

Where is Royal St David’s Golf Club located?

Royal St David’s is situated on the west coast of Wales, around 10 miles south from the town of Porthmadog. The venue is just half a mile from the nearest train station, which is Harlech.

The nearest international airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which sits around 100 miles from Royal St David’s. Both Manchester and Birmingham Airports are within three hours from Royal St David’s, with Cardiff Airport, the biggest in Wales, around four hours away.

What are the green fees at Royal St David’s Golf Club?

During the summer months, a round at Royal St David’s will set you back £115, with a day ticket costing £145. In the shoulder months of April and October, it will cost £80, with a round during the winter months costing £60.

You can hire a buggy at Royal St David’s for the price of £30 per round and £50 per day. An electric trolley will only cost £15 to hire for a round, while a push trolley will cost £5 per round.


Visit the Royal St David's website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.