NCG Top 100s: Wales – ‘My top three’

Our team have played several Welsh courses ahead of compiling the NCG Top 100s: Wales list – but which courses make the top three for our panellists?

Wales is home to some incredible golf courses, with the mixture of inland moorland courses and links courses on the coastline.

From north to south Wales, there are plenty of choices, and Wales offers a great option for golf holidays as well.

When it comes to golf in Wales, you could choose to play at Nefyn & District on the coast, or the Twenty Ten Course at the Celtic Manor Resort – the home of the only Ryder Cup in Wales. And don’t forget the two ‘Royals’ as well…

But what did our panellists think? They all will have played different courses, so their top threes will be different, or will they…?

• RELATED: Check out the NCG Top 100s: Wales list

Which Welsh courses make our panellists’ top three?

Dan Murphy
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Royal St David’s 
3 – Aberdovey 

A clear No 1 and No 2 for me. Then it gets tricky but there is something romantic about Aberdovey that stirs the soul for me. 

Jim Banting 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Conwy 
3 – Aberdovey  

All offer naturally undulated linksland, wonderful vistas and plenty of testing holes. 

Greg Webber 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Royal St David’s 
3 – Conwy 

Royal Porthcawl could host an Open Championship. Royal St David’s and Conwy have the look and feel of championship courses. Near misses: Aberdovey and Pennard. 

David Walker 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Royal St David’s 
3 – Conwy 

These courses epitomise the best Wales has to offer. These great courses require strategy and thought rather than brute power. 

Ed Battye 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Tenby 
3 – Pennard 

Porthcawl is a clear winner but Tenby and Pennard both showcase exceptional links golf over adventurous terrain. 

Mike Robertson 
1 – Royal St David’s 
2 – Conwy 
3 – Aberdovey 

Royal St David’s has some very unique holes. Conwy is such a testing challenge – one day I will play well there. 

Chris Myatt 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Aberdovey 
3 – Machynys Peninsula 

Porthcawl is exactly as links golf should be! Even more so in less than perfect weather when crashing waves next to the 1st tee really set the scene. 

Sean Arble
1 – Welshpool 
2 – Royal Porthcawl 
3 – Southerndown 

The courses encapsulate the fun and creative golf highlighted by the outstanding terrain.  

Neil Gray 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Pyle & Kenfig 
3 – Royal St David’s 

Classic links tracks that are an absolute treat to play and stand the test against anything else in the UK. 

Peter Rudd 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Royal St David’s 
3 – Aberdovey

Porthcawl is a great championship course with sea views from virtually every hole. Royal St David’s is also a tough test with the dunes only reached at the end of the round. Aberdovey is hidden from the sea but has a special atmosphere. 

Alex Frolish 
1 – Royal Porthcawl 
2 – Tenby  
3 – Ashburnham  

The above three plus a soft spot registered for the hilltop course at Llandrindod Wells. All engaging and utterly enjoyable. 

• NOW READ: The methodology behind the NCG Top 100s: Wales list
• NOW READ: Meet the NCG Top 100s: Wales Panel

What are your memories of playing golf in Wales? What would you put in your own top three? Let us know your thoughts with a post on X, formerly Twitter!