Pyle & Kenfig: Home to breathtaking views
Why we would rather be playing this scenic links on Wales’ south coast
Pyle and Kenfig, affectionately known as ‘P & K’ with its lofty sand dunes hugging the South Wales coast of Porthcawl is situated in a wonderful stretch of golfing country.
Glorious views and historic associations adorn this undulating course with its natural hazard of hillocks, valleys and towering dunes. However serious the game, time must be made to appreciate the panoramic views. The Bristol Channel, the Gower Peninsula, Sker House and the magnificent Welsh Mountains can all be seen from various points.
Good shot making will be rewarded at P&K – it’s a fair golf course without any unforeseen tricks up its sleeve. The holes routed through the dunes alone are worthy of the green fee.
History
Originally designed in the early 1920s by Harry Colt, the more inland front nine that stands today is his work.
But with nine holes commandeered by the military in the Second World War, Philip Mackenzie Ross was called in to replace them with new holes shortly afterwards. And what a job he made.
Having made the decision to cross the road (it was then a path) and construct them in the duneland, they are now undoubtedly the highlight of a round here.
P&K has co-hosted the Men’s Amateur Championship on three occasions with neighbour Royal Porthcawl and has also hosted the Ladies’ Amateur Championship, the Senior Ladies British Open Amateur Championship and over 20 major Welsh amateur championships, cementing its reputation as a tough but fair test of golf suited to hosting elite competitions.
What makes Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club special?
Unusually for a links course, Pyle and Kenfig is laid out in two loops of nine. The original front nine is where to make a score because the back nine is a very stiff test, especially when the wind is up.
The last three holes (all long par fours) are amongst the best closing holes in golf. They will severely test the mettle of the very best golfers.
No golf trip to South Wales is complete without visiting P&K.
Where is it?
Located on the beautiful south coast of Wales, P&K is situated next to Kenfig National Nature Reserve, a short drive from the nearby town of South Cornelly.
Where does it rank?
170th in GB&I, 7th in Wales, 3rd in Cardiff
Get in touch with Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club
For more information about the club and course, visit its website or call them on 01656 783 093.
You can play Pyle & Kenfig on the NCG Top 100s Tour this year!
- Register now to play in our 2024 Pyle & Kenfig event on August 7th here.
Now have your say
Have you played Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club before? Let us know in the comments, or send us a post on X/Twitter.
Matt Coles
Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…
Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.
He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.
Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…
Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.
