Royal Porthcawl Course Guide

A testing opening hole to really set the tone. With the wind off the sea, and a green rolling from front to back with undulations aplenty, players will need to be on their mettle from the off.

Running parallel to the Bristol Channel, and with the sea and three bunkers to the left, the safer option from the 2nd 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 3rd 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 7th 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 11th 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 15th 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 16th. 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.

An eagle opportunity means some crucial moves could be made on the final hole, with potential to make or break a championship. Particularly if a narrow fairway can be located from a blind tee shot, and three bunkers avoided in and around the green. Expect some big moments on the 18th.