Pennard's cliff¬top site provides an ideal vantage point for views across to the beautiful sandy beaches of Three Cliff and Oxwich Bays. Pennard is one of the oldest golf courses in Wales. Reputedly, golf has been played there since 1896, although the Pennard Golf Club was not founded until 1908. It’s often called “the links in the sky”, because the holes play across links¬like ground, full of dunes, humps and hollows but the land is 200 feet above sea level.
| The great James Braid originally designed Pennard, and, some years later, he returned with Ken Cotton to implement certain revisions. For many years, the unusual Pennard course was relatively anonymous until the great American architect, Tom Doak, declared in The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, that Pennard is “One of my all¬time favourites”. Since Doak’s comments, the course has enjoyed a renaissance. |
The ruins of a 12th century Norman Castle stand guard over the course, which measures a modest 6,329 yards from the back tees. It’s by no means a championship test, but there are 18 wonderful holes and when the strong winds funnel up the Bristol Channel, Pennard will pose a stern challenge to the very best golfers.
 | On the course, there are great holes at every turn. After a long uphill par 4 to start, you move on to a beautiful short par 3. It’s only 140 yards but the green is small and tough to hit as TJ found out. Holes 6 through 9 may be the best run of par 4’s you will ever face including the 6th hole a long uphill par 4 with a really trick green complex. |
| The signature hole at Pennard may be the short par four 7th, aptly called "Castle". From an elevated tee, your drive must cross a deep chasm (or you can block your drive into it like Ron did) to find a distant undulating fairway. The ruins of Pennard Castle watch over you as you hit semi¬blind approach shot is to a sunken green which is protected by dunes – TJ put it to about a foot to make birdie – no doubt one of his favourite holes on the trip! |  |
See the drive that led to TJ's birdie
(ok, the second shot was pretty good too, but I was behind a dune looking for my ball when he hit that so no video is available....)
(ok, the second shot was pretty good too, but I was behind a dune looking for my ball when he hit that so no video is available....)
 | The back 9 at Pennard is spectacular, making a loop out towards the channel and providing a perfect mix of great golf and even greater views. When arriving at the short par 4 12th hole, take a crack at the green, its just over the hill. Be warned though, you don’t want to be a bit right and end up on the pot bunker beside the green. That can change your birdie opportunity into a quick double bogey as Ron found out – 3 shots to get out of the bunker….. |
| On the next hole, the long par 3, 13th hole, don’t be 5 yards short of the green on your approach or you’ll end up 60 yards away down the hill – guess who found that out? TJ pretty much won the match. and his beer, on that hole as it was another bogey for Ron who lost yet another hole. |  |
We could easily write about each hole on this amazing course, it truly is spectacular hole after spectacular hole, but give us a call instead and we'll tell you all about it.
We do need to highlight the par 5 17th hole though, not necessarily for the hole itself (although great), but for the unique way TJ birdied it – 3 wood off the tee (He doesn’t carry a driver when overseas), 3 wood approach to about 30 yards or so short of the green , 3 wood bump and run from the fairway to 20 feet and then sink the putt with his 3 wood for the routine birdie – who else has birdied a par 5 with 4 shots with a 3 wood!!
We do need to highlight the par 5 17th hole though, not necessarily for the hole itself (although great), but for the unique way TJ birdied it – 3 wood off the tee (He doesn’t carry a driver when overseas), 3 wood approach to about 30 yards or so short of the green , 3 wood bump and run from the fairway to 20 feet and then sink the putt with his 3 wood for the routine birdie – who else has birdied a par 5 with 4 shots with a 3 wood!!
| Playing Pennard is a treat from the moment you are greeted in the proshop until the last drop of your local beer in the welcoming lounge on the second floor of the modern clubhouse. Dramatic, memorable, natural, quirky and fun, Pennard is a new favourite of ours and a must play on any trip to Wales – it will be one of the highlights of your trip! |
TJ spoke with Club Manager Rhys Morgan so click below to learn more about the “links in the Sky”.
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