Golf and gourmet breaks in Wales
Wales is the top golfing destination with Ryder Cup 2010 just weeks away and many of the courses throughout Wales have the added advantage of being located close to the top restaurants as recommended in Food Wales eating out guide second edition by Colin Pressdee.
The magnificent Celtic Manor Resort 2010 Golf Course is the setting for the Ryder Cup in early October located close to the M4 at Newport, with many recommended restaurants close at hand.
Throughout Wales there are numerous courses with great character in fabulous locations that will test the skill of the finest golfers. Some of the top chefs in Wales are in hotels and restaurants close to the courses. A golf day is extra special when concluded with a magnificent gourmet dinner.
In North Wales the wonderful championship links course Royal St David's Harlech is a driver away from the boutique gourmet venue Castle Cottage run by Glyn and Jackie Roberts. Chris and Gunna Chown's renowned Michelin rated restaurant with rooms Plas Bodegroes is close to Morfa Nefyn where the course extends the length of the peninsula with the finest panoramic vistas over the Irish Sea, and some very challenging holes on a breezy day. On Anglesey Susannah Woods Neuadd Lwyd hotel is convenient for the Holyhead Golf Club, a superb links course at Trearddur Bay.
The Michelin Star Tyddyn Llan run by Chef Bryan Webb and his wife Susan is in fine rural countryside with Bala Golf course and Llangollen Golf Club just ten minutes away. The gem of a hidden gourmet retreat is Tan-Y-Foel run by Janet, Peter and Kelly Pitman. It overlooks the verdant Conwy Valley with the challenging links course of Conwy Golf Club visible in the elegant distance.
In Mid Wales just south of the mighty Cadair Idris mountain is the Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth run by Chef Gareth Johns and his brother, a keen golfer Paul. On the Dyfi Estuary is the delightful Aberdovey Gold Club with the links course set amongst the sand dunes, a testing course to work up an appetite for hearty gourmet cuisine. The beautiful seafront setting of Huw and Beth Roberts Gwesty Cymru with its cutting edge interior design and delightful cuisine is a short drive from the hillside course of Aberystwyth Golf Club.
Aberaeron itself has a clubby atmosphere and the hub of social and gourmet scene is the Harbourmaster Hotel on the quay, run by Glyn and Menna Heulyn. A short drive down the coast Cardigan Golf Club at Gwbert on Sea is a fine links course with extensive views and some long and undulating holes to test the best. A sociable ambience and great cuisine of the Falcondale Hotel with its stunning spacious interior design is close to the rural course of Lampeter Golf Club. Chris and Lisa Hutton run this stylish Italianate Mansion with great aplomb.
The Gower Peninsula, Britain's first designated area of outstanding natural beauty has several fine golf courses each with character whether set in parkland, sand dunes, on the coast, on moorland. Fairyhill is one of Wales best known boutique restaurant with rooms run by Paul Davies and Andrew Hetherington. Close by is the most challenging course of Penard Gold Club, and the frustrating and picturesque Langland Bay Golf Club, with cliff holes that challenge the best in a keen wind. The Welcome to Town run by Chef Ian Bennett and wife Jay is well known for its Gower cuisine and is close to the parkland courses of The Gower Golf Club at Cefn Golau and Fairwood Park Golf Club, both in fine rural locations. The championship course of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club set on the exposed Bristol Channel coastline is just half an hour away.
The autumn is a wonderful time to visit the area and all places offer special rates in this season.
Golf Wales - published by Garffeg - has a full listing of Golf Courses and restaurants in their vicinity. Times Golf Correspondent John Hopkins gives a personal view of many of the courses. Food Wales - eating out guide second edition - is published by Graffeg Restaurant and Golf Club details. For full details on both publications visit: graffeg.com
