Nefyn & District Golf Club
Morfa Nefyn, Llyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, Northwest Wales

        The Old Course "back 8" follows the peninsula along Porth Dinllaen Bay providing grand views the bay and the cliffs. Most days the Welsh island of Anglesey and the high mountains of Snowdonia are visible from the back. At the 13th hole long hitters can attempt to cut the dogleg angle by driving from cliff-to-cliff across open sea. The signature 14th hole offers the best views over Porth Dinllaen Bay, north towards Anglesey.                 Photo Gary Talbot, courtesy Nefyn & District Golf Club.

        The "New Course" shares the first 10 holes of the with the Old Course. Its "back 8" features links characteristics: rolling fairways with strategically placed bunkers and challenging rough. Its signature 405-yard, par-4 15th hole is a dog-leg left, with a long carry over a cliff (out-of-bounds) daring golfers to shortcut the corner. The par-3 11^th hole may require less nerve, but—at 181 yards to a postage stamp green—is only slightly less challenging. The long (512 yards) par-5 17^th is a good challenge on a windless day, made severe by weather conditions that often sweep in from Ireland.
Photo Gary Talbot, courtesy Nefyn & District Golf Club

GOLFER REVIEWS
        So, is Nefyn really a candidate for the Lost Dutchman Mine of golf? Many famed courses—linkses or otherwise—would covet these reviews:

    "Nefyn is in my top three courses—Muirfield in Scotland and Old Head in Ireland are the others. It’s hard to describe the last 8 holes but imagine a traditional links course only perched on 200 feet cliffs. If you are ever within reach of here make sure you go, you are certain to leave the place in awe."

    "Nefyn must be one of the reasons we play golf - to come to a place like this on a glorious day and enjoy views that can better Pebble Beach."

    "One of the most beautiful courses in the world. The original final 8 holes along the cliffs with the sea on both sides are stunning. Good test but not unfair; can reward bold shots along the cliffs. Many blind shots, so get a course guide. Great people, superb value. Put a camera in your bag."

    "I thought I'd seen just about everything golf has to offer in the UK until I played here. Seeing is believing. If you get a chance you must play this. The back 8 are just staggering. At one point on the back 8 the course winds its way up a peninsula which can only be about 100 yards wide. There is just sea everywhere."

    "This course is worthy to be any traveling golfer’s number one destination, even the sole purpose of the trip. Twelve ocean/cliff-side holes are absolutely spectacular. The drive from #13 will make you forget the 9th at Turnberry. If you liked Ballybunion and Cruden Bay, you will love this course."

    "The scenary is amazing. The holes are as hard as you can imagine: certain holes have water on both sides and in front of you. This course is among the top in Europe—well, let’s say the world. Pebble Beach, look out!!!!! DON’T MISS THIS COURSE—GOT IT????!!!!!!!"

THE REGION
        The club is just outside the village of Morfa Nefyn, on the private road to the beachside 18^th century fishing village of Porthdinllaen, so charming it has been preserved by Britain’s National Trust since 1994. Porthdinllaen is that oddest of places in that it can only be reached on foot—only residents cars are permitted. Park (£3.00 per day) at Nefyn and District Golf Club and walk 15 to 20 minutes walk along the footpath across the golf course. There are only about two dozen buildings at Porthdinllaen, with the Ty Coch pub the center of the village and the main attraction. Order a pint and a meal and—if the weather is fine—enjoy them on the beach.
        Beyond Morfa Nefyn and Porthdinllaen, the Llyn (Lleyn) Peninsula, Snowdonia National Park, and all of North Wales are within reach as territory able to be explored from Home at First’s cottage locations in NW Wales. Snowdonia is best known for its mountains—the highest in Britain south of Scotland. Its castles—especially King Edward I’s imposing 13^th century fortresses of Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris and Harlech now bunched as UNESCO World Heritage sites—draw visitors from around the world. And its many little steam-powered railways, including the cog line that climbs Mt. Snowdon and the spit-and-polish narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway, have become big attractions. If the mountains, trains, and castles of NW Wales are world famous, the region’s golf courses are probably its best-kept secret. There are numerous excellent courses in the region, including several quality links courses on the northern and western coasts of Wales.

Read more about the region and Home at First’s travel program to: NORTHWEST WALES

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