Public

Porthmadog Course

Porthmadog Golf Club

Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales
rob-anderton
JordanAskew
+4
18 holesPar 716,322 yds71.5/124

About this course

Porthmadog Golf Club occupies a distinctive setting on Morfa Bychan, a links-like peninsula on the Cardigan Bay coast of North Wales. The course was designed by James Braid, the five-time Open Championship winner who became one of Britain's most prolific golf architects in the early twentieth century. Braid's work here reflects his characteristic approach to natural terrain, routing the holes across undulating duneland with views toward the Snowdonia mountains inland and the Llŷn Peninsula across the water. The layout plays across sandy, free-draining ground with the kind of firm turf and natural contours typical of links golf, though the course sits slightly elevated from the beach itself. The land features gentle rolls and ridges that Braid incorporated into his green sites and fairway corridors, creating strategic interest without excessive length. Prevailing winds from the Irish Sea add variability to club selection and shot-making throughout the round. Porthmadog represents the accessible, members-focused side of Welsh golf rather than championship ambition. The club maintains a traditional atmosphere, serving the local community and visitors exploring the Snowdonia region. The course offers a straightforward test of links golf fundamentals—managing the wind, reading ground contours, and playing bump-and-run approaches—in a setting that balances sporting challenge with the scenic character of the North Wales coast. It remains a representative example of Braid's regional design work during Britain's golden age of course construction.

Quick facts

Location
Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales
Access
Public
Year built
1905
Designer
James Braid
Holes
18
Par
71
Length
6,322 yards
Difficulty
71.5/124

Getting there

The journey to Porthmadog Golf Club begins most commonly through Manchester Airport, roughly two and a half hours east by road, though Liverpool John Lennon serves as a viable alternative for those approaching from the northwest. The drive west traces the spine of North Wales, crossing from the English border into increasingly dramatic terrain - rolling farmland giving way to the slate-scarred foothills of Snowdonia before descending toward the Glaslyn Estuary. As the route narrows into Porthmadog itself, a working harbor town of stone cottages and maritime history, the final approach reveals glimpses of Cardigan Bay's tidal flats and the distant peaks of the Llŷn Peninsula, setting the stage for a links experience shaped by both mountain and sea.

FAQ

Common questions about Porthmadog

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Porthmadog was designed by James Braid.

Yes. Porthmadog is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Porthmadog is 71.

Porthmadog plays 6,322 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Porthmadog is 124.

Porthmadog is a 18-hole course.

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