Wales Top Championship Links Break

Overview

Looking for a golf break that combines challenging golf with city centre accommodation? Look no further than the Dragon Hotel in Swansea. This 4-star hotel offers comfortable rooms, excellent dining, and a prime location in the heart of the city.

With this 3-night, 4-round golf break, you’ll get the chance to play four of the top golf courses in South Wales, including Royal Porthcawl, Pennard, Southerndown, and Pyle and Kenfig.

On day one, you’ll head to Royal Porthcawl, a challenging links course that has hosted numerous prestigious events, including the Senior Open Championship and the Walker Cup. With its stunning coastal views and challenging layout, Royal Porthcawl is sure to be a highlight of your golf break.

On day two, you’ll play Pennard Golf Club, a classic links course that offers panoramic views of the Gower Peninsula. This challenging course is known for its rolling fairways, deep bunkers, and fast greens, and is a must-play for any golfer visiting South Wales.

Day three will see you play Southerndown Golf Club, a picturesque links course that has been described as one of the best in Wales. With its dramatic cliffs and sweeping views over the Bristol Channel, Southerndown is a true gem of a course.

Finally, on day four, you’ll head to Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club, a traditional links course that has hosted numerous professional tournaments, including the Welsh Amateur Championship. With its deep bunkers, undulating fairways, and fast greens, Pyle and Kenfig is a challenging course that will test even the most experienced golfers.

After each round of golf, you’ll have the opportunity to relax and unwind at the Dragon Hotel, which offers a range of amenities, including an on-site restaurant, bar, and fitness center. So why wait? Book your 3-night, 4-round golf break in Swansea today and experience the best golfing in South Wales!

3 Nights, 4 Rounds

B&B

Prices from

  • Low Season

    £622pp
    £469pp
  • High Season

    £699pp
    £609pp
Pyle & Kenfig 3

We're taking 2023 & 2024 bookings now!

Your money is safe with us as we are active members of Golf Tourism England, IAGTO and Protected Trust Services. We’ve also been nominated for a World Golf Award in 2023 for the second year running.

  • Courses

  • Hotel

  • Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

  • Pennard Golf Club

  • Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club

  • Southerndown Golf Club

Course overview

Royal Porthcawl Golf Club is currently the highest ranked course in Wales according to top100golfcourses.com, which is saying something considering the caliber of courses available in the country.

The course is located within a magnificent setting on the south coast of Wales, sloping down to the seashore while enjoying fantastic views over Somerset and Exmoor to the south and north west across Swansea Bay and out to the Gower Peninsula, with these views being enjoyed from almost every hole due to the lack of large sand dunes that may normally block the panoramic views on offer at many links courses.

The design of the course offers a varied golfing experience, with the first 4 and last 6 holes offering classic links golf, while the middle part of the course features plenty of gorse and has many distinct heathland characteristics. The layout offers a unique experience as it does not follow the traditional out and in layout, instead moving unpredictably in all directions, creating a course where every hole is a different challenge as the wind affects each hole differently.

The greens at Royal Porthcawl are large, tiered and impressively defended by strategically placed bunkers, however if you can find the green with accurate approach shots, then you may be rewarded with the opportunity of posting a low score, but stray into one of these traps and you will be facing a tough shot to get yourself back into a good position.

Royal Porthcawl is a championship course of the highest quality, considered by many to be the finest course in Wales, with it’s stunning location, unique golfing experience where no two rounds are the same and fantastic modern facilities. If you are looking for a stay & play venue that offers the highest quality of golf, then look no further than Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

Additional information

  • Visitors welcome Tuesday & Thursday
  • Also welcome Sunday afternoon
  • Maximum handicap requirements of 20 for men and 30 for ladies
  • Caddies available
  • On site Dormy accommodation available

Course Information

  • links
    Links course
South Wales Flag

South Wales Ranking

1st

flag-wales

Wales Ranking

1st

flag-uk

UK Ranking

27th

flag-world

World Ranking

71st

  • facilities course bar
    Bar
  • facilities course driving range
    Driving range
  • icon-free-parking
    Free Parking
  • facilities course golf lessons
    Golf lessons
  • facilities course pro shop
    Pro shop
  • facilities putting green
    Putting green
  • facilities restaurant
    Restaurant
  • facilities course short game area
    Short game area
  • trophy-cup-svgrepo-com
    Championship
  • boat-holidays-lighthouse-svgrepo-com (1)
    Coastal
  • icons8-walking-skin-type-1-96 (1)-svg
    Easy walking
  • sun-svgrepo-com
    Fast draining
  • icons8-combo-chart-96 (1)-svg
    Handicap restrictions
  • premium-svgrepo-com (3)
    Premium Course

Course overview

Pennard Golf Club, located on the beautiful Gower Peninsula in South Wales, is a stunning links course that offers a truly unique golfing experience. The course is situated on a cliff-top, overlooking the picturesque Three Cliffs Bay, providing golfers with breathtaking views of the rugged coastline and the surrounding countryside. It’s elevated position on the cliffs has given rise to it’s nickname, the “links in the sky”.

Designed by James Braid in 1908, the course is considered one of the finest links courses in Wales and is regularly ranked inside the top 100 courses in UK&I. A challenging 18-hole course that requires a mix of shot-making skills, strategic thinking, and careful club selection. The course is relatively short by modern standards, measuring just over 6,200 yards, but its narrow fairways, well-placed bunkers, and undulating greens make it a true test of golf.

The front nine holes take golfers on a journey through the sand dunes, providing stunning views of the sea and the surrounding countryside. The back nine holes, in contrast, take golfers through a wooded valley, testing their accuracy and precision. The course is beautifully maintained, with immaculate greens and fairways, making it a pleasure to play all year round.

In addition to the stunning course, Pennard Golf Club offers excellent facilities for golfers, including a fully-stocked pro shop, a practice range, and a welcoming clubhouse that serves delicious food and refreshing drinks. The clubhouse offers stunning views of Three Cliffs Bay, providing the perfect backdrop for a post-round meal or drink.

For those looking for a golfing holiday on or near the popular Gower Peninsula, Pennard Golf Club must be the centre piece of the trip. The Gower Peninsula offers a wide range of accommodation options, from cozy cottages to luxury hotels and its location near lively Swansea means there really is something for all requirements.

Additional information

  • Visitors welcome Sunday – Friday
  • Low season rates Nov – Feb
  • Mid season rates for March
  • High season rates April – October

Pennard Golf Club on Leadingcourses.com

Course Information

  • links
    Links course
South Wales Flag

South Wales Ranking

2nd

flag-wales

Wales Ranking

3rd

flag-uk

UK Ranking

81st

  • facilities course bar
    Bar
  • facilities course buggies
    Buggies
  • facilities course driving range
    Driving range
  • icon-free-parking
    Free Parking
  • facilities course golf lessons
    Golf lessons
  • facilities course indoor simulation
    Indoor simulator
  • facilities course pro shop
    Pro shop
  • facilities putting green
    Putting green
  • facilities restaurant
    Restaurant
  • facilities course short game area
    Short game area

Course overview

P&K, as it is known, is a fantastic links course that runs through the sand dunes on the South Wales coast of Porthcawl, home to quite simply an unbelievable stretch of golfing delights.

The course features beautiful views of the Bristol Channel, Rest Bay and the Welsh Mountains. Due to some redesign post WW2, the course is a composite design by two of the best course designers, Mackenzie Ross and Colt, and what a job they have made of it.

The back 9, designed by Colt, is particularly memorable as it twists through the dunes and provides the stiffest test of the two 9 hole loops. As with many links courses, good driving to avoid the trouble is key to a good score. Multiple sets of tees are however on offer to cater to golfers of differing standards and ensures an enjoyable round for all.

A course of this standard naturally has built a sterling reputation built on a number of factors, not least the hosting of some very high profile events. Pyle & Kenfig has hosted some great championships in recent history including the Amateur Championship, the Girls Home Internationals and the Men’s Home Internationals.

Additional information

  • 4 Dormy house twin rooms on site
  • Next door to Royal Porthcawl

Course Information

  • links
    Links course
South Wales Flag

South Wales Ranking

5th

flag-wales

Wales Ranking

10th

  • facilities course bar
    Bar
  • facilities course buggies
    Buggies
  • facilities course driving range
    Driving range
  • icon-free-parking
    Free Parking
  • facilities course golf lessons
    Golf lessons
  • facilities course pro shop
    Pro shop
  • facilities putting green
    Putting green
  • facilities restaurant
    Restaurant
  • facilities course short game area
    Short game area

Course overview

Southerndown is one South Wales highest-rated championship golf clubs offering a unique combination of downland-links golf, with stunning views from a limestone outcrop that sits 70 metres from the sea.

This free-draining course has an acidic soil base that supports growth of heather, gorse and bracken, whilst the sand which has blown in over many years has created a perfect springy links turf. A better spot could not have been picked for locating a golf course.

Location is one piece of the puzzle, but the designers of this course have done the rest exceptionally well. Not that this is surprising as some of the finest course designers have had a hand in creating the course you find today. Huge names in course design such as Willie Fernie, Herbert Fowler, Willie Park, Harry Colt and Donald Steel have all played their part.

Southerndown has a natural feel to it and incorporates the contours and lie of the land perfectly to achieve this. This is a championship course which has a huge respect for nature and much like Royal North Devon, has animals roaming the course. This only adds to the character and charm of Southerndown and these four legged greens keepers do a fantastic job year round!

Over the years the club has played host to some high profile events and is home to the well known and early season WAGR event, the Duncan Putter.

Southerndown is easily accessible from the M4 and being based between Cardiff and Swansea, is perfectly located as a central point between some wonderful championship courses on the South Wales coast.

Additional information

  • Wales Golf and R&A championship venue
  • Home to the World Ranking Duncan Putter championship
  • Visitors welcome 7 days a week
  • After 2pm on weekends

Course Information

  • Downland
    Downland course
  • links
    Links course
South Wales Flag

South Wales Ranking

3rd

flag-wales

Wales Ranking

8th

  • facilities course bar
    Bar
  • facilities course buggies
    Buggies
  • facilities course driving range
    Driving range
  • icon-free-parking
    Free Parking
  • facilities course golf lessons
    Golf lessons
  • facilities course pro shop
    Pro shop
  • facilities putting green
    Putting green
  • facilities restaurant
    Restaurant
  • facilities course short game area
    Short game area
  • Dragon Hotel (Swansea)

Dragon Hotel (Swansea)

Hotel Overview

Swansea is an excellent city for a golf break, being surrounded by some of the finest golf courses in Wales whilst offering a lively city to explore during your time off the course. The Dragon Hotel is a fantastic place to stay for a golf break in Swansea, with its central location, quality amenities, and friendly staff.

The region boasts several notable courses, including Ashburnham Golf Club, Pennard Golf Club, Langland Bay Golf Club, and World-renowned Royal Porthcawl. Ashburnham is a traditional links course that has been in operation since 1894 and offers stunning views of Carmarthen Bay. Pennard is known as the “Links in the Sky,” with its stunning location on the clifftops above Three Cliffs Bay, while Langland Bay is known as the “Parkland in the Sky,” offering a mix of parkland and links-style golf with tree-lined fairways and fast greens. Royal Porthcawl is ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the world, offering a challenging links course with stunning views of the Welsh coastline.

Staying at the Dragon Hotel puts you in the heart of Swansea, providing easy access to the surrounding golf courses. The hotel offers comfortable, modern rooms with all the amenities you could need for a relaxing stay, including a fitness center, sauna, and restaurant serving delicious meals throughout the day. The hotel’s friendly and helpful staff will make your stay comfortable and enjoyable. The Dragon Hotel is known for its fantastic facilities and central location in the city.

Swansea is not just a great golf break destination; it’s also a vibrant city to visit. The city boasts an exciting nightlife scene, with Wind Street offering a wide range of bars, pubs, and nightclubs to suit all tastes. In addition to golf and nightlife, there is plenty to explore in the city of Swansea, including a vibrant arts scene, excellent restaurants, and fascinating historical landmarks.

Swansea is a first-class golf break destination, offering top-quality golf courses, stunning natural scenery, and a lively city to explore. The Dragon Hotel is the perfect base for your golfing adventures, with its central location, quality amenities, and friendly staff. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this beautiful and vibrant part of Wales.

  • facilities hotel bar
    Bar
  • facilities breakfast
    Breakfast
  • facilities en suite
    En-Suite
  • icon-parking
    Parking
  • facilities restaurant
    Restaurant
  • facilities freeview
    Sky/BT
  • tea coffee
    Tea/Coffee
  • facilities toiletries
    Toiletries
  • facilities tv
    TV

Room Types Available

No of rooms

Standard Twin Room

No of rooms

Standard Double Room

No of rooms

Superior Twin Room

No of rooms

Superior Double Room

No of rooms

Executive Rooms & Suites

Resort location

39 The Kingsway
Swansea
SA1 5LS

The local area

Accessing the Dragon Hotel via road is relatively straightforward. The hotel is located in the heart of Swansea city center, just off the A483, which is one of the main routes into the city. If you're traveling from the east, you can take the M4 motorway and exit at junction 42, which will take you onto the A483. From there, follow signs for the city center, and you'll find the Dragon Hotel on The Kingsway.

As for the local area, Swansea is a vibrant city located on the south coast of Wales, with plenty of things to see and do. The city has a rich history and culture, and there are several museums and art galleries that you can visit to learn more about it. For example, the National Waterfront Museum is a popular attraction that showcases the industrial heritage of the region, while the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery features a wide range of contemporary and historical art.

Swansea is also known for its stunning beaches, which are just a short distance away from the city center. The most famous of these is probably the Gower Peninsula, which has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There, you can find several beautiful beaches, including Rhossili Bay, which has been voted one of the best beaches in Europe.

In addition to its cultural and natural attractions, Swansea also has a lively nightlife scene, with numerous bars, restaurants, and music venues. So, whether you're interested in history, nature, or just having a good time, there is plenty to see and do in the local area around the Dragon Hotel.

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General FAQs

  • Who are Golf South West?

    Founded in 2015, we are the West Country golf travel specialists. We provide our clients with bespoke golf tours and stay & play golf packages for small groups and golf societies alike.

    We are both a domestic golf tour operator working directly for our clients and regional golf DMC who act as an agent for international outbound operators hoping to have their clients experience the beautiful West Country and it’s golfing delights!

    We work closely with our venues to ensure our customers receive the best value available for golf travel within the West Country.

    Our expert team are on hand to ensure you receive the very best service, choice and advice when planning your next golf break. We are proud to announce our nomination for Best Inbound Golf Tour Operator for England at the 2022 World Golf Awards.

  • Which regions are covered by Golf South West?

    Golf South West is the West Country’s premier golf tour operator covering the regions of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Dorset, South Wales and Hampshire.

    We also work with selected, popular golf resorts across the UK including those under the management of Marriott, plus 4 time Ryder Cup host The Belfry, Celtic Manor and many more.

    If you are planning a golf break, we are the only call you need to make.

  • What is the best way to get in touch?

    We are available by phone 0117 256 5966 (Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm), WhatsApp, email, enquiry form or via social media channels.

  • Why choose Golf South West as your tour operator?

    GSW is run by golfers and endorsed by golf professionals across the South West of the UK.

    We are a fully insured, experienced and recommended golf tour operator, who are backed by Protected Trust Services, meaning your booking is secured and safe. We offer tours to an exclusive and unrivalled selection of venues across the South West of England and Wales, including some courses which can be tricky to access. We are also proud members of Golf Tourism England and IAGTO, who only work with only the best and most reputable companies in the industry.

    You can rest assured that as a client of Golf South West you will not only receive the best service, advice and choice, but you will also find the best value golf breaks in available in Cornwall, Devon, Bristol, Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and many more!

  • What is Protected Trust Services?

    Protected Trust Services Limited (PTS) provides security for client and consumer funds through market-leading software and innovative management. PTS prides itself on customer service, flexible thinking and cost-effective solutions for its members.

    PTS offers a unique and comprehensive solution for businesses to trade through a secure trust account using a performance-enhancing software system developed by PTS.

    Protected Trust Services guarantee 100% financial protection to the consumer, ensuring total consumer confidence.

    Any bookings made via Golf South West Ltd from the 1st July 2021 are protected under the PTS Trust. Bookings made before this date will continue to be processed through our original system. If you have booked with us before, please ensure you have the up-to-date bank details to make your payments. If you are unsure, please speak to your Golf South West representative.

    View the PTS brochure for more information on the protection this affords you as a client of Golf South West.

  • How do GSW keep money safe?

    We are extremely proud of the service we provide and a large part of this is ensuring our client’s money is safe. Our practices comply with the 2018 package travel directive meaning that your money is safe with both ourselves and the venues your choose to visit.

    The money for your golf break is paid into a trust account run by an independent partner, so you have peace of mind that no matter what happens, your money is being looked after.

  • What happens if we can’t go on our planned trip?

    Deposits are non-refundable, but they are transferable to a new date or break. We aim to be as flexible as possible and will treat each situation on a case by case basis.

  • Can we make changes to our break?

    Managing a group can be a thankless task and changes to the group leading up to your break are an accepted element. We make changes as stress free as possible (just see our reviews for evidence of this!). Changes can be made up to 6 weeks prior to your break. Some changes are unavoidable so for legitimate reasons we will endeavour to make last minute changes after this period, but as we would have paid our venues at this point, this would be at the discretion of the venue(s) you are visiting.

  • Why book with a tour operator?

    Good question, could you not do this all yourself? The answer is yes you could. You are able to locate the ideal hotel with the accessibility you need to the clubs you plan to play. You could go back and forth with your target venues and line up the tee times.  You could also contact each venue individually to advise them of group number changes and requests during the build up to your trip.

    Alternatively you could;

    – Talk to us about the trip you are planning.

    – Receive quotes for perfectly crafted package meeting your ideal requirements.

    – Secure the booking with small deposits staged in a way to make your life easier as an organiser.

    – Have your funds fully insured and independently held by PTS, our client trust provider.

    – Have changes made to whole tours with just one call or email.

    – Receive exclusive extras such as free places.

    – Pay less with our packages than going direct to venues.

    Why can we do this?

    Quite simply we have spent years (since 2015) forging strong relationships with hotel, golf club and golf resort venues across the South West. We are the expert tour operator for the region and are know for our high quality and personal service to our clients (just see our Google and TrustPilot reviews).

  • Who uses Golf South West?

    The majority of our clients are UK based domestic travellers. We deal with groups of any size, from single travellers and couples, to large golf societies.

    We also are the favoured golf DMC for the South West of England and preferred regional partner of Golf Tourism England. We regularly work with tour operators from Europe, America and elsewhere to provide bespoke tour packages allowing overseas travellers to experience the beautiful West Country.

  • How are package prices displayed on our website?

    Prices on our our website are displayed in two ways. The first is on our Resort pages where pricing tables show the from prices for low, mid and high season golf stay and play package rates at golf resort venues.

    The second is on our example tour package pages. There are often 4 prices shown here, two for low season and two for high season. The struck through price typically shows the highest price the tour can be and is often active over weekends in that season. The offer price is typically a mid week price.

    Every tour quote we offer is bespoke and will vary based on a number of factors including the date, availability, group size, room type, time of day for the tee time, etc… Our package pricing is a guide to the cost of the package and is not a firm price. Please enquire for an exact cost.

    We aim to provide as accurate a price as possible and therefore try to avoid using shoulder/mid season pricing or twilight green fee rates when displaying rates. You may find an intermediate price for breaks in months of April & October at certain venues.

  • Why are golf resort prices the same as elsewhere?

    Put simply, all tour operators work from the same contracted rate card when it comes to stay and play golf resort packages. When it comes to golf tours, that is a different matter, but golf resorts are a level playing field.

    If you find a vastly different price, it’s likely you’ve been misquoted and usually this does come back to bite.

    The question this poses is why book a stay and play golf break with Golf South West if you can book direct or with one of the large operators and receive the same price?

    Benjamin Franklin once said “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after
    the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”

    We have a small team so booking through us means you receive a personal service. You are more than just a number to us, we are a tour operator where you will likely get to deal with the same contact throughout the process, who will get to know you and your group and respond efficiently to your queries.

    We know our venues and the people who work there. This ensures a smooth process from initial enquiry to the end of your stay.

    Financially you have an extra layer of protection as your money is securely stored in an independent trust account and is fully insured when it is released to the venue(s) you are visiting.

    We are fortunate to have some exclusive “extras” with selected venues across the South West. We offer 1 in 16 free on every trip AND run an exclusive voucher scheme for our stay and play client bookings.

    We often feel we add further value to our clients when it comes to our bespoke golf tour packages, but you can rest assured that when making a stay and play golf resort booking, Golf South West will offer you an extremely high level of service, financial protection and may even offer you a saving or an exclusive extra!

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