www.southwalesgolfer.co.uk JULY 20084
An
experienceOLLSR
THE OF MONMOUTH to savour
The Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club,
with its championship 6,733 yard golf Trudy Carradice visits Machynys Peninsula
course, is set in suberb countryside
recent invitation to play a fourball at Machynys your ability to think on the course – will come at thewith spectacular views of the Welsh
Peninsula was too good a chance to miss and fourth. The conservative way to play the hole is to lay
hills. It is one of the most outstanding Aas soon as I mentioned it to three golfing up to a reed lined stream which crosses the fairway
friends they leapt at the chance to take on Wales’ on driving distance. Big hitters take note – you cangolf courses, not just in Wales, but in
only Nicklaus designed course. Easily reached off the drive over the stream but that route is fraught with
M4 we made an early start with expectation and danger. I must confess that none of us even attempt-the whole of the UK.
excitement in our hearts. As we entered the long dri- ed to take it on. After all there are times to risk every-th4 Green
veway leading to the course the sun was already up thing, times to play percentage golf.
and the mist beginning to rise from the lakes. I knew The ninth is one of my favourite holes on this
that we had uncovered a seaside gem. course. Get a good drive away and you shouldn’t
On arrival we were met by the Golf Manager and have too many problems but you need to take careGREEN FEES
the welcome from him and everybody else, profes- that your ball doesn’t funnel down into the water on
sional staff and caterers, was warm and inviting. The the right – many balls that come up just a little short1st April - 19th October
clubhouse is a delight, being full of full-length win- and right of the green finish in this watery grave.Weekdays £41.00
dows and wonderful swirling wood. After a coffee The back nine begins with a tricky 377-yard par
and bacon roll (which I later discovered has won an four. The best approach here is from the right, thusWeekends £45.00
award for ‘The Best Golf Club Bacon Roll in Britain’) avoiding the bunkers and offering you a comfortable
we went out onto the veranda, which runs around way into the green. The twelfth is a daunting hole ifWe allow 10% discount on societies
two sides of the clubhouse, to take in the panoramic ever there was one. A huge lake sits in front of thenumbering
views of the Gower Peninsula and the Llwchwr tee and it is very easy to let your ball slide or dropth7 Green 30 or more paying players.
Estuary. into this. It is a long holeThese rates are for a day’s golf.
Many famous golfers with a tricky approach
have graced these fairways. where accuracy is equally
People like Colin as important as length.Monday Special £40.00
Montgomerie and Phil Price The thirteenth is, I think,18 holes of golf & 2 course lunch
have played here. Ryder something of an underval-
Cup legend Brian Huggett ued hole. It is a long par
is the club president and five which sweeps gently toTwilight Greenfee
former European number the right. The green is ele-
Tuesday from 12 noon £31.00 one Laura Davies has gone vated and protected by
on record as stating that several bunkers. Just to hitSunday from 12 noon £35.00
these greens are this one in regulation
th ‘Incredible’. Every year the means you are playingView from 13 Tee
club hosts the S4C Wales good golf, particularly into
Ladies Championship of the prevailing wind; to get
Europe and numerous cor- a birdie is a huge achieve-
porate events. Sir Steve ment.
Redgrave, who originally visited in 2005, had to bring There is no light relief in the last few holes on this
his celebrity charity tournament back again a year course. Water runs down the right hand side of the
later due to popular demand. Machynys is officially fifteenth, all the way from tee to green. Then you
the youngest ever R&A Championship venue in the come to the club’s signature hole, the long par fourThe Hendre, Monmouth,
world after hosting the British Boys Home sixteenth. This can be a real card wrecker if you don’t
Internationals in 2007. hit straight into the middle of the fairway. The eigh-Monmouthshire NP25 5HG
In the short time that the course has been in exis- teenth has a 161-yard carry over water. There are alsoon the B4233
tence the quality of the greens has become legendary. bunkers and rough on the left and out of bounds on
th Ask anybody who has played Machynys and they are the right. When you approach the green the danger is18 Green
bound to wax lyrical about the pace and quality of still not over as a huge cross-bunker lies waiting for
the putting surfaces. I had listened to several press under-hit shots.
friends telling me about these greens and I was eager After playing Machynys Peninsula I can understand
to find out more for myself. how the likes of Lloyds TSB branded their experience
It would have been easy to stand on the veranda on the course as "The best corporate day ever!"
for hours but after another coffee it was time to pull I would like to say that I played well over the
on our golf shoes and take on the course. At 6,285 course. I can’t but that did not detract from a magical
yards (off the club tees) Machynys offers a great chal- experience – and that speaks legions about the quality
lenge. The fairways undulate and roll along the edge of the place. My playing partners, who performed
of the Estuary and offers far more of a pleasant stroll better than me, were ecstatic about Machynys and,
than the endurance test you encounter on some like me, have vowed to return as soon as possible.
courses – no names, no pack drill. If I were to recommend any single golf course for
For those of you who intend coming here to play, you to try this year it would have to be the magical
the first real test of your golfing ability – or, at least, Machynys Peninsula.
Tel: (01600) 715353 | Fax: (01600) 713115
www.therollsgolfclub.co.uk
Email: enquiries@therollsgolfclub.co.uk
The Golf Centre – Great offers instore or online at www.golfcentreonline.co.uk
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