The Rolls at Monmouth

After the closing ceremony at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla in Kentucky in September the focus will turn to Wales as the tournament's next European host putting Welsh golf firmly in the spotlight.

Golf in Wales is growing in stature and Wales is increasingly being recognised among the golfing community as a great place to enjoy warm hospitality and great greens, and the best part is that the region offers golfing options for any budget.

The home to the Ryder Cup in Wales, The Celtic Manor Resort, offers luxurious surroundings and serious golf.

The Twenty Ten course has been constructed especially for the Ryder Cup and golfers who have already enjoyed the experience, the cracking new clubhouse and the exclusive treatment are raving about the resort.

Sir Terry Matthews and his team cannot wait to hear the reaction of leading golfers who will play the course for the first time in the Celtic Manor Resort Wales Open this month.

The Marriott St Pierre and the Vale Resort also provide great options for golfers who want high quality accommodation and impressive golfing facilities. All three Southern Wales resort complexes compare favourably with other major golfing destinations across the world.

Many of the valley's courses are steeped in the history of Wales' industrial past, as many of the golf courses were actually built by the owners of the coal mine. These courses offer a unique golfing experience as well as a wonderful landscape.

Links courses in Southern Wales prove to be another draw for golf buffs with three stimulating links courses. The Royal Porthcawl, The Pyle and Kenfig and Southerndown all give golfers the chance to hone their skills with a bracing sea breeze adding to the challenge.

The Twenty Ten clubhouse at Celtic Manor

Here are further details of some of the clubs and resorts that make Wales so attractive to golfers.

Rolls of Monmouth

Four miles west of the ancient market town of Monmouth lies the impressive Rolls Estate housing a magnificent 6,733 yard Championship Golf Course.

The Estate boasts specimen trees, deer, waterfowl on the many natural lakes and views of the Black Mountains on the horizon. The estate comprises some 600 acres providing the opportunity to sculpture a course utilising the best features of the landscape. The result is an outstanding layout which makes the golfer think on every shot.

If golfers can concentrate on the game and not the surroundings they will find a classic par-72 course possessing fabulous undulating greens making even the steadiest hand shake.

The course comprises four par fives, four par threes and 10 par fours each unique and demanding an individual strategy. Greg Norman on opening the course in 1982 praised the excellent par threes. Water comes into play on three of them and the deepest bunker on the course awaits on the other.

All four are potential "card wreakers" but none more so than the 18th. From the yellows tees alone the carry is 199 yards over water and there is no real option to lay up!

The par fives reserve a special mention, each use the natural contours and features to great effect to produce picture perfect holes. Each demands two long straight shots and then a pinpoint approach over a large gully, a stream, a bunker or around trees to the largest greens on the course.

Whatever the state of one's play as a result of these holes it does not matter because The Rolls is simply a most enjoyable place to play golf. Once the course has been navigated the club has catering and bar facilities in which to discuss the round or entertain guests.

Individuals and societies are most welcome and there are two cottages on the course which can be rented for short breaks.

Dewstow

Dewstow boasts two splendid 18-hole courses (the Valley and the Park) and is a wonderful example of how, with special care and attention to detail, rough and bumpy farmland can be created into a top class, thriving golf complex inside 10 years.

Situated just five miles west of the original Severn Bridge (M48), and off the A48 at Caerwent, the course attracts many visitors and societies from the Bristol and Bath area and even further West.

A special feature on the Park course is a huge magnificent wooden Totem Pole carved in situ from a dead sequoia tree.

The club was founded in 1988 and has since grown into one of the leading corporate and society venues in South Wales, catering for weddings, conferences, training days and many other social events

St Mary's

St Mary's Hotel and golf course at Pencoed centres on a luxurious 16th century converted farmhouse that retains its original character with beamed ceilings and stone walls.

A warm and friendly atmosphere, first-class service and three star luxury at a privately owned 30-hole golf complex, two minutes from the M4 (J35) and four miles from Bridgend, is convenient for business and pleasure.

Leisure breaks offer great value at Best Western St Mary's Hotel, Golf & Country Club and lower weekend rates are available.

Peterstone Lakes

Peterstone Lakes is situated on the Gwent levels in a site of special scientific interest, with the land being reclaimed from the sea over 1,000 years ago.

Opened in 1990 and complimented by a superb clubhouse, Peterstone Lakes has now become one of South Wales favourite golfing and social venues for a variety of occasions. The golf club has been under family ownership since December 1998.

Remarkable changes and improvements have taken place in the clubhouse and the course. Lakes have been extended, new bunkers built and ditches filled in and grassed over, making for an interesting and challenging round

Marriott St Pierre

Marriott St Pierre; built around a beautiful 14th century manor house, has grown naturally over the years. It is set amidst 400 acres of tranquil parkland, which includes two 18-hole golf courses.

The quiet country setting's broken only with the buzz and excitement of golfers setting off.

The Old Course is a championship course, which has hosted many tournaments. The Mathern is a tricky layout, which offers a challenging and enjoyable game with many water hazards.

There are major improvements being made at this minute and the Marriott group clearly have big plans for the future.

Machynys Peninsula Machynys Peninsula at Llanelli is the first Nicklaus designed course in Wales and has already made huge strides forward since it opened last summer.

Brian Huggett who appeared in six Ryder Cups and captained the team in 1977 played with designer Gary Nicklaus in an exhibition match that opened the course.

The club has since hosted two the Wales Ladies' Championship of Europe events with a third planned for this year.

Described as a modern inland links, the 7,100-yard track is a remarkable challenge. There is a linksy feel in certain parts of the course with pot bunkers and wispy rough, but it also has much more modern design.

The greens were built to USGA specifications; there is a luxury clubhouse, gymnasium and spa, bars and brasserie.

The course is situated on a unique peninsula overlooking the Loughor estuary offers stunning views over Carmarthen Bay and the Gower Peninsula and the 25 acres of new lakes are an outstanding addition to the wealth of Welsh courses.

Like most new course a variety of tee positions cater for all standards of golfers. Machynys chairman Jim Anderson said: "We wanted to build a course not just for the professionals but for all levels of golfer."

10:50am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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