Royal St David's Golf Club

Newydd Rd (A496),

Harlech, Gwynedd LL46 2UB

  • Office

    +44 (0)1766 780 361
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1766 780 857
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1766 781 110
  • Golf pro

    Stephen Doran (Head PGA Professional).

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - easy to walk.

  • Surroundings:

    Coastal duneland.

  • Designer:

    Harold Finch-Hatton

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
6629
6263
5787
Par
69
69
74
SSS or slope
73
71
74

Location

Latitude:

52.858144

Longitude:

-4.112111

How to get there:

44 miles S of Bangor / 55 miles N of Aberystwyth

10 miles north of Barmouth, to the west of Harlech on the A496.

Royal St David's Golf Club

4-PLUS: Must play course - excellent standard; worthy of 4½ stars.

Est. 1894

Royal St David's Golf Club: Under the brooding towers and ramparts of splendid Harlech Castle, Royal St David's stands tall as one of the great links courses of Wales. The firm fast fairways and well-paced true greens are all that you'd expect of a championship links course. The front-nine is played on flattish terrain, tucked in behind large sand dunes that provide a degree of protection from the wind. The final stretch of holes on the back-nine is where many would say this classic links layout really earns its stripes.

The hazards and dangers at "Harlech" are generally visible from the tee, as are wonderful views across to the mountains of Snowdonia. Well-positioned bunkering, water ditches and deep rough will all need to be factored into your course management.

After the flatter terrain of the front-nine, the long par-3 14th takes you in amongst the sand dunes, and the most interesting and testing part of the course. Climb the steps at the 16th tee, and you'll get a glimpse of Tremadog Bay beyond the dunes.

Golfing aficionados from Bernard Darwin to Bernard Gallacher have described "Harlech" as one of the world's great golfing treasures. With an SSS of 73 from the tips, it is also one of the world's toughest par-69 layouts. Royal St David's keeps good company with its English (St George's) and Scottish (St Andrews) "patron-saint" counterparts. Like these other venerable courses, it is a must-play for lovers of links golf.

List of courses: Wales - North

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Maximum handicap advised: men 24, women 36. Handicap certicate required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season (May thru' Sept): Mon-Sun £115 (all days). April & Oct: £80.

Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2023].

Other information

Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire.

Practice facilities

Limited

Did you know?

Edward VII conferred the Royal prefix on St David's GC in 1908. By royal prerogative, two Welsh golf clubs can use the "Royal" title, namely: Royal St David's and Royal Porthcawl. | Royal St David's has had many distinguished Captains, including in 1935 the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and then the Duke of Windsor).

The club has hosted many top Welsh and British amateur championships, including the British Youths Amateur Championship in 1994, won by Freddie Jacobson. More recently the club hosted the Welsh Seniors Open. For more details view Top Golf Tournaments at Royal St David's Golf Club.

Published ranking

Wales' 2nd best course (Golf World, 2025).
Britain & Ireland's 57th best course (Golf World, 2025).

Where2Stay

  • Hotel Maes-y-Neuadd4-star

    Talsarnau, nr Harlech, Gwynedd LL47 6YA

    +44 (0)1766 780 200

    Visit website

    This 14th century country house hotel, set in quiet countryside, is located close to Harlech Castle and the Snowdonia National Park. It enjoys a much deserved reputation for having one of the best restaurants in Wales - a gastronomic delight.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Royal St David's

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Porthmadog; Pwllheli (not listed in Where2Golf)

  • Noddfa Guest House

    Ffordd Newydd, Harlech, North Wales LL46 2UB

    +44 (0)1766 780 479

    Visit website

    Situated in the Snowdonia National Park, Noddfa overlooks the Royal St. David's golf course on the A496 road and has magnificent panoramic views of Mount Snowdon, Tremadog Bay and Harlech castle itself.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Royal St David's

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Porthmadog

Find a course

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Tournaments

Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.

Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.

Recently visited

Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.

The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.

The Dutch GC, The Netherlands

The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.

Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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