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.