Ogmore by Sea,
Bridgend, Glamorganshire CF32 0QP
Office
+44 (0)1656 880 476Pro shop
+44 (0)1656 880 326Fax
+44 (0)1656 880 371Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
John Peters (Head Professional)The Course:
18 holes. Heathland & links-style. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Downland and heathland.
Designer:
Original layout by Willie Fernie (1905). Later modifications by Herbert Fowler (1908), Willie Park Jr (1913) and Harry Colt (1920).
51.478082
-3.608579
20 miles W of Cardiff
Leave M4 at exit 35 and follow the A473, direction Bridgend. After 3.7 miles take second exit at roundabout and follow A48 direction Port Talbot. After 1 mile (at traffic lights after railway bridge) turn left onto the B4265 direction Ogmore by Sea. After 1 mile turn right onto the B4524 direction Ogmore / Southerdown Golf. After 1.4 miles turn left at the Pelican pub, and follow steep hill up to golf.
Southerndown Golf Club: With all the character of a links course, but set 200 feet above and one mile back from the sea, Southerndown provides a challenging test in a very natural and authentic golfing environment.
A straight game will serve you well here at Southerdown, certainly better than hitting long but offline. Sheep keep the rough nicely trimmed here, but wayward shots that miss the tightish fairways will be gobbled up by good quality revetted bunkering, or worse still, by thick gorse bushes and ferns that line many fairways.
The constantly undulating terrain can soak up any amount of rainwater, allowing play to continue whatever the weather. From most parts of the course you'll get the chance to marvel at some wonderful views, which at various times include the Atlantic Ocean, a stunning set of sand dunes between you and Porthcawl, the River Ogmore, Bridgend and green hills and valleys stretching out as far as the eye can see.
Although at times the course may strike you as a tad rustic, the excellent golfing test this layout offers combined with the marvellous scenery, makes this an essential part of getting to know golf in South Wales.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2020].
Players generally walk this course. Golf carts available for hire. Caddies available (if pre-booked).
Good
Southerndown has previously hosted professional tournaments such as the Piccadilly Masters and Martini International. More recently it hosted the Welsh Amateur championship, but is perhaps best known for staging the Duncan Putter tournament, a prestigious event won in the past by golfers such as Bradley Dredge, Philip Price, Paul Way, Peter McEvoy and Gary Wolstenholme.
Wales: 8th best course in Wales (Golf World, 2019).
Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire CF35 6AF
+44 (0)1656 860 621
Visit websitePerched on a Welsh hillside and surrounded by woodland, this Victorian mansion provides a cosy and secluded hideaway overlooking the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan. The name Coed-y-Mwstwr translates as "Whispering Trees".
No
Southerndown
Royal Porthcawl; Pyle & Kenfig; Vale Hotel (The Lake course and Wales National)
Hensol Park, Hensol, nr. Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan CF72 8JY
+44 (0)1443 667 800
Visit websiteThis excellent resort hotel is home to two championship golf courses, Wales' largest health spa, and very good overall sports facilities.
Lake Course, Wales National Course
No
Royal Porthcawl; Southerndown; Pyle & Kenfig
FedEx Cup playoffs: the PGA Tour’s season finale starts in Memphis (TPC Southwind; Aug 11-14) and culminates in Atlanta (East Lake; Aug 25-28) … for the winner, the biggest prize in world golf … $18 million.
British Women’s Open: the year’s final women’s major championship heads for mighty Muirfield in East Lothian, Scotland, with Anna Nordqvist defending (Aug 4-7).
Anna Nordqvist: major championships aside, Solheim Cup stalwart Nordqvist notched up her first official Ladies European Tour win at the 2022 Ladies Dutch Open (aka Big Green Egg Open).
Cameron Smith: the Aussie PGA Tour player shot a blistering final round 64 to record his first major championship win at the home of golf in the 150th Open Championship.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.
Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.
Golf Son Gual is home to a course frequently rated the No.1 layout on the holiday island of Mallorca. Opening for play in 2007, this Thomas Himmel design combines the openness of a links-style layout with the stylish bunkering and not infrequent water hazards more typically associated with parkland courses.
Son Gual is located just a few kilometres from Palma (Mallorca). Palma's Old City shows clear influences from the city's Arab past.
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.