Stepping onto the grounds of Royal Porthcawl earlier this year for the very first time felt like a journey back in time, yet this club is perfectly set up for a thoroughly modern Major. As the AIG Women’s Open heads to this magnificent Welsh links this week, I can tell you, the players are in for an experience unlike many others on the calendar.
What’s really exciting is that while Royal Porthcawl has a rich history of staging major amateur and professional tournaments, this will be the first time the club welcomes the AIG Women’s Open, marking a significant moment for Welsh golf and women’s sport.
Forget your modern, sprawling clubhouses. Here, it’s a charming, timber clubhouse that greets you, sitting near the edge of the sea. It’s one of the closest I’ve ever seen to the water, and that immediate proximity to the Bristol Channel isn’t just picturesque, it’s fundamental to everything Royal Porthcawl is about.
In fact, you can see the sea from every hole, and on a clear day, your eye can stretch across to Somerset and the beautiful Gower Peninsula. Beyond the stunning views, I also received a warm Welsh welcome from the staff and members, which instantly makes you feel right at home.
The course is quite unusual for a links of its age, as there’s no out-and-back routing, meaning the wind will play a different role on various holes at this final women’s Major of the year. The wind, even on a calmer day, is a constant companion and every shot requires thought, precision, and often, a healthy dose of creativity.
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
When I played Royal Porthcawl, like all links courses, I found the bounces can be unpredictable, the lies tight, and the greens firm and fast. Players will need to master the art of the chip-and-run, control their trajectory, and most importantly, keep their wits about them when the weather inevitably decides to add another layer to the challenge.
On many holes, there’s this wonderful sense of isolation, just you, the course, and the expanse of the landscape. Though, it’ll be a far less solitary experience for the best female players in the world, with plenty of fans out watching. Royal Porthcawl is, in fact, a superb spectator course with plenty of vantage points, like the area around the 15th tee, where you can also catch views of the 16th, 2nd, and 13th holes.
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