South Wales Links Mixed Pairs

There are more than 170 golf courses in Wales, many hugging the stunning coastline and a few are world class layouts that should be on every golfers “must play list” Our event would feature two of these fabulous courses, Pyle & Kenfig & the No.1 ranked course in Wales, Royal Porthcawl.

Day 1 Royal Porthcawl

We arrived for the first days play at Royal Porthcawl to what could only be described as a perfect “links”day. Clear blue skies, warm temperatures and enough breeze to make it interesting. The course was playing firm and fast, so if you could avoid the dreaded bunkers and the deep rough, there was a great advantage should you find the fairways from the tee.

Most couples would score heavily on the front 9, but it was a case of hanging on the back. Royal Porthcawl was showing its teeth as the combination of several long par 4’s and difficult cross-winds were making points hard to come by. Kevin & Val Wash (Harpenden) & John & Jan Gilkes (West Hill) both signed for a very respectable 36pts. Sean & Kerry O’Connor (Sandiway) would go 2 shots better when they returned to the clubhouse and posted a brilliant 38pts.

But this stunning day would belong to the Frilford Heath duo of Gordon & Helen Neilson. After a round where Gordon commented “The ball was going where I wanted it to” they had mastered the world class links to fire an incredible 43pts. They had gelled beautifully together and as we returned to our hotel for the evening where we enjoyed a wonderful group dinner, they would sleep on a 5 shot lead going into tomorrow’s round.

Day 2 Pyle & Kenfig

Just a stone’s throw along the coast from Royal Porthcawl is Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club, affectionately known as P & K. The course is laid out in two loops of nine. The original front nine is where to make your score as the back nine becomes a stern test as you wind your way through the valleys and towering dunes.

The group arrived to very humid conditions as the breeze had disappeared making scoring conditions far more favourable than the day before. To prove the point, Rob & Helen Challinor returned to the clubhouse and signed off their campaign with a wonderful 42pts. An improvement of 14 shots from the day before!

Many of the couples were now posting scores in the magical 40pts bracket. The ever consistent Richard & Rosemary Kennett matched the Challinor’s score as did Sean & Kerry which would set a firm test for the leaders as they finished with an aggregate score of 80pts for the 2 rounds. Gordon & Helen were out in the final group of the day and even after his own admission of slightly over celebrating the night before, had once again played beautiful golf. Finishing with a round of 41pts they had clinched the title by 4 shots. What a way to start on you first ever Fairways event!

Many thanks to Royal Porthcawl, Pyle & Kenfig and especially Oliver and all the team at the The Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel for the warm Welsh hospitality shown to us all.