round 1 - pyle & kenfig
view through the dunes
we started with one of wales’ classic links courses, p&k. the club is virtually next door to royal porthcawl and is a worthy neighbour. its sky-high dunes make it a tough challenge but it is particularly scenic. established in 1922, it was originally laid out by harry colt but enforced changes were made post the war. the back nine is stunning where the dunes take giving a true links feel with many blind tee shots.
phil and al both played well, al on the front 9, phil on the back nine, to take a 4&3 victory.
match score: neil & nic 24¾-20¾ phil & al
round 2 - southerndown
18th green and clubhouse
our 50th (!) round was at southerndown. Its elevated site high above the ogmore river valley, provides stunning views across the bristol channel. the course has a unique links feel but is more of a cliff-top course. there are no trees or artificial water hazards, just bracken, gorse and bunkers waiting to trap wayward drives. the prevailing wind and sheep are the other key hazards.
neil’s five pars around the turn couldn’t stop phil and al’s dovetailing and they took a solid 2&1 victory.
match score: neil & nic 24¾-21¾ phil & al
round 3 - celtic manor roman road
views of somerset and devon
our first round at the celtic manor resort was the roman road. this is a very typical resort course but the designers have used the natural contours of the land and it is in tune with its surroundings. the walks between holes are lengthy so buggies are a must.
it is a very american style course but is still enjoyable to play.
the match was close all the way. phil & al reached the 17th tee dormie 2 but neil & nic fought back to half the match and keep the holiday match going, at least for a bit.
match score: neil & nic 25¼-22¼ phil & al
round 4 - celtic manor twenty ten
18th green
originally called wentworth hills that opened in 1999, the course was transformed for the 2010 ryder cup. in July 2007, the twenty ten opened, the result of collaboration between the european pga, golf course architects and tour pros. the course measures a beefy 7,493 yards with a par of 71.
there’s water everywhere with plenty of risk-and-reward holes. overall, it’s not very traditional but was fun to play but is also frighteningly difficult.
the match was most notable that neil really struggled leaving nic to fend for himself. it was only a matter of time before phil & al won through.
match score: neil & nic 25¼-23¼ phil & al
round 5 - celtic manor montgomerie
more classic parkland
designed by monty, the newest course at celtic manor opened in july 2007 with the twenty ten. it uses the opening and closing holes from the wentwood hills course for the front nine. the layout is an open parkland affair with dramatic elevated tee shots across valleys.
phil & al led for most of the front nine and the match looked over on the 11th tee, 4-up. however nic played the last 8 holes four under handicap to halve the match.
the KOP was a big right-to-left dogleg. nic played a regulation par to win back the trophy and make the score look respectable.
match score: neil & nic 25¾-23¾ phil & al