Abersoch Golf Club

Abersoch Golf Club is home to a well-regarded "holiday feel" golf course. The layout combines a wonderful opening twelve holes of pure links golf with six less exciting closing holes, which are very much lush parkland in character. On the front-nine, especially between the par-5 5th and par-4 10th, you'll enjoy several fabulous views of the beach (and its beach huts), as well as boat-filled Abersoch Bay. The Snowdonia mountain range looms in the distance.

The front-nine was crafted over a century ago and routed through natural but not overly large coastal dunes. The closing five of this outward loop hug the shoreline. Amongst the course defences, a water ditch wanders alongside the par-4 1st, par-5 2nd and par-3 18th.

Bunkering around the course could be described as periodic rather than plentiful, but may catch you out from time to time. Throughout your round accuracy from the tee is key to scoring well, wayward drives can be punished in the gorse or fescues.

Although the back-nine starts and finishes in the same linksy terrain as the front, from the par-4 13th (with two ditches to cross) through to the dog-legging par-4 17th (with one ditch to cross), you enter a different world. Here, playing more inland, the holes occupy a lessinteresting open parkland setting. Quite a conrast from the 12 links holes.

Pick of the holes: Abersoch's long par-3 3rd (246 yards from the tips!), has quite a fearsome reputation. Played downhill from an elevated tee the hole offers a glorious view, something to take your mind off the long carry that's required. You'll need to cross a water ditch to find the safety of the green beyond, or its attendant back bunker.