I turn off the main road and enter the estate through the gates I already know I am in for a special day, the sun is out again, the practice facilities are all what you would expect them to be and after a bit of wedge practice on the chipping green and some looseners on the range I am off to the first tee.
I meet up with Emyr and Steve two local lads who are off work for a day’s golf and we team up, three good tees shots gets us all off to a fine start and I make the green with my wedge, but as I approach the hole I start to notice the many green complexes and the run off areas if you miss the green.
The course is a Nicklaus design and the 190-yard par 3 second from the tips over water shows that I need to be on my game to score well. The land is reclaimed swampland that sits by the Loughor Estuary and the course sits perfectly.
The greens have been recently hollow-tine and aerated but they still putt well and hold a well struck ball. As I reach the fourth hole Emyr informs me to make sure I leave myself short of the stream that runs across the fairway, it really is a well designed hole with a fairway bunker sat right in the landing zone to navigate as well. But it’s the greens that fascinate me, when the greens have been cut the pins can be put in some treacherous positions and with all these run-off areas making par could be a good score.
Top: Aerial view of Machynys Peninsula. Above LtoR: 4th, 5th and 13th holes
The stream from the 4th hole wraps itself around the 5th green so anything short and you will be taking a drop. The 7th is another tough little par 3 again partly played over water depending on the teeing option you choose to play from. The back nine comes to a close with a great par 4 played back towards the clubhouse with water running down the right of the fairway and up to the green.
The back nine starts with another well design hole and the par 3, 11th hole with water to the left is a wonderful hole. If you get a chance play the 12th from the back tee that sits just behind the 11th green across the water, it makes it a tough hole but not only is it an aesthetically pleasing hole from that tee, I think it makes it slightly easier to play. The 14th starts the run of holes home and although the 16th are the photos you will see on the clubs website, I think the 14th is a better golf hole with the estuary running down your right and five fairway bunkers to navigate before getting to a green with those run-offs and multiple green complexes, it really is a great hole so too is the 15th which is played towards the clubhouse.
The 18th is a fitting finale to the course and when played from the back tee there is a lot of water to carry, the bigger hitters can have a crack at this in two but a chip and putt birdie is always good to finish a round with.
If you are visiting South Wales on a golf tour I would certainly recommend you put Machynys Peninsula on your playing itinerary and when the sun is high in the sky like it was today you can sit back with a cold drink on the balcony of the clubhouse reflecting on what a great day’s golf you’ve had. Thanks to Steve and Emyr, their match-play banter and a well designed course I had yet another fantastic day.
Above: Looking out to sea with the tide out on the 16th green
