Llandrindod Wells Golf Club review

Founded in 1905, the golf course was designed on a gently undulating plateau overlooking the town of Llandrindod Wells, by six times Open champion Harry Vardon and five times Open champion James Braid.

It is a well-known and renowned course and has definitely been on my radar for a while. Set in Powys it has some of the most spectacular views you’re likely to find on a golf course. 

What You Need to Know About Llandrindod Wells Golf Club

It has been voted in the top three inland courses in Wales and comes in with a great Golfshake rating of 4.48. 

Having had their centenary year in 2005 they are already looking forward to celebrating their 125th anniversary in 2030 which shows how forward thinking they are here. 

We received a really friendly welcome from Phil Davies (no relation to me) the head pro. He must like it as he’s been there 37 years so this again shows what a great place this must be. 

Again, a very friendly and relaxed welcome was offered when we entered the clubhouse for some pre-round drinks and a bite to eat. The clubhouse has a real chilled vibe to it and the food was very good indeed.

There are some very good facilities on hand with a Trackman driving range, chipping area a short walk from the clubhouse, and a nice putting green to get you ready for the challenge ahead.

The course is classed as moorland, but I feel it really has a links feel to it as well. The best compliment I can give is it reminded me very much of my visits to Hillside. 

What is The Golf Course Like?

The round started with a daunting hole playing uphill with out of bounds to the left. The fairway is split at around 170 yards as it goes uphill even more. If you manage to find the second part, just a short iron awaits to a long but narrow green, so club selection is imperative, especially as straight off you can see these greens are tricky and quick (even though we were told they aren’t as quick as the members would like at present).

A lovely par four is up next before taking a short walk over the road to the next 15 holes. The first par five is up next where for most it will be a three shoter. Already we felt the layout really was top drawer. 

Another mid-length par three followed before the next which is the stroke index one hole and you can see why - at nearly 500 yards, two great strikes are needed to reach the green in regulation. Yet another par three followed before the front nine closes out with three great par fours all providing different challenges which like the whole front nine proves why Llandrindod is both a great test but also a magnificent layout. 

The back nine starts with a 250-yard par three which looks so hard to hit from the tee as it has some great mounds protecting the run on at the front.

Another mid-length par three is up next which from the tee looks really nice. After this is a really inviting driving hole downhill but don’t relax as out of bounds are to the left and some really juicy round is right. The green is very shallow but quite wide so picking the right club is paramount. There is then a par four next before two par fives that again are probably in reach in two for the longer hitters - but definitely not myself. You then have another challenging par four before getting to the final par three here, which is a semi blind shot uphill to quite a shallow green given the club needed. 

You the reach the final hole, which is an absolute cracker, below is the fairway that goes back up to the road and then across to the green. A good drive will get you over the road and the possibility of an eagle or birdie - but anything off-line can lead to a real big number. This is a real risk/reward hole to finish off your round.

Why You Must Play Golf Here

The course doesn’t have a single bunker, but don’t be fooled, it has many mounds and "grass bunkers" to navigate, which can sometimes be trickier. 

I must say we thoroughly enjoyed our game here even if we had a proper mixed bag of weather. The course design is as good as any I’ve had the pleasure of playing. Fairways were all of the highest quality with a great grass coverage on them. All holes were very well defined and the greens once more are right up there with any I’ve had the joy to putt on. I just love the fact the members say they’re slower than normal.

I feel Llandrindod is a great challenge and would produce a really enjoyable experience for all levels of golfer. 

I for one cannot wait to return and I’m already looking at when I can enter one of their many opens, and they are all great value too. 

It has some very quirky holes with some blind tee shots but those have posts that are well placed to show you the way. It is one of the most scenic golf courses you’ll be likely to find with an absolute abundance of breathtaking panoramic views. A course with a lot risk and reward holes and some very undulating greens. 

Overall Rating - 9

Course (Conditions) - 10

Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 10

Course (Green Condition) - 10

Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 9

Club Facilities & Clubhouse - 9

Practice Facilities - 9

Friendliness/Hospitality - 10

Pace of Play - 10

Value For Money - 10