With its long history, and even longer views of the distant Bristol Channel, St. Mellons Golf Club is one of the most esteemed places in Wales to play a round. The course was designed by Henry Shapland Colt, widely considered one of the seminal golf architects of all time. He created at St. Mellon an exciting mixture of tricky greens and undulating fairways.
Lying along the eastern edge of the city of Cardiff, the golf course is actually located in two different Welsh counties: most of the parkland course lies in South Glamorgan while the clubhouse lies in Gwent.
Even experienced golfers will get a run for their money here, because St. Mellons’ offers plenty of challenges. Names like Sandy Lyle, Barnes, Torrance, James, Darcy and Antonio Garrido have trod the greens here. The great English player Henry Cotton, who won three Open Championships, had a particular fondness for the third hole of the course, so that these days it’s named ‘Cotton’s Choice’ in his honour.
The perfectly manicured tree-lined fairways also offer some surprisingly deep bunkers, enough water to keep you on your toes, not to mention some greens that run away with you.
It became a members club in 1964, making 2014 the 50th year anniversary, but visitors are always welcome. After completing a round, golfers congregate in the Eagle Bar, or perch on the sunny terrace to watch the other golfers teeing off from the first hole.
