Hole Description
Clyne (Summer Card)
As Spring ushers in new growth, Clyne Golf Course begins to close in on the unwary golfer. The gorse and bracken push through in profusion, and some strategically planted trees start to come into their own.
The large greens are in excellent condition. The course offers a challenging test of golf to all handicap levels at 6,432 yards, par 72 SSS 72 (White Tees), 5,943 yards, par 70 SSS 70 (Yellow Tees), & 5,354 yards, par 72 SSS 71 (Red Tees).
The planning, designing and layout of the course were entrusted to Messrs H S Colt and Harries, the leading golf architects of the day. The original layout established all the important features and it is to the credit of the architects that the course has remained virtually unchanged to this day.
The expansive course consists of two separate loops of nine holes – virtually a figure of 8 – with the result that there is no crossing and a minimum of congestion. The 1st and 10th tees and the 9th and 18th greens are conveniently situated in front of the Club House.
The course is laid out on the high ground of Clyne Common about three to four hundred feet above sea level. The turf is of the moorland type, although gradually changing in character over the years as a result of fertilisation. There are, owing to the undulating ground, many natural hazards, apart from the large number of bunkers.
Hole 1
Clyne (Summer Card) – Y Twyn
The 1st hole is a 340 yard par four. The tee shot is best placed up the left hand side of the fairway due to the normal left to right prevailing wind and the sloping fairway. There is a fairway bunker 100 yards from the green on the right which is not visible from the tee. The hole plays slightly up hill so an extra club may be suitable when playing the approach to the green. The green slopes from back to front with two bunkers either side guarding the front of the green. A testing first hole which requires full concentration on club selection.
Hole 2
Clyne (Summer Card) – Trig Point
The 2nd hole is a 339 yard par four dogleg left. The tee shot requires the ball to favour the right hand side of the fairway to allow full vision of the green. A long iron or hybrid will place you in great position for the approach. The green is slightly elevated with bunkers front left and right of the green. Missing this green will leave you with a testing up and down therefore the middle of the green should be played for. A relatively flat green will allow many putts to be made.
Hole 3
Clyne (Summer Card) – Clyne Wood
The 3rd hole is a 499 yard par five. The semi blind elevated tee shot requires a straight ball flight. Bunkers protect the right hand side with a fairway sloping from left to right. A well struck driver slightly up the left side will put you in perfect position for your second. If you decide to lay up, then missing the 2 fairway cross bunkers is vital. The left hand side should be played for as it opens up the approach to the green. A testing green with lots of undulations. A small bunker is placed on the right hand side of the green which will gather any balls that are offline. A testing hole but one that offers a birdie chance.
Hole 4
Clyne (Summer Card) – Keeper’s Cottage
The 4th hole is a 158 yard par three. An elevated green makes the shot that little bit longer. Three bunkers protect this green with a false front that will punish any tee that that is short. The green slopes from the left which will always kick the ball to the right. Disaster strikes if you hit it right of the green with a deep wooded valley.
Hole 5
Clyne (Summer Card) – Road Hole
The 5th hole is a 335 yard par four with a dogleg to the right. A funnel tee shot forces you up the left hand side of the fairway. A 3-wood or hybrid is advised to place you in the best position for your second. The fairway slopes against you from the tee and from left to right as you approach the green making the ball lie bellow your feet. The green has one bunker short of the green and a run off area down to the right. The approach should be hit at the left hand side of the green with enough club to carry the bunker, allowing the ball to feed down into the centre of the green.
Hole 6
Clyne (Summer Card) – Penrice
The 6th hole is a 401 yard par four. A well struck drive up the heart of the fairway will place you in the perfect position for the second. A fairway bunker is place on the right hand side 100 yards from the green. Three bunkers protect the green and will gather any off line approach shots. A severe front to back sloping green makes the importance of club selection a priority. Play for the middle of the green as anything offline will leave a tricky up and down.
Hole 7
Clyne (Summer Card) – Ffordd Hir
The 7th hole is a 480 yard par five. One bunker is placed on the right hand side of the fairway to catch your drives and it is vital to miss this as it eliminates the option of getting home in two. Playing slightly up the left hand side of the fairway will allow the ball to feed around into the centre, giving the best possible position. The green has a run off area on the right had side where 2 bunkers wait to catch the ball. The open front does allow balls to run on when hit on the correct line if the option of an eagle is on your mind. A hole that can be used to get a shot or two back.
Hole 8
Clyne (Summer Card) – Fern Fall
The 8th hole is a 202 yard par three. Four bunkers protect the front of the green. Take aim at the centre of the green and a well stuck long iron will place you in a great position for making a two. Making a par on this hole is not something to take for granted.
Hole 9
Clyne (Summer Card) – Gwelfor
The 9th hole is a 475 yard par four with a blind tee shot over the crest of a hill. The slight dogleg left takes you back towards the clubhouse with panoramic views of Swansea bay. Take aim at the marker pole off the tee but beware as there are 2 fairway bunkers waiting. Making it over the cross bunker is vital to making your par on the approach to the green. The decline to the green makes the approach play shorter. Once over the bunker the ball feeds to the right and nicely down onto the green. Beware as 2 Green side bunkers are positioned on the right of the green.
Hole 10
Clyne (Summer Card) – Owl’s Lodge
The 10th is a 415 yard par four which requires a good tee shot. A marker post on the right of the fairway indicates a good line from the tee as the ground runs right to left. A drive just right of centre will place you in the perfect position for your second shot. The tee is elevated but the second shot plays uphill so be sure to take an extra club on approach. The green slopes from right to left and a bunker protects the front of left of the green.
Hole 11
Clyne (Summer Card) – The Spire
The 11th hole is a 413 yard par four. There is a parallel ditch to the right hand side of the fairway running along the edge of the semi rough. A long tee shot which gathers to the left can also catch some reeds so a long straight drive is required. Take an extra club or two for the approach shot to the green as it plays uphill and normally into the wind. The green is one of the largest on the course so take into account the pin position when selecting a club. A bunker is placed 30 yards short of the green to the left and a green side bunker protects the right hand side. A well struck iron shot straight for the heart of the green is the best play on this tricky hole where a par is a good score.
Hole 12
Clyne (Summer Card) – Bant a Hi
The 12th hole is a 163 yard par three. A middle range par three with a bunker protecting the left hand side of the green. The green slopes severely from back to front, therefore a fraction short is considered a clever play. This will give you the best chance of birdie or par. Missing this green anywhere else will make it very difficult to walk off with a 3.
Hole 13
Clyne (Summer Card) – The Gulley
The 13th hole is a 347 yard par four. A short hole that is tricky all the way, it plays uphill from the tee shot. The drive must be accurate as there are 2 fairway bunkers on the left ready to gather balls from the right to left slopping fairway. Ideally the tee shot should favour the right. Gorse bushes & Bracken run all the way up the right. The second shot may be short but is extremely demanding as there is a large gully that runs along the front of green. Two pot bunkers are positioned left of the green which is long, narrow and slopes from right to left. A good drive on this hole will make the second shot a lot easier with a wedge in hand.
Hole 14
Clyne (Summer Card) – The Kidney
The 14th hole is a 505 yard par five. If your tee shot clears the fairway bunker at 230 yards on the left the ball will roll down a large slope in the fairway leaving you around 215 yards. If you don’t reach the slope the second shot will be from an elevated position. Keep the second shot towards the right hand side as the ground kicks everything left, but beware as there is a bunker on the right which sits 80 yards short of the green. The approach shot to the green is a tough one as there is a large drop left of the green which will be blind if your ball finds that position. Keep your approach shot to the right hand side of the green as it will feed down to the left.
Hole 15
Clyne (Summer Card) – Kestrel Way
The 15th hole is a 321 yard par four. A drivable hole and a good chance to make birdie. The fairway slopes to the right towards two fairway bunkers so keep your tee shot well left. The approach shot is short but will be blind and slopes downhill and towards the right. A tricky green that requires full concentration on approach.
Hole 16
Clyne (Summer Card) – Mumbles Head
The 16th hole is a 520 yard par five. The tee shot requires a straight drive at the marker pole as ferns run along the left and right of the hole. Don’t be distracted by the spectacular views of Mumbles on your approach shot because you’re in trouble if you don’t keep it straight. The fairway slopes downhill so be sure to take less club. There is a well-placed green side bunker short left. Club selection is most important to make par or better on this hole.
Hole 17
Clyne (Summer Card) – Quarry
The 17th hole is a 154 yard par three called the Quarry as there a deep dip which lies all the way along the front of this challenging par 3. A very long but narrow sloping green also gives this hole some protection. Miss the green short left and you’ll find yourself walking all the way down the ‘quarry’ to a very deep bunker which can be a card wrecker. There is a run off area to the left of the hole which makes an up and down very difficult. A well struck tee shot is vital for making par or better on this hole, missing green to the right will give you the best chance of getting up and down. Par is an excellent score on this par three as there is danger lurking all around.
Hole 18
Clyne (Summer Card) – Pen Y Dalar
The 18th hole is a 374 yard par four. A short but demanding hole to finish, wind will play a big factor from this highly elevated tee shot. Hitting the ball to the left of the fairway is very important and will give you the best position as the fairway slopes dramatically to the right. Gorse bushes & out of bounds on the practice ground must be observed. The drop in elevation on the approach feeds the ball down towards the right of the green so be sure to take less club and hit towards the left of the green unless you have a short club in hand. Bunkers surround both sides of the green with a large run off area at back, so although this hole may be short, it requires good accuracy and concentration. Take in the dramatic views of Swansea bay on your way to the 19th Hole!