Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

Tel: +44(0)1656 782251

Royal Porthcawl's entitlement to an honoured place among the world's best golf courses is usually confirmed by playing the first three holes that run alongside, and in places seem part of, the scalloped edge of Rest Bay.

The beach can appear all rock and pebbles until the surfer's sea recedes to reveal 300 yards of firm sand across which the prevailing westerly whips.

It is by no means a course of fearsome length; it doesn't have a fancy lighthouse, high dunes or deep ditches. It dosen't even have a tree. But it is never out of sight of the sea of blocked from the majestic view of Swansea Bay or out of reach of a wind that is particularly troublesome on the first three and last four holes. The 18th is played directly towards the sea, the prevailing wind and the setting sun. When all those are in their glory, there are fewer finer finishes.

This is the quality that has made it a worthy arena for the 1995 Walker Cup. It has been the venue for the Amateur Championships on six occasions since 1951, the sixth being in 2002 - the year it was also chosen to stage the WPGA Championship of Europe, the third most lucrative tournament on the ladies tour, for the second consecutive year.