Aberdare Golf Club

Being a Saturday, I was not planning to play this course, just to have a look around, grab a scorecard, ball marker etc and go on my way. Anyway, seeing the car park less than 1/4 full I dared to ask the question and with the combination of the football cup final at Wembley and a big Rugby final at Cardiff, yep of course I could have a round - £18 handed over and orft I jolly well went. According to some of the guides, this was to be a "Mountain" course but basically it is very parkland in nature although rather hilly and with many holes "on the side of the hill".

I soon found that the course is certainly one that needs to be played before taking on a `home` member in a competition! Right from the first, the green is not in view and this is a situation that carries on for many a hole and the home club members must have a quite chuckle sometimes when playing a visiting team!The first three holes in fact give a hell of a start, 424 par 4, 481 par 5, and 412 par 4 - wow - is it all like this - well no, then you have a par 3, yep all of 233 yards off the yellows" - then another par 3, just a flick at 110 yards - steep uphill, just try and judge that accurately!.

And so the course goes on - a mixture of holes of all shapes and sizes and none where anything can be taken for granted.

All in all, a very pleasant course indeed where you will be happy to play to handicap and I feel one that it is much better to have an electric trolley job! I did and I`m a mere youngster!