Golf Courses in Pembrokeshire, Wales — Clifftop Golf on the Wild Atlantic Coast

Wales has a well-established claim to being one of the finest golf destinations in the British Isles. Royal Porthcawl regularly appears in discussions of the greatest links courses in the world, the Gower Peninsula packs remarkable coastal golf into a short stretch of coast, and North Wales has produced genuinely excellent courses at Nefyn, Aberdovey, and Conwy. But Pembrokeshire — sitting at Wales’s westernmost point, where the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park meets the Atlantic — remains a hidden chapter in that story.

It should not be hidden. The golf here combines clifftop drama with genuine links challenge, green fees that feel almost anachronistically reasonable, and a setting that is among the most beautiful in Britain. Pembrokeshire is that relatively rare thing in contemporary golf: a destination where the quality of the experience significantly exceeds the profile and the price tag.

Why Pembrokeshire Is a Hidden Golf Destination

Several factors have conspired to keep Pembrokeshire below the radar of the mainstream golf tourist market. The county sits at the end of a long drive or train journey from most of England and Wales. It does not have a single course with a sufficiently famous name to anchor a dedicated golf pilgrimage in the way that Royal Dornoch or Royal Portrush do for their respective regions. And it sits in the shadow — in golf terms — of the Gower Peninsula and South Wales coast, which draw more visitors purely because they are more accessible.

But the golfer who makes the journey west finds rewards out of proportion to the effort. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, covering virtually the entire coastline, preserves the landscape in an exceptional state. There are no resort developments cluttering the clifftops, no intrusive infrastructure breaking the views from the coastal golf courses. The land looks very much as it did when the first golf was played here, and the courses that sit within or beside the National Park benefit enormously from that setting.

The county is also steeped in history. Pembrokeshire’s medieval connections — the Cathedral at St David’s, the network of ancient pilgrims’ routes converging on the most westerly cathedral in Britain, the Norman castles at Pembroke and Carew — give the landscape a depth that goes well beyond its obvious scenic beauty. You are playing golf in a place with a long and layered story, and that adds something intangible but real to the experience.

Tenby Golf Club — The Oldest Club in Wales

For golfers interested in the history of the game in Wales, there is no more important destination than Tenby Golf Club. Founded in 1888, Tenby is the oldest golf club in Wales and one of the oldest in Britain. The course occupies clifftop links terrain above the town of Tenby, with views along the South Pembrokeshire coast and out to Caldey Island.

The course is a genuine links, albeit a compact one: tight fairways, natural rough, and greens that reward precision and punish anything wide of the mark. The clifftop position means that several holes offer dramatic drops to the sea, creating both visual spectacle and genuine peril for wayward shots. On a clear day, the views from the highest points of the course across Carmarthen Bay are simply outstanding.

Tenby as a town adds enormously to the appeal of a golf visit. It is one of the most complete medieval walled towns in Britain, with a colourful harbour, excellent restaurants, and a busy but genuinely characterful beach resort atmosphere. Staying in Tenby and playing the golf course each morning gives you access to one of the most pleasant environments in Wales.

Green fees at Tenby reflect its status as a proper links course with genuine historical significance and outstanding scenery — visitors typically pay in the region of £40 to £55, though this varies by season and day of week. Advance booking is recommended in summer, particularly at weekends when members’ matches can restrict visitor access.

Cardigan Golf Club — Inland Parkland in Ceredigion

The northern edges of the Pembrokeshire golfing area extend into Ceredigion and the market town of Cardigan, where Cardigan Golf Club provides a pleasant inland parkland alternative to the coastal links. The course sits in the Teifi Valley and offers a relaxed round through mature parkland with some interesting water features.

Cardigan is a useful option for golfers who want a change of pace from the exposed clifftop terrain, or for mixed-ability groups where some players prefer a more sheltered environment. The town itself is worth exploring: it has a restored castle, a thriving arts scene centred on the Mwldan arts centre, and an independent high street that gives a genuine sense of a Welsh market town maintaining its character.

Green fees at Cardigan are modest, making it an accessible option at any point during a Pembrokeshire golf trip.

South Pembrokeshire Golf Club — The Pembroke Dock Area

South Pembrokeshire Golf Club at Pembroke Dock occupies a hilltop position that gives it wide views over the Pembrokeshire waterway landscape. The course is a mixture of parkland and more open terrain, providing a medium-length test that suits players of a range of abilities.

The club is conveniently located for golfers basing themselves in the Pembroke or Pembroke Dock area, and offers easy access to Pembroke Castle — one of the great Norman fortifications in Britain and the birthplace of Henry VII — which makes for an excellent post-round visit. The combination of golf and castle tourism is a surprisingly satisfying way to spend a day in this part of Wales.

Newport Pembrokeshire Golf Club — Nine Holes on the North Coast

Newport in North Pembrokeshire — not to be confused with the city of Newport in Gwent — is a small town at the foot of the Preseli Hills, and its golf club occupies a nine-hole course with outstanding views over Newport Bay. The course is short and manageable by the standards of a full eighteen-hole venue, but the setting is exceptional.

Newport Golf Club suits golfers looking for a relaxed half-day round without the commitment of a full links test. The town itself is a delight: independent shops, good pubs, and access to some of the finest walking on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, including the section running to Cwm yr Eglwys and the dramatic headland of Dinas Island.

Nine-hole courses like Newport often provide the best golf experiences for beginners or casual players. Our nine-hole golf courses guide covers the category in more detail if you are considering venues of this type.

Haverfordwest Golf Club — Parkland in the County Town

Haverfordwest Golf Club, located just outside the county town, is Pembrokeshire’s main parkland course and provides a comfortable round through tree-lined fairways with some interesting changes of elevation. The course is well-maintained and welcoming to visitors, making it a natural choice for golfers who want to see the county town — which has a significant castle and a characterful medieval street plan — while also fitting in a round.

Green fees at Haverfordwest are reasonable, and the club has a friendly atmosphere that makes it popular with visiting golfers who want a social rather than purely competitive round.

St David’s, the Pilgrim Route, and Golf in Pembrokeshire

No guide to Pembrokeshire would be complete without some acknowledgement of St David’s, the smallest city in Britain and the spiritual heart of Wales. The Cathedral at St David’s — built in a hollow to hide it from Viking raiders — is one of the great ecclesiastical buildings in Britain, and the ruined Bishop’s Palace beside it adds to the remarkable atmosphere of the place.

The ancient pilgrims’ route to St David’s ran through much of Pembrokeshire, and walking even a section of it gives a sense of the deep historical currents running beneath this apparently rural county. Many golfers who visit Pembrokeshire find that including St David’s in their itinerary — it is a short drive from the north Pembrokeshire golf courses — transforms a golf break into something genuinely memorable.

The headlands around St David’s, including St David’s Head and the approach to Whitesands Bay, contain some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Wales. On a clear day, the view west from the headland reaches across the Irish Sea towards the mountains of the Wicklow Hills in Ireland.

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path

The 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path, one of Wales’s greatest long-distance walking routes, runs the entire length of the county’s coastline. Golfers staying in Pembrokeshire can combine their rounds with sections of the path — many courses have the path running close by or across their boundary areas — and even a short section walked in the evening after golf reveals the landscape from a completely different perspective.

The stretch of path between Tenby and Manorbier is particularly accessible and offers clifftop walking of outstanding quality. The section from Newport (Pembrokeshire) around Dinas Head and towards Fishguard is wilder and more demanding but even more spectacular. The Stackpole Estate, owned by the National Trust, provides access to some of the finest coastal scenery in South Wales, including the extraordinary Barafundle Bay.

Green Fees and Practical Information

Pembrokeshire golf represents outstanding value by any reasonable measure:

Tenby Golf Club: £40–£55 depending on season and day
South Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwest: £25–£40
Cardigan Golf Club: £20–£35
Newport (nine holes): £15–£25

These are approximate figures and rates do change, so it is always worth checking directly with each club before booking. Most clubs welcome visitor bookings online or by telephone, and the majority have no significant restrictions on visitor access during the week. Weekends may require earlier booking and some flexibility around members’ tee times.

Society and group bookings are generally very well received across Pembrokeshire golf clubs, with packages often available on request.

Getting There

Pembrokeshire is genuinely served by public transport, though a car makes accessing multiple courses considerably easier.

By train: Tenby is served by direct trains from Cardiff, with connections from London Paddington via Swansea. The journey from London to Tenby is around three hours with a good connection. Haverfordwest is also served by rail, with services from Cardiff. For golfers without a car, staying in Tenby and focusing on the local course is a perfectly workable approach.

By car: The A40 from the M4 provides the main route into Pembrokeshire from England and South Wales. The drive from Cardiff takes around two hours under normal conditions; from London, allow four and a half to five hours. Once in the county, a car is strongly recommended for accessing the range of courses, which are spread across a relatively large area.

By ferry: For golfers combining Pembrokeshire with Ireland, Stena Line operates services from Fishguard to Rosslare in County Wexford, opening up the possibility of a cross-channel golf itinerary combining Pembrokeshire courses with those of southeast Ireland.

Where to Stay

Tenby is the most convenient base for golfers focusing on the south of the county and is unquestionably the most atmospheric: the medieval town walls, harbour, and beaches provide an exceptional setting. There is a wide range of accommodation from small hotels and B&Bs within the town walls to larger hotels on the headland above the north beach.

Narberth, a small market town in the interior of the county, has developed an excellent range of independent restaurants, cafes, and artisan food producers and makes a pleasant base for exploring the whole county. The town has become something of a foodie destination within Wales, with a farmers’ market and several highly regarded restaurants.

For golfers focusing on the north Pembrokeshire coast — Newport, Fishguard, and the St David’s peninsula — Newport itself has several good hotels and self-catering options in an outstanding location.

Companion Courses in Wales

Pembrokeshire sits within a broader Welsh golf landscape of considerable quality. Royal Porthcawl on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast is one of the finest links courses in the world and only a couple of hours by road from Tenby. The Gower Peninsula, closer still, has several excellent courses including Pennard Golf Club on its clifftop setting.

For golfers interested in exploring the full breadth of Welsh golf, our Wales golf guide provides a comprehensive overview. North Wales offers a completely different but equally rewarding golf experience — the peninsula courses at Nefyn District Golf Club, for example, represent some of the most dramatic golf settings in Britain. You can find the Nefyn District Golf Club listing here and explore the full Wales golf directory to compare venues across the country.

For multi-day trip ideas that might combine Pembrokeshire with the Gower or Vale of Glamorgan, our golf breaks guide has practical advice on structuring a Welsh golf tour.

The Case for Pembrokeshire Golf

The honest case for Pembrokeshire as a golf destination is simple. The courses here — particularly Tenby, with its historical significance and genuine links character — would attract a much larger international following if they were located in a more fashionable or more accessible county. The green fees are low relative to quality. The landscape is extraordinary. The surrounding tourism infrastructure, while unpretentious, is genuinely good.

The golfer who discovers Pembrokeshire tends to come back. The county has that quality, shared with only the best golf destinations, of feeling like a place that belongs to you rather than to the market. It is golf in a landscape that has not been packaged and sold to within an inch of its life. That, in an era of golf tourism saturation, is genuinely rare.