The Club
The Course
The Course
Few places can rival the spectacular setting of Bull Bay golf course, an 18 hole championship course with a blend of traditional and modern, lush fairways and superb greens.
The course was officially opened in August 1913 and designed by the renowned course designer, William Herbert Fowler. He made the most of the undulating land that nature provided at Bull Bay and had no concerns about asking the golfer to take on blind shots and carrying some major distances. Once played you are certain to return. Click below to visit all 18 holes…
1st Hole – Môr a Manaw
As you prepare to drive don’t be distracted by the glorious views or the gaze of fellow golfers in the clubhouse which overlooks the first tee because the gently rising fairway has out-of-bounds along its entire right side. Even the best of drives requires a perfect approach to a plateau green 20 feet up to get your par.
• 370 Yards | Par 4 | SI-9
• 363 Yards | Par 4 | SI-9
• 353 Yards | Par 5 | SI-17
2nd Hole – Clawdd Terfyn
A blind tee shot where a perfect drive should carry your ball to the right side of the fairway thus avoiding the hillock in the middle – but beware the out-of-bounds encroaching from the right. Then a good view of the flag awaits you for an approach to an elongated green protected by mounds and a single grass bunker.
• 392 Yards | Par 4 | SI-3
• 382 Yards | Par 4 | SI-3
• 290 Yards | Par 4 | SI-7
3rd Hole – Lle Mynno’r Gwynt
A challenging hole off the back tee especially into the wind, over a small ravine to a bowl shaped green, where accuracy with the correct choice of club pays dividends. Better to be short than too long where James Braid’s gorse awaits the over-hit shot.
• 220 Yards | Par 3 | SI-11
• 180 Yards | Par 3 | SI-11
• 172 Yards | Par 3 | SI-5
4th Hole – Llechog
A most pleasant drive from a high tee with the hole stretching out below you and distant views of the peaks of Snowdonia. Open your shoulders and let rip and if you hit the fairway you may be rewarded with a glorious shot. The challenge lies in the approach to the plateau green where a high flyer with a mid to short iron is required to stay on the putting surface protected by steep slopes.
• 383 Yards | Par 4 | SI-7
• 383 Yards | Par 4 | SI-7
• 291 Yards | Par 5 | SI-11
5th Hole – Eilian
A tantalising hole. Aim your shot to the right of the flag and if you clear the mound that protects the front right your ball might run down close to the pin as the green slopes from front to back. Play it well and a 2 becomes a distinct possibility.
• 175 Yards | Par 3 | SI-13
• 172 Yards | Par 3 | SI-13
• 169 Yards | Par 3 | SI-13
6th Hole – Llam Y Carw
A short par 4 spread over three levels: carry your tee shot onto the middle tier to leave yourself a blind second to the long green; if you’re able (and if the wind permits) try to carry the top tier and the chance of a birdie (or even an eagle) awaits.
• 310 Yards | Par 4 | SI-17
• 290 Yards | Par 4 | SI-17
• 287 Yards | Par 5 | SI-5
7th Hole – Mynydd Parys
The most difficult hole on the course as indicated by the stroke index where a par is always a good score. You drive downhill over the marker post set on the edge of a cliff to the fairway below. Then you must play a long or mid iron uphill past an old stone building to a green that is well protected by a single bunker and slopes.
• 426 Yards | Par 4 | SI-1
• 423 Yards | Par 4 | SI-1
• 420 Yards | Par 5 | SI-3
8th Hole – Y Garreg Fawr
Another drive from height with a fairway sloping downwards but bear left – a slice may mean a return visit to the tee. A good drive for the big hitter will put the green within range on this par 5 with a long uphill shot, otherwise play short of the deep bunker protecting the approach to the green and then pitch on in regulation.
• 475 Yards | Par 5 | SI-15
• 461 Yards | Par 5 | SI-15
• 325 Yards | Par 4 | SI-9
9th Hole – Dyffryn
One of the most sporting holes you’ll ever encounter where you try to drive into a deep valley that cuts diagonally from left to right across the fairway followed by an approach to a green high above you. The elongated putting surface slopes steeply from back to front: Definitely better to try to leave yourself with an uphill put!
• 347 Yards | Par 4 | SI-5
• 340 Yards | Par 4 | SI-5
• 340 Yards | Par 4 | SI-1
10th Hole – Pant
A beautiful short hole. Once again played from on high down to a cunningly designed two-tier Mackenzie type green well guarded. The ample target area of the lower tier often yields a birdie but if played off the white tee to a pin on the upper tier then a bogey or worse can easily follow.
• 195 Yards | Par 3 | SI-10
• 158 Yards | Par 3 | SI-10
• 122 Yards | Par 3 | SI-16
11th Hole – Nebo
A long roller-coaster of a hole which tempts the big hitter to risk all and go for the green in two to set up a birdie chance. High risk – high reward, but a misjudgement can lead to disaster! The generous fairway narrows at 250 yards then rolls over another hill to a valley short of a small undulating green raised on a plateau.
• 505 Yards | Par 5 | SI-6
• 485 Yards | Par 5 | SI-6
• 383 Yards | Par 5 | SI-8
12th Hole – Bryn Teg
A pleasant, sheltered hole at the lowest point of the course. The brave will aim their tee shots to the right, flirting with a bank covered in dense gorse, to allow for the sloping fairway and green which runs down from right to left, with a single bunker on the left of the green to catch those of a more timid persuasion.
• 197 Yards | Par 3 | SI-14
• 172 Yards | Par 3 | SI-14
• 162 Yards | Par 3 | SI-14
13th Hole – Cae Syr Rhys
A gentle uphill dog-leg right to left to another two tier green defended by bunker and grass mounds. The safe shot is to play to the corner of the dog-leg followed by a blind second but the further one can drive the easier the second shot as more of the green comes into view allowing one to attack the pin and set up a birdie opportunity.
• 317 Yards | Par 4 | SI-16
• 310 Yards | Par 4 | SI-16
• 305 Yards | Par 4 | SI-4
14th Hole – Parciau Hills
This hole dog-legs right to left, first down then up again to green full of subtle borrows. A classic hole that offers the golfer choices of course management. Take on the dog-leg and a mighty drive is rewarded with a short pitch to the green. Play safe down into the valley and you are faced with a mid-iron up the hill.
• 425 Yards | Par 4 | SI-4
• 386 Yards | Par 4 | SI-4
• 321 Yards | Par 4 | SI-10
15th Hole – Cae’r Ffynnon
There are superb vistas all around from this tee set high on a rocky outcrop but the best view is of the hole itself as it meanders away below you to the distant green. A good drive is to the left of the fairway as out-of-bounds lies to the right to catch the errant shot. Then try to reach the next level of fairway with your second so that you can see the long sloping green before you.
• 486 Yards | Par 5 | SI-12
• 481 Yards | Par 5 | SI-12
• 405 Yards | Par 5 | SI-6
16th Hole – Yr Ynys
Another example of Herbert Fowler’s genius as he created a short hole which rewards accuracy and not length. However don’t be short as the slope in front of the raised green will gather your ball into the run-off that defends this hole. Drive to the left of this up-slope and watch your ball run on to the sloping putting surface.
• 174 Yards | Par 3 | SI-18
• 169 Yards | Par 3 | SI-18
• 149 Yards | Par 3 | SI-12
17th Hole – Machlud
A double dog-leg unless you’re a prodigious hitter which is what you need to be to get a par in regulation. With numerous gorse bushes guarding the right side of the fairway and often played into a prevailing wind, even the professionals are faced with a daunting drive unless they play safe and follow the fairway. To the left of the green is one of Fowler’s original grass bunkers.
• 433 Yards | Par 4 | SI-2
• 425 Yards | Par 4 | SI-2
• 420 Yards | Par 5 | SI-2
18th Hole – Teg Edrych
A gem of a hole to finish a gem of a course. This closing hole has everything. The highest tee on the course, stunning 360 degree views, the fairway descending gently before you to the distant green set as in all great courses in front of the welcoming clubhouse. As the sun sets over the Irish Sea the tinkle of glasses and convivial banter of your fellow golfers gathered on the balcony overlooking the green urge you onwards, only to fall to an appreciative hush as you sink your final putt.
• 446 Yards | Par 4 | SI-8
• 411 Yards | Par 4 | SI-8
• 385 Yards | Par 5 | SI-18
