Ashburnham Golf Club

Ashburnham Golf Club is located a few miles from the Welsh seaside town of Llanelli. The links overlook the mouth of the River Loughor, Carmarthen Bay, and the Bristol Channel.

Ashburnham Golf Club History

The links were designed by JH Taylor in 1894 as a 9 hole course. Eight years later, in 1902, Taylor would return and extend it to 18 holes. In 1910, he would return to make further alterations, with it being reported the course was improved and extended. In 1913, Taylor seemed fond of his work claiming the course was level with “many of the best seaside courses in the country.” 6-time Open Champion, Harry Vardon, joined the applause when he called Ashburnham Golf Club his favourite Welsh links.

It would be Fred Hawtree who would make further revisions in 1921, adding 5 new greens along with a new clubhouse. CK Cotton would make the final major addition with a new 9th hole after WW2.

Ashburnham Synopsis

Ashburnham is a traditional golfing links, routed in an out and in, east-west fashion from the 3rd to 16th holes. The two opening and two closing holes play in a tidy loop in a north-south orientation returning back to the clubhouse.

The opening hole is a testing 183-yard par 3! The front nine plays westward and into the prevailing wind with the 6th hole being called the most challenging par 3 in Britain by Dai Rees. The Postage Stamp would have something to say about that but the point is made… It would also appear more modern-day professionals still hold Ashburnham in high regard with John Daly saying: ‘The back nine is unbelievable.’