View from the 3rd green at Southerndown GC
I arrive on the tee after a three-hour drive from London, and what a view awaits me on the first tee at Southerndown. The sun is out and below me a river runs out to sea reflecting the sunlight like jewels in a diamond ring. To the right is Porthcawl and its beautiful sandy beach. It looks like my four days in South Wales are off to a great start.
With this kind of panorama I’m not sure you could suffer from first-tee nerves, but this first hole is not as gentle as the 366 yards would suggest. There is a wide fairway to hit, but you need to be on the right tier of the green or you could leave yourself with a tricky putt.
The second shot to the second brings you back to those breathtaking views, but concentration and patience is what’s required at Southerndown. I’m here in early June and the fern is down so you can afford to miss the fairways and still find your ball, but come August the fern is up and Southerndown becomes a totally different and tougher prospect.
Par 3, 5th green at Southerndown GC
