Machynys Peninsula Golf Club & Spa

The Course...

A modern links championship golf course, Machynys Peninsula has been designed to challenge the best players in championship conditions - and yet still be enjoyable for the higher handicapper, by utilising up to five tees per hole.

The shaping of the £3.5m course layout has included the creation of 25 acres of new lakes - salt and fresh water - 12 miles of irrigation pipes and six miles of drainage pipes, to ensure the course is in top condition all year round.

Gary Nicklaus - who has been overseeing the project design on behalf of his father, the legendary Jack Nicklaus - has identified some of his favourite and most challenging holes as the 4th, 5th, 16th, and 18th. Naming the fourth, the most unique, a short-ish par 4 but a very challenging and a difficult one nonetheless.

He goes onto say: The 16th, a par 4 that is played across the lake from right behind the clubhouse is probably one of the most beautiful holes on the course. The view from the green of the whole bay is spectacular, whether the tide is in or out.

The UK's top golfing publications have recently written about Machynys Peninsula. Here is a small selection of what they said:

'A stunning location, great design and clever use of natural features suggests that Machynys will quickly develop into one of the best courses in the country' - Golf Monthly 2005 (Awarded the Gold medal in the 2005 course rankings)

'We were blown away by its splendour, Machynys is the finest new course and a contender for the highest new entry in Golf Worlds top 100 courses in Britain and Ireland' - Golf World 2005

Wales' newest links is blessed with some of the truest greens anywhere and a rosey future seems assured' - Golf Monthly 2006

Tourism Oscar winners revealed

Winners of Tourism Oscars were revealed last week as the National Tourism Awards took place at Bodelwyddan Castle , Denbighshire. The National Tourism Awards and Showcase Wales is the flagship event in the Welsh tourism calendar, this was the first time for it to take place in North Wales .

Forty-six enterprises from across Wales were short-listed as finalists, and last week, fourteen businesses were revealed as being the best of Wales tourism industry.

Among the winners was Machynys Peninsula Golf & Country Club who picked up the coveted Golf as it should be award.

Mark Reed, General Manager was there to receive the award and said We are delighted to receive this award. We feel we have been extremely proactive in bringing golfers into Wales . We are able to offer first class ‘stay & play packages and the biggest ‘Golf Cluster package in Wales which incorporates 3 quality ‘Championship Links courses and 4 star hotels all in the surrounding area.

Its no secret that we have invested significant funds into prestigious Championship golfing tournaments including 3 European tour events, The Welsh open stroke play and an R&A Championship event. All of these Championship events plus the quality stay and play golf packages help bring visitors to Wales to experience the wonderful scenery and to play some of the world class golf courses available in Wales . In doing so, these golfing guests also contribute to the hotel food and beverage industry.

We have always been pro-active in promoting golf in Wales and increasing visitors numbers and will continue to actively look at additional ways to promote golf in Wales and to increase these numbers. We will also be continuing to focus on ‘customer service and quality to ensure all enjoy a first class experience both on and off the golf course meeting out visitors high expectations.”

Tourism Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, said: The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to the continual improvement of quality in the tourism industry. While these awards recognise the industries finest, I am very well aware that we must continually raise quality through such areas as investment and training. The tourism industry operates in an incredibly competitive market, where only the very best will do and where there is no room for complacency. The winners richly deserve the applause. They are all committed to quality and to continuous improvement. But all the finalists represented deserve recognition for playing their role in ensuring that visitors from all over the world enjoy coming to Wales .”