1st/10th Hole

The opening hole at Betws-y-coed Golf Club offers a relatively gentle start, with a par 4 at around the 300 yard mark.

However, the tee shot does need to be accurate here, with a pair of fairway bunkers, a prominent copse of trees, and and out of bounds skirting the whole of the left hand side waiting to punish a wayward opening drive.  

Placement of the tee shot is critical in aiding the approach to a well guarded, yet receptive, green, which slopes gently from back to front.

2nd/11th Hole

Hole number 2 presents another relatively short Par 4, with its own unique intricacies.  Dog-legging gently from right to left, around a large copse of trees, placement of the tee shot is critical.  With the Lledr River skirting the entire left-hand side of the hole, a watery grave awaits any errant efforts.

In addition to this, thick rough and trees on the right hand side need to be avoided in order to set up the required precise pitch into a well-bunkered green.

A four can always be considered a decent score as the golfer walks off the green, with the Lledr flowing into the River Conwy in the background.

3rd/12th Hole

The third hole at Betws-y-coed Golf Club presents the first of eight par threes, and at well over 200-yards the tee shot requires length and accuracy.

A large oak tree to the left of the green will need to be avoided along with a deep sloping bunker on the right hand edge.

The testing green slopes from back to front, receptive to approach shots landing from upon high but also presenting some very uncomfortable putts if playing from above the pin.

4th/13th Hole

Regarded by many as the signature hole on the course, the 4th hole is a sharp dog-legged par 4 which borders the River Conwy.

For those brave enough to drive over the corner of the river, there is still the added hazard of a wide, but troublesome, gulley which meanders along the left side of the fairway and across the approach to the green.  

Make sure that you have plenty of spare golf balls in your bag as you head back to this tee!! 

5th/14th Hole

Hole number 5 is another Par 3, measuring in at over 200 yards. However, its challenge does not sit solely with the length of tee shot required.

Large trees sitting either side of the fairway, at around 40 yards short of the green, pose a challenge determining that the drive needs to be either precisely straight or, alternatively, long AND high.  If failing to do either, then a struck tree can defect the ball into a deep gulley leaving a potentially "blind" approach, or in extreme circumstances even "throw" the ball into the River Conwy on the left hand side.  

The green itself is again well guarded by two tricky bunkers.   Precision is absolutely key to achieving par here, on both visits.

6th/15th Hole

The 6th hole at BYCGC, may seem to present a little light relief as the shortest Par 3 on the course.

However the re-visit on the second circuit is far from straightforward.  This is the hole which offers the biggest disparity between visits on the first and second "nines".

The 15th is yet another Par 3 measuring over 200 yards and an accurate tee shot is essential, into a very well guarded green with a narrow neck.

7th/14th Hole

The 7th hole is the third consecutive Par 3, in an area know as "The Loop" which really can make or break a card.  Again both visits are in the proximity of 200 yards, with this hole mirroring the 5th hole yet in reverse.

The previously mentioned gulley runs in front of the tee and an undulating fairway leads up to a green which is as wide as it is long.  Any tee shot overhit runs the risk of finding trouble near the River Conwy behind the green, whilst a large bunker guards the left hand side, separating the putting surface from the adjacent 4th green.

If you walk onto the next tee having just marked down three consecutive 3's, then a well-deserved pat on the back is called for.

8th/17th Hole

The 8th hole, although measuring under 400 yards, can be deceptively long due to the nature of the tee shot.  An accurate drive is required in order to avoid an internal out of bounds, on the left hand side, and a large, deep copse of trees on the right.

The undulating fairway narrows into a challenging funnel between these two hazards, leading onto a top-level plateaued fairway and one of the largest greens on the course.  Once again the green is guarded by two bunkers at the front, and slopes deceptively from the rear.

Yet another hole where accuracy is key.

9th/18th Hole

The Final hole is the longest hole on the course, gently dog-legging it's way back to the inviting sight of the clubhouse.

With out-of-bounds sitting snuggly to the left, and just beyond the bunkers to the rear of the green, your drive really needs to find the fairway for the approach shot.  Deep rough lines the tight fairway for the full length of the hole, and an avenue of trees needs to be dissected if you wish an unobstructed approach.

An overhit approach will find a large bunker if you're lucky, with the alternative spelling "out of bounds" and your golf ball reaching the bar before you do yourself!!

A par on this final hole can be celebrated with a well deserved drink on the adjacent patio, in the most picturesque surroundings imaginable.