August 2017 Golf World 149Porthcawl is
agemofa
links that it
is always
wonderful to return to.
When we were there
for the Senior Open it
reminded me what a
good golf course it is.
I remembered a few of
the holes in 2014 from
my visits many years
ago and it can certainly
measure up with any of
the links in Britain.
Every hole at
Porthcawl can get you,
butifyouhitperfect
shots, you can make
birdie on any hole.
Obviously there are a
couple that are tougher
because they are longer
and if the dog-legs are
against the wind it’s
hard to hit the fairway.
But part of the links
challenge is trying tofigureoutwhichway
the ball might bounce,
play smart, and keep
outofthepotbunkers.
Another factor there
is that you never know
what you’re going to
face; sometimes you go
out with a west wind
and you come in with a
north or east win d. The
tide changes and
you’ve got to be ready.
I also enjoy its firmground; you can nip the
ball and it just makes a
certain sound when you
hitit–andyoucan
create a lot of spin.
Around the green
you also have so many
options; you can putt
the ball or use a 4-iron,
a 7-iron or a 9-iron. Or
you can try your
lob-wedge. You just
need imagination to
‘see’ which way youwant to play it. Some
courseswhenthereare
sixinchesofrough,
there are no options.
You just take your sand
wedge and whack it
out. At Porthcawl, you
can almost use any club
in the bag – and that
makes it fun.
Bernhard Langer
claimed his second
Senior Open at Royal
Porthcawl in 2014.‘PORTHCAWLISUPTHEREWITHANYTHINGINBRITAIN’
Bernhard Langer has enjoyed much success in Wales, and holds special affection for our No.1 course.