Celtic Manor will forever be famous for staging the Ryder Cup but it is easy to forget that it has two other high-quality championship courses to complement the Twenty Ten which challenged the world’sbest players.
The Roman Road and The Montgomerie courses are outstanding, spectacular and picturesque courses in their own right and offer a formidable test to all standards of golfer.
The Roman Road was Celtic Manor’s original golf course when it opened in 1995. Winding its way through trees and ravines before opening out to some more generous fairways between the Resort Hotel and The Lodge clubhouse, Roman Road was designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones and tests every club in the bag.
Highlights include a breath taking, risk-and-reward par-five played downhill and framed by a large oak tree at the fifth, and the daunting approach shot over a steep-sided ravine at the 13th, unlucky for some and the start of a superb finishing run of holes.
With fast and sloping greens one of its main defences, the short game needs to be particularly sharp to compile a good score on the Roman Road and it proved more than a match for the stars of the European Tour when the course staged the Wales Open while the Twenty Ten Course was being built from 2005-2007.
Although a little shorter with a par of 69, The Montgomerie should not be taken lightly. The basis of its front nine holes also saw Wales Open action as part of the old Wentwood Hills Course from 2000-2004.
The starting stretch includes the spectacular par-five third – nominated as one of 1001 Golf Holes You Must Play Before You Die in a book of that name. After driving to the crest of a hill, this spectacular par-five plunges steeply downhill, making the green an inviting target to reach in two shots and set up an eagle chance.
The thrilling test of golf is only part of the drama, however. As you walk down a fairway which resembles a snowless ski piste with tall pine trees flanking either side, the pleasant backdrop of the Usk Valley suddenly opens up to reveal a magnificent view over the lakes and manicured fairways of the Twenty Ten Course.
The Montgomerie features a number of other exhilarating challenges including drives over ravines and tempting downhill approach shots. Remaining true to his Scottish roots, Colin Montgomerie has peppered the course with penal pot bunkers and some tricky swales lend further links-like protection to the greens.
Holes from both the Roman Road and the Montgomerie were used in a special hybrid nine-hole course for the 2013 Celebrity Cup and there is a definite stardust quality to playing and staying at the Celtic Manor Resort. You can also follow in the footsteps of golfing legends by upgrading your visit to take in a round on the supreme Twenty Ten Course, where Graeme McDowell famously held his nerve to resist a brave American fight back and land the Ryder Cup for Europe.
Stay-and-play packages start from just £79 for one night and two rounds of golf. Call 01633 410263 to book or visit celtic-manor.com for more details.
COMPETITION
The Celtic Manor Resort is offering one lucky Golfers Club member the chance to win a golf break for two including an overnight stay and rounds of golf on both the Roman Road and Montgomerie courses.
To enter, simply answer the following question.
Who secured the winning point for Europe at the 2010 Ryder Cup?
Email your answer to competitions@twww.golfcare.co.uk with your name, membership number and contact number, to the following question. The prize draw will take place on 30/05/14.
Terms and conditions apply. The prize must be claimed and competition winner must use the prize in it’s entirety before 31st December 2014. The prize must be claimed as a whole during the same period, elements cannot be fragmented for staggered use. All elements of the prize are subject to availability. Overnight accommodation is not available on a Saturday or any date that falls on a Bank Holiday or any dates of an event hosted by The Celtic Manor Resort. Food and beverage are not included in the prize. Any additional items need to be paid for by the competition winner and/or their guest before departure from the hotel.
