Celtic Manor Resort, Twenty Ten
Built for the 2010 Ryder Cup, The Twenty Ten is the headline act and it doesn't hide it. There are Ryder Cup mementos all over the place and the layout is packed with proper match-play moments where you'll be weighing up risk and reward. The early stretch has a slightly links-like feel with long rough and run-offs, then the middle of the round turns into a bold, lake-lined examination that can swing a scorecard quickly.
The course presents many memorable tests and risk-and-reward dilemmas throughout. You'll be welcomed to manicured fairways and lightning-fast greens that provide a genuine tournament-standard experience. The 'member for the day' package includes a personalised bag tag and post-round club cleaning, which adds to the sense of occasion and makes the round feel special, particularly for groups celebrating a milestone trip or society outing.
It's a course that rewards a sensible game plan, especially if the wind gets up, so it's worth having a chat in the group about when to take on the flags and when to play for the middle of the green. The par threes are particularly strong, with water in play on several and elevation changes that make club selection tricky. If you're playing in autumn or winter, be prepared for the course to play longer than the card suggests, the rough can be thick and the fairways softer than you'd expect for a venue built to host elite competition.
Include The Twenty Ten in your next Celtic Manor break
Celtic Manor Resort, Roman Road
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior, the Roman Road Course was the first built at Celtic Manor and has been thrilling visiting golfers since opening for play in 1995. From the tips the Roman Road Course stretches to about 6,600 yards which is enough to test even the most experienced golfers and with forward tees that bring the yardage to a more manageable 6,000 yards, the higher handicapped golfer can also enjoy the challenge.
Roman Road is very much a modern resort test: generous-looking fairways that tighten in the landing areas, bold bunkering and just enough water to keep you honest. Off the forward tees it's playable for higher handicaps, but from the back it's plenty of course, especially if you're loose with the driver. The course is American in design with large bunkers and the odd expanse of water providing much of the challenge and with a great variety of holes, some of which take you right past the imposing Resort Hotel, all aspects of your game will be tested.
If your group has a wide handicap spread, Roman Road is often the best 'everyone enjoys it' round of the three, while still feeling like a proper championship course. The greens are large and receptive, which means approach shots don't need to be laser-accurate, but the undulations mean three-putting is always a risk if you're on the wrong tier. The clubhouse at Roman Road has a real golf club feel to it and provides an excellent place to enjoy some food and drink before or after your round, making it a popular choice for groups who want to split their day between courses.
Add Roman Road to your 2-night package
Celtic Manor Resort, Montgomerie
Colin Montgomerie's name will of course forever be associated with Celtic Manor following his team's famous victory at the 2010 Ryder Cup but his association with the resort began long before then when he designed his championship layout that has become one of the best resort courses in the UK. Montgomerie is the hilliest of the trio and you'll feel it over 18, so the buggy advice is sound, particularly for groups doing 36 holes. The bunkering has that links-inspired look and there are plenty of elevated tee shots where you'll want to take a second, pick the right line and commit.
The Montgomerie Course has a championship heritage with many holes being part of The Wentwood Hills Course which hosted the Wales Open between 2000 and 2004, so there's genuine tournament DNA in here. The golf course as it stands today is an excellent test with stunning undulations, small pot bunkers dotted throughout and brilliant views of the Usk Valley. The par 5 3rd is the standout hole, dropping away in front of your eyes into the valley below, it's a proper risk-and-reward moment that can yield an eagle or a card-wrecker depending on your nerve and execution.
With deep, links-inspired bunkers and plenty of elevated tee shots, the Montgomerie is a course that demands accuracy and course management rather than brute force. If you're playing it as your second or third round of the trip, take note of pin positions and don't be greedy, the greens are smaller than Roman Road and the slopes are more severe, so hitting the right level is crucial. The views alone make it worth the walk, or the buggy ride, and it's a layout that rewards repeat play because the strategy becomes clearer once you've seen how the holes move and where the trouble really is.
Play Montgomerie as your 'second round' option
