Caernarfonshire

Founded in 1907 and shaped by the legendary Harry Vardon, Abersoch's front nine runs out over genuine links turf beside the Llyn Peninsula coastline before the back six climb into undulating inland countryside with glorious views. The stretch from the 5th to the 8th has been singled out as architecture of real quality, standing comparison with celebrated sequences on some of Britain's finest links.

Established in 1915 when Llandudno council purchased the Maesdu Estate, the course was laid out by James Braid and later refined by professional Tom Jones into a distinctive semi-parkland, semi-links test, with Deganwy Road splitting the opening and closing holes from the rest of the round. A pioneer of junior golf in Wales and host of the first Professional Home International Series in 1938, Maesdu remains one of North Wales's most historic and respected courses.

Founded in 1894 by Manchester businessman Tancred Cummins with the advice of Open champion John Ball, North Wales Golf Club occupies classic duneland at West Shore, Llandudno, where sandhills and valleys shaped by the prevailing westerlies create a genuine championship links. Memorable holes include the par-3 13th, cheekily named 'Hades' by Cummins, answered by the 18th, 'Paradise', while the round unfolds beneath sweeping views of Conwy Castle, Snowdonia and the Great Orme.

First laid out in 1900 by Old Tom Morris and expanded to eighteen holes by James Braid in 1909, Pwllheli blends tree-lined parkland golf with genuine links character along the south-facing coastline of Cardigan Bay. Braid's influence is clearest in holes such as the bunker-guarded par-3 10th and the dogleg 15th, while the gorse-flanked 11th typifies his strategic, risk-and-reward style.

Founded in 1899 by the architect W. H. Goldsmith on the old bed of the River Conwy, Rhos-on-Sea was substantially redesigned in 1934 by Simpson & Co., with the stream of Afon Ganol still winding through the heart of the course. Low-lying and flat by nature, this historic parkland layout is renowned for greens that early reviewers compared favourably to those at St Andrews.

Founded in 1909 and styled the Royal Town of Caernarfon Championship Course, this parkland layout sits beside the Menai Strait yet plays as true, lush inland golf rather than links, with elevated tees, sloping greens and strategic tree-lining providing the defence. The round closes with a Mackenzie-style green on the testing 18th, all played out against a backdrop of Snowdonia, Anglesey and the Menai Strait.

Founded in 1906 on a hillside above Bangor and extended to eighteen holes by James Braid in 1911, St Deiniol's takes its name from the sixth-century saint who founded the city's original church. Open all year round with no temporary greens, the course offers panoramic views over Snowdonia and the North Wales coast from its elevated parkland setting.