Rolls of Monmouth

The impressive grounds in which the course is laid out is gently undulating, has plenty of width from the tee with lots of mature trees for company and a few picturesque water features.

Located just outside Monmouth in South Wales the course is fairly accessible except for the last couple of miles which is down a very narrow and winding country lane. It opened for play in 1982 and is now firmly established.

The first few holes ease you gently into the round and give you a sense of the place. There are no fairway bunkers (only 27 sand traps in total) so you can open your shoulders off the tee and the greens are fairly large too.

Rolls of Monmouth isn’t a course that will beat you up but good golf is still required to score well.

Things get going from the fifth, an interesting par five as we start to tackle the more undulating terrain.

The best green complex on the front nine is saved for the ninth and is a class above the others that have gone before it. This hole returns to the clubhouse and an impressive building acts as an inspiring backdrop.

The spectacular Mansion, the former home of Charles Stewart Rolls, co-founder of the famous Rolls-Royce company, is quite simply stunning. Indeed the entire feel of the place away from the course is extremely grand.

The back nine is very consistent with the front nine as we continue a very peaceful and scenic round of golf in the countryside. The 18th is a fine hole to finish – a par three over a pond with once again the manor as a backdrop.

One thing I noticed quite often at Rolls of Monmouth was that there were several semi-blind drives and by that I mean you could see the brow of the fairway on the horizon but you couldn’t see the green or where the hole went until you reached your drive.

The white tees were not out on my visit which can stretch the course to 6,733 yards (par is 72).

The golf is enjoyable but not overly compelling at Rolls of Monmouth, however, the setting is wonderful and you will be sure to have an enjoyable round.