Regarded by many as the Hidden Gem of golf courses in North Wales, Old Colwyn Golf Club is an impressive 9 hole course situated in stunning countryside near the picturesque coastal town of Colwyn Bay. A popular destination for many golfers, Old Colwyn Golf Club is a stopping point on the James Braid Golf Club Trail and has been a unique golfing destination for over a century. 

The club was designed by well-known Scottish golfer and prolific golf course architect, James Braid, in the early 1900’s. Braid designed over 200 golf courses during his lifetime including Stanraer Golf Club, Colchester Club and the King’s Course and Queen’s Course at Gleneagles. A 5 times Open Champion and 4 times winner of the British PGA Matchplay Championships himself, Braid aimed to incorporate the rolling hills and natural features of the surrounding land into Old Colwyn’s course design whilst making the most of the panoramic views of the Welsh Coast. 

It was opened to the public in September 1907 as a par 68 5263 yard course. Consisting of one par 5, five par 4`s, and three par 3`s, it was a perfect example of Braid’s archetypal golf course designs. The signature hole of the course is the 7th, a 162 yard par 3 that requires players to clear three mature oak trees to get to the green. The 9th/18th hole is the most impressive however with its unrivalled views of the Irish Sea and Colwyn Bay. On a clear day, players may also be able to spot Liverpool, Blackpool and the Isle of Man on the horizon. 

Old Colwyn Club forms one of the ten courses to be included on the James Braid Golf Trail in Wales and is also a James Braid Golf Society course that offers discounted rates of play to society members. All courses on the trail are fine examples of Braid’s individual golfing designs and players who complete all ten courses receive a special certificate of achievement for their efforts. Old Colwyn Bay Golf Club continues to attract a large number of amateur and professional golfers each year and challenges them with it’s unique layout and difficult course features.