THE EVOLUTION of the A55 across the crown of North Wales has ensured that its golfing jewels are now far more accessible than in the past. Gone is the tortuous journey in nose-to-tail holiday traffic of three decades ago. Instead the area has been opened up to golfers seeking a change of scenery, but not looking to travel too far. North Wales is a destination that will appeal to both the day tripper and those looking to take a short golfing break without pouring gallons into the petrol tank or visiting a port of either sea or air variety. Given that there are plenty of attractive packages available from the hotels and guest houses that populate the coast, then there is plenty on offer from an area that is within reach in less time then it takes to play nine holes. And you will find a nice mixture of choices. From links courses like Rhyl or Prestatyn to parkland venues like Denbigh, which threads its way round magnificent centuries-old trees, or Northop Country Park. Llandudno is one if the region's popular base camps. Not surprising given that there are nearly 40 courses within an hour's drive and that the seaside town boasts two courses of its own. One of those, Llandudno Maesdu, sits just half a mile from the town centre with views back over the painted jumble of properties set against a backcloth of the Great Orme. Founded in 1915, the course has long been a magnet for visitors as well as many prestigious championships. Henry Cotton, Dai Rees and Peter Alliss are just some of the great names to have graced the course over the years. At 6,545 yards the par 72 course is set amid the splendour of North Wales scenery. But given that one of the views is out over Conwy Bay and the Irish Sea, the first thing that strikes you at Measdu is that this is not a traditional links course. The fairways are green-er, the surrounding rough lusher and the greens quicker and truer than you might expect. It makes for an interesting challenge around a course that sees four of the holes sit on the same site as the clubhouse, with the rest of the course filling the gap formed on the other side of the road down to the railway, which divides it from the neighbouring North Wales club. The first hole offers a gentle enough introduction, and at just 140 yards even the three bunkers fringing the front of the green should be ruled out of the equation by a positive start. The second is a more taxing par 4, stretching to 450 yards from the competition tees with a ditch, a run of trees and bunkers that hang like ear-rings round the green making the second shot a testing one. In many ways it is typical of Maesdu. The fairways are ample enough and invite you to find safety and a good line into the greens. But stray too far and there's plenty of trouble to put a nasty dent in your scorecard - trees that leave little option but to chip out, water hazards that nip at your approach work and plenty of sand. The short third is the first hole on the other side of the road and the view across the course now offers the first clue that the breezes that can whip in from across the sea will alter the dynamics of your round quite drastically. Here the trees bend into the hillside, like a crowd of commuters hurrying to work into the teeth of a wind with their umbrellas turned inside out. This part of the course is spliced by a ditch, which features on five of the next six holes as you make your way back and forth. Four is the first par 5 and tops 500 yards uphill. Five offers some respite coming back down before the short par 4 sixth, at just 309 yards from the back, which holds more danger than the yardage suggests. You need to stay left to avoid getting drawn into the trees and sand that snuff out your attempts to nip at the corner of a dog leg to the right. Even then, the pin position will determine just how far right you need to be to open up a green that curls away coyly behind the trees. Seven lifts the yardage again to 459 from the back with your attempts to cut the corner being offset by your confidence in being able to clear water, sand, trees and avoid drifting into the out of bounds on the right. Leaving yourself a longer shot into the green, you must clear the line of bunkers crossing the fairway like worker ants some 66 yards from the green - ingredients which all add to its stroke index of one. Eight offers the first of a number of blind tee shots, but it is not one to let rip on. Again it measures just 327 from the back, but the trick is to stop your tee shot running away down towards the ditch and bunker the other side of the brow. Instead leave your-self a soaring second into a green that sits down at the bottom of the course protected by a ditch and a bunker with a wider smile than Dale Winton. The next three take you alongside the outer reaches of the course, with the railway an ever present companion on your right, before the 12th offers a classic uphill par 3 back towards the road. Tee shots on the next two are both taken blind. On 13 you can perch your tee shot on the brow before swooping down on the sunken green while 14 requires some careful placement. Get over the hump and catch the downside and you can sweep your ball to within 100 yards of the green, but beware the bunkers at the foot of the slope that will catch the over-hit shot that drifts right. The 16th is another where it is important to take advantage of the generosity of the fair-way and snub the dangers that lie elsewhere. Keep left and you open up the green, but down the right a pond and out of bounds will suck you in. Seventeen is another uphill par 3 after you have crossed back over the road before the 18th gives you one last chance to enjoy the views out to the Orme or across the sea to Snowdonia. The tee sits majestically at the course's highest point before sweeping down to a par 5 that is close to 500 yards and finishes just in front of the clubhouse and a green ringed by bunkers. It is a grandstand finish to a grand course. FINAL VERDICT A parkland course where the breezes can behave like a links makes this an enjoyable test of your golfing skills. FACT FILE Address: Hospital Road, Llandudno Par: 72(Out 36 In 36) SSS: 72 Yards: 6,429 yards Ladies: 5,661 yards Par: 75 SSS: 73 Description: Parkland whose close proximity to the sea means the winds can change the character of your round Signature hole: 14th. After playing a blind tee shot, you walk up to the brow of the hill and enjoy the full range of views across Snowdonia. Contact Details: Telephone 01492 876450 Pro shop 01492 875195 Club secretary: George Dean Professional: Simon Boulden Visitors: welcome by arrangement Cost: Weekday - £25 per round or £30 per day, weekend - £35 Societies: Welcome every day. Maximum 36 WE, 50 WD. No concessions. Packages available from £25. Catering: Full clubhouse bar and catering facilities Dress code: No tracksuit bottoms or jeans; shirt with collar and sleeves; proper golf shoes. E-mail: george@maesdugolfclub.freeserve.co.uk Website: golfnw.co.uk/maesdu * Details correct at the time of going to press. | 
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