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Celtic Manor (Roman Road), Wales |
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The Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Woods
Newport
NP18 1HQ
Wales |  | Robert Trent Jones Jnr |  | S. Patience |
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 | +44 (0) 1633 413000 |  | M4 Jct 24 - E of Newport |
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Golf Club Website
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 | Book in advance |  | S. Wesson |
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The resort at Celtic Manor was conceived and developed by Sir Terence Matthews. In the late 1970s, Matthews bought a near derelict manor house and turned it into a small hotel. The hotel became popular and successful, winning the Egon Ronay Best Hotel in Wales award five years on the trot. Matthews’s long-term vision was a golfing complex; and after three years in the planning and making, the Roman Road course, designed by Robert Trent-Jones Junior, opened for play in 1995.
The main Roman East-West road crosses the course, hence the name. However the routing of the holes has ensured that the Roman archaeology has been preserved. In fact, the whole design is totally in tune with its surroundings. The natural contours of the land and the mature trees are at one with the golf course.
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The par 69 Roman Road course played host to the 2007 Celtic Manor Wales Open for the third consecutive year. The last par 69 course used for a European Tour event prior to this one was the 2003 Hong Kong Open, staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
European Tour history was also made on the Roman Road course during the 2007 Celtic Manor Wales when nine golfers tied for the first round lead on 65 (-4) beating the old record of eight which happened at the 1995 European Masters – staged at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland since 1939. The 2008 Celtic Manor Wales Open was held on the newly opened Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course. It is therefore unlikely that the Celtic Manor Wales Open will return to the Roman Road course in the future. | It stretches to a testing 6,600 yards from the back tees, but it’s likely that you will be asked to play from the yellow tees which brings the yardage down to a modest 6,000 yards (5,300 yards from the ladies’ tees). From the forward tees you might dismiss the course as short, but it certainly doesn’t play like a short course. Quite the contrary.
We are not buggy lovers, but we advise you to consider taking one because the walks between greens and tees are quite lengthy and the undulating layout makes for tough walking.
There are many memorable holes on the Roman Road, especially the long par three 8th, played through a tunnel of trees and the short par four 14th, a right to left dogleg. The second shot needs to carry a lake, which protects the green.
Trent Jones Junior has created an American-style course that will appeal to golfers of all abilities for the holes are captivating and challenging. Combine Celtic Manor's Roman Road with the new Twenty Ten course (2010 Ryder Cup course) for a really memorable golf day.
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If the above course review article is not accurate, let us know by clicking here |
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In the section below, headed “Your Reviews”, are golf course reviews posted by visitors to the Top 100 website. There are no specific rules for reviewing a golf course except you MUST have played the golf course first. Merits of each course are left entirely to your discretion. Important factors, such as course location, condition (or presentation), course difficulty and historical importance are all left for you to judge and we have developed a simple rating system where you can allocate one score to each course. | |
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 |  | | Average Reviewers Score: |   | | We played this course in May 2010 and whilst it was certainly in fantastic condition I can best describe it as souless. There are a couple of decent holes, the par 3 8th being the best, however there are too many holes that seemed to have been squeezed in. The par 3 11th being the worst example of this. On the plus side it was only £18 which is cheap considering the excellent facilities. A decent option if you are in the area and you can get a good rate, otherwise i would search for somewhere that feels more like a golf club and less like a resort. | | 08 July 2010
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| | This is a super course in its own right, but will be overshadowed by the 2010. My society played all three courses and we all agreed this was in the best condition, super greens and fairways and not as difficult for the average golfer as the other two courses here. Look out for the 10th hole here, its a fantastic hole, i've never played a hole like this before hitting your 2nd shot over mature trees that are in the valley below you, awesome. Really enjoyed this course, highly recommended. | | 25 August 2009
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| | Having played the Montgomerie course the day before, i knew we were in for a challenge. I have never at a golf course met such friendly staff, we travelled nearly 250 miles to play at celtic, we were not dissapointed. I caught the fairway bunker at the first but from there i settled down and started to par a few holes. the course was immaculate and the greens sublime. As we were playing the tricky par 3 8th, the course marshall asked us for a par three challenge to land on the green on the par 3 11th for a free round of golf. myself and friend duly obliged and won the challenge, myself finishing 6 foot from pin. So a free round of golf: we shall be going back for a free round of golf at roman road plus saving up to play the 2010, as we went for a drink at 2010 clubhouse: out of this world.Celtic Manor - Very Modern, Very swanky, but with down to earth staff, with the love of golf.  | | 06 April 2009
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| | | After seeing the Roman course on TV (Wales Open and the All Star cup), I really was not expecting to really enjoy the course – well I was actually very impressed after playing in Feb 2008. The first three holes are a tough par-4, a tough par-3 and then a par 5 with a difficult drive and a blind second shot – the early standard is high and to be honest is evident for the whole round. Not many flat holes at all, all are either up, down, dog-legging or some over valleys which are all very exciting. The Roman Road cannot be called traditional in any way but this is a modern course that is interesting all the way (the 16th is a bit of a giveaway par-5 though) and of a high standard. There are only a handful of places in GB&I that have three courses and not many can match the quality of Celtic Manor – the facilities and service in and around the resort are very high. I left with expectations met and surpassed...
There are now at least half a dozen South-Wales courses worth playing and being based at the Celtic Manor would be my choice. | | 25 February 2008
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| | | Lets be honest about this, not one of RTJJs best works. Uninspiring land obviously didn't help the cause. Asthetics mean a lot in design. The Roman Road is a poor attemt at a US style course. 10 to the dozen if this was a municipal stateside. Above average course when measured against the average courses (for that I give it a par), but measured againt the best it falls horribly short. | | 01 February 2006
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| | There is little doubt that the Celtic Manor Resort is a five star experience. They really do know how to look after their customers and those customers have a choice of three excellent courses. The Roman Road has been tweaked several times since it was built around 10 years ago yet retains its main characteristics. The greens are quite superb, fast and true with very few flat areas which really makes you pick the correct spot on the green for your approach and requires you to work hard if you fail to do so. There are some truly spectacular holes, interspersed with a mixture of average holes. Visit in the summer and you will not be disappointed. Visit in the winter and be prepared for extremely wet ground conditions. | | 07 November 2005
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| | | Having had the pleasure of playing both Wentwood Hills and Roman Road, one needs to comment on Celtic Manor. Anything to do with this resort is exemplary. Nothing better than being at a resort where the golfer is king and not just a coincidence. Roman Road we found to be flawless and challenging, not much joy for the wayward driver, but luckily, true responsive and rewarding greens.
If you're a Londoner like myself, the two hours and change out of Paddington is a pittance for the honour of a round on this fantastic track! | | 22 June 2004
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