“Bracken to the left", bracken to the right and a fairway rising to the sky.” Henry Cotton judged the first at Southerndown to be one of the most difficult opening holes in golf. Nature has been kind to Southerndown and ‘natural’ is the word most often used to describe it. No trees or water hazards, just bracken, gorse, bunkers – and wind! Sand dunes have given Southerndown its downlandlinks character with its undulating fairways, fine grasses and tight lies. The course drains quickly and rarely closes in bad weather. 100 years have passed since Willie Fernie first laid out the course. Although Herbert Fowler, Willie Park and Harry Colt have made minor changes to Southerndown’s design, its basic layout has stood the test of time and is recognised as one of the finest championship golf courses in Wales. Among the many delights of Southerndown are the four par 3’s. Golfers who successfully negotiate these still face a testing finish with three of the last four holes played into the prevailing wind. The final tee shot over the gorse, down on to the split-level fairway of the 18th and on towards the clubhouse provides a fitting climax to a memorable round of golf.