We use a booking agent for all our golf breaks, we had played in the area before, but wanted to stay on the Gower to try a few different coursers and reduce our traveling time each day. We always pay upfront for the golf and accommodation, on this occasion I had suggested alternative hotels on the back of some of the reports on this site, but I was assured this was a great venue for our requirements.
So four senior golfers pitched up for four nights and five rounds a little unsure of the quality of a this establishment, we were all very pleasantly surprised, and frankly puzzled by some of the very negative comments of previous visitors. Ok, let’s outline the setup; the clubhouse has several rooms for functions of various sizes, all well used during our stay by golf matches and competition. A generous sized dining room seemed to be allocated to guests staying in the accommodation, the food was excellent, from a slightly small sized menu, again the wine list wasn’t the largest, but it wasn’t sold at “rip off” prices of many hotels. Breakfast was excellent, any request for something not shown, was generally speedily provided, on every occasion service in the restaurants and the bar was quick and efficient, to the point of buying in some Welsh whisky just for our group and very fair prices. On some occasions the bar area could be lively, but this is what you expect in a golf club, it’s not a quiet cocktail bar, there was a pool table and friendly members to chat to.
As for accommodation, these are rooms in a barn conversion on two levels 2/3 yards from the clubhouse; they are furnished on the pattern of Travel Lodge/Holiday Inn style, very adequate for the purpose. Towels were replaced every day, 2 bottles of water were provided each day, toilet paper was not of the usual cheap hotel standard, but the sort most people would use at home. Ok, there were a couple small issues, during our stay, several nights there was heavy overnight rain, and quite frankly the gutters and down pipes could not cope, so one was woken by the noise. Both rooms had flat screen TV’s which we only used to get the weather forecasts. Again the staff was friendly and very accommodating, on our last day, we were offered to store our cases etc. until after we had played in one of our rooms, were fresh towels were provided if we wanted a shower before the long drive home, how many hotels offer that without charge?
We saw the owner every day about the complex; he seemed to be a very “hands on boss” and was very friendly to everyone. This is a great place for a golfing break with a very good Donald Steel designed course, that despite several hours of very heavy rain was very playable by mid-morning. There was also a mix of cliental, from some campers who gave up when the tent started floating away, 5/6 engineers staying and working in the area and large group of lady golfers.
We found the whole package to be excellent value, friendly efficient staff and excellent food, as far as the comments on access, there are other ways into the village that ovoid the narrow lane, perhaps a quick look at a map rather than relying on Sat-Nav’s will overcome that issue. As a final comment I would ask; what do people expect at these prices, The Ritz?
- Gower Hotel Swansea
