Hidden GemGreat Value

Cradoc Golf Club

Brecon, Powys · Designed by C.K. Cotton (1967) · Est. 1967

Cradoc is a beautiful upland parkland course on the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park, just outside the historic town of Brecon in the heart of mid Wales. Designed by the respected architect C.K. Cotton and opened in 1967, it enjoys one of the finest settings of any inland course in the country, with sweeping views over the Usk valley to the Beacons — including Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain — from many of its holes.

At par 71 over around 6,300 yards, it is a proper test that plays over rolling parkland with mature trees, a stream in play on several holes and greens of real quality. Yet, like so much of mid-Wales golf, it is remarkable value, and rarely crowded.

For golfers touring the Brecon Beacons or breaking a journey through the middle of Wales, Cradoc offers scenery, quality and value in equal measure.

Holes worth knowing

1The Beacons-view holes — from the higher ground the course opens up across the Usk valley to Pen y Fan and the Brecon Beacons.
2The stream holes — water crosses several holes over rolling parkland, adding strategy to a beautifully scenic round.

Highlights

On the edge of the Brecon Beacons
Sweeping views to Pen y Fan
A quality C.K. Cotton design (1967)
Outstanding value, rarely crowded

Good to know

→Cradoc has one of the best settings of any inland course in Wales — the views to the Brecon Beacons are worth the trip alone.
→It is a C.K. Cotton design of real quality, yet green fees are a fraction of the marquee names — superb value.
→The market town of Brecon, the Beacons and Pen y Fan (the highest peak in southern Britain) are right on the doorstep for walking.
→The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and the Brecon Beacons dark-sky reserve make good non-golf outings.
→It sits handily on the north–south route through Wales, ideal for breaking a journey with a scenic, cheap round.