FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Newport South Wales, The Celtic Manor Resort, Twenty Ten Course

by Gtrav

Apr 1, 2012
2012 / April 2012

In Wales — renowned for links courses fringed by windswept dunes bordering the sea — Celtic Manor’s parkland Twenty Ten Course boasts iconic status as the tough turf of the 38th Ryder Cup, dangling thrills galore for golfers testing their mettle in the paths of star players.

Nestled on the floor of South Wales’ scenic Usk Valley, the Twenty Ten — a par-71 course measuring 7,493 yards off the back tees — was purposely designed and built to host a Ryder Cup. Credit a spontaneous brainwave by Canadian entrepreneur Terry Matthews for the inspiration. While establishing a European headquarters for Mitel Networks, he spotted a vast tract of land bordering the M4 Freeway in Newport and figured it would be a “dynamite location” for a resort with golf courses.

Opened in 2007, the architectural layout of Twenty Ten involved revamping nine holes originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and adding nine holes crafted by European Golf Design — all done in tandem with environmentalists to protect the delicate Usk Valley ecology, as well as archaeologists to avoid and preserve ancient Roman ruins found in the area.

Seen from the hills of the adjacent Montgomerie Course (one of Celtic Manor’s trio of courses), Twenty Ten is a picturesque tapestry of emerald and blue, the blue being penalizing water on half the holes. Decidedly configured with meandering fairways, undulating greens, wickedly positioned bunkers, greenside swales and knee-high fescue, the course is guaranteed to tempt you with risks for rewards, never mind jog your ego. With four tee boxes, players of various skill levels have flexibility to set up a satisfying game. Playing off the back tees is your chance to beat the Ryder Cup pros.

Whatever the score, success is your bragging right for playing the land of the dragons. Whoever said golf was an easy stroll in the park had yet to play Twenty Ten. A sweet thought to consider while lingering at the clubhouse terrace, sipping a Guinness or Black Velvet while watching players finish the Ryder Cup course.

Hole 1 | 465 yards, par 4

The opening hole — a long par 4 with a cluster of bunkers cinching the elbow at the dogleg left — alerts you: This is a thinking player’s game of risk and reward; there’s no fooling around. Even if you land safely on the fairway right, you must still clear two gaping traps guarding the undulating green. Then hope your ball stays put for a putt.

Hole 3 | 189 yards, par 3

Stunning yet seductive, the first of Twenty Ten’s five par 3s tempts a swift swing. But don’t be swayed; there’s a reason it ranks as one of the course’s six signature holes. With scant room for error, target marksmanship counts. After propelling your ball some 160 yards over a glistening pond fringed with flowering shrubs, you must avoid the teasing bunker flanking the green and hope the ball stops on its velvety surface.

Hole 5 | 457 yards, par 4

Rated as the “second” signature hole, the fifth presents a conundrum with several hazards determined to taunt you. You may envision a birdie from the tee, but it’s not so simple. Bunkers clutch both sides at the dogleg bend, eager to snare your ball; and a stream that runs like a pretty blue ribbon down the right of the fairway veers deceptively in front of the green. A strategic drive may ensure a smart approach to the green. But don’t despair if the birdie escapes — facing thick rough and a protective trap, even pro players scored a bogey or more.

Hole 6 | 452 yards, par 4

Daunting at first glance, the view off the tee is a vast lake, its fescue-fringed curve hugged by a narrow fairway that rolls toward a lofty green. High mounds and deep bunkers line the fairway’s left, defying you to evade them as you hit over the water. To reap rewards for a long drive, it’s best to visualize the shot, ignore the lake and think positive. Lest you sink the ball in the blue, chant the golfer’s mantra: It’s just a game. It’s just a game.

Hole 14 | 485 yards, par 4

Talent bucks temptation on the signature 14th, where the tight fairway weaving between two long lakes requires an honest assessment of your skill. Confident long hitters may carry the lake on the right, leaving a clear chip to the green. Conservative types may be smart to lay up on the unobstructed fairway for a shot across the water. Meanwhile, unless you’re competing, this is one of those glorious holes where it’s worth risking a stroke just for fun.

Hole 15 | 377 yards, par 4

Destined to leave you exhilarated, baffled or both, the tricky 15th has hole-in-one potential, depending on your skill and gumption. Before teeing off, it helps to preview the green, nearly hidden behind a copse of towering trees. Protected by three deep bunkers, the elevated green slopes to a rocky stream lined with fescue. Gutsy players able to carry 270 yards over trees may survive cutting the corner yet find their ball swallowed in sand. Others will find it safer to play through the fairway and hit up to the green.

Hole 17 | 211 yards, par 3

My favorite hole — maybe because my tee shot literally grazed the hole, albeit leaving a long putt for a par — the elevated 17th green demands a precise tee shot, as it is defended with thick grass and deep bunkers. I couldn’t resist smiling while the rest of my foursome agonized in the rough, searching for their balls.

Hole 18 | 575 yards, par 5

Thrilling to the finish, the 18th teases players’ hopes with an eagle ending. A true test of skill, it is designed for a long approach shot where you must make a calculated gamble: Risk a targeted shot over the pond to the elevated green, or lay up to a downhill lie short of the pond from where you must shoot to the green. Either way, a miss-hit will plant your ball in a bunker or send it rolling down the 30-yard slope to the water.

The Celtic Manor Resort

Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley
Newport, South Wales
NP18 1HQ
United Kingdom
tel 44 1633 413 000

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Jan 22, 2025

What’s New in Tenerife for 2025

Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, invites travelers to visit in 2025 and experience newly renovated accommodations and Michelin-starred dining additions.

Extraordinary Egypt

ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS

Daily
Jan 22, 2025

A Northern Chilean Resort Reopens This April Following Major Refresh

Originally opened in 2008 in northern Chile, Tierra Atacama (part of Tierra Hotels) has become an established upscale option in the town of  San Pedro de Atacama thanks to its beautiful architecture, views of Licancabur volcano and the peaks of the Andes, and the hotel’s friendly service. The property is now undergoing a major refresh, with a reopening April 1; bookings are available now.

eFlyer Reviews
Jan 22, 2025

The Adolphus Hotel Review

The Adolphus Hotel, an Autograph Collection Hotel from Marriott, is a gateway to a bygone era of grandeur intertwined with modern sophistication. Built in 1912 and the first luxury hotel in Dallas, the castle-inspired beauty is now on the National Register of Historic Places, having entertained presidents, royalty and celebrities. The Beaux-Arts architecture of The Adolphus contains grand public spaces of polished woods gleaming under imposing chandeliers downstairs, while 407 rooms and suites are spacious and contemporary, following a 2018 remodel that’s helping The Adolphus remain one of the city’s top stays more than a century after opening.

United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD

Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.

eFlyer News
Jan 22, 2025

JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens for Bookings Before Summer Debut

Ahead of its summer launch, JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa opened bookings. Marking the first JW Marriott property in Greece, the hotel features 160 guestrooms, suites and villas, the majority of which boast private pools for an idyllic retreat.

Daily
Jan 22, 2025

Club Quarters Hotels First Global Hotel Brand to Use Digital Keys Compatible with Apple, Google Wallets

With properties across the United States and United Kingdom, Club Quarters Hotels is now the first global hotel brand to roll out digital room keys compatible with both Apple and Google wallets. While many big hotel chains adopted digital keys at select locations, Club Quarters Hotels is the first to go brand-wide with a universal, touchless, app-free check-in and entry experience at all properties across its portfolio.

Experience Next-Level Travel with Condor Airlines’ New A330neo Fleet

Condor Airlines completely renewed its long-haul fleet, featuring its new Airbus A330neo. Designed to elevate your travel experience, the A330neo is equipped with cutting-edge technology and offers unrivaled comfort, ensuring an exceptional journey for every passenger. With its striking signature striped livery, the A330neo not only promises a memorable flight but also enhances the start of your vacation from the moment you step aboard.

Daily
Jan 21, 2025

Passalacqua on Lake Como, Italy, Hosts Themed Evenings, Spa Treatments

The Italian sun is shining on Passalacqua on the shores of Lake Como in Italy’s Lake Region, and this winter is the perfect time to escape to the 18th-century villa-turned-boutique hotel. Set within the picturesque village of Moltrasio, the property’s sizable wellness complex is home to treatments featuring natural and organic products from Seed to Skin Tuscany. The spa itself evokes a sense of timelessness, occupying a space in the ground-floor hall, where towering stone columns and deep vaults have been transformed to accommodate a wide range of holistic experiences.