Course Status

Hole Names

Hole Welsh Name English Translation Justification
1 Pont Newydd New Bridge Subtle reference to Arwel’s Bridge and commemorates the local settlement of that name. The course was first opened as Pontnewydd in 1992 before being renamed Glyn Abbey.
2 Dyffryn Aur Golden Valley Dyffryn Aur was a local farm lost as a result of open cast mining. It is also the colloquial name of the Gwendraeth Valley and matches the topography of the hole.
3 Tyn y Coed House in the Trees Literal translation and refers to the cottage adjacent to the green.
4 Fforest Fach Little Forest Name of old farmhouse in the location of a small forest.
5 Y Gamlas The Canal The old canal line follows the valley floor adjacent to the 5th and 6th hole and was the earliest canal in Wales. The Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway took over its trade over a century ago.
6 Cysgod y Glyn Shadow of the abbey The nearest and best view of the Abbey by which the course is named.
7 Cefn Bryn Over the Hill The Bryn Public House was close to this fairway and served as the Club House for the course in the 1990s. The 7th is a demanding Par 4 and plays over a hump, so the name is also a touch of humour at players’ expense.
8 Pen y Mynach Monk’s Head A loose reference to the shape of the green. A link with the Abbey in the same direction.
9 Ffynnon Teilo St Teilo’s Well Link to the historic holy well which was on the pilgrim’s path to St Davids. Rising near the current Club House, it is the source of water across the 9th, to the left of the 1st and leads under Arwel’s Bridge and beyond.
10 Pen y Twrch Boar’s Head The skeleton was found of this extinct beast during mining excavation works.
11 Waun Hir Long Meadow A name of a local farm which was overtaken by coal mining in the area. The name also resonates with the length and layout of the hole.
12 Allt y Sgrech Screaming Forest Name of nearby local farm lost to mining. Natural reaction to a poor shot with the woodland beside the fairway swallowing a wayward tee shot.
13 Naid y Carw Reindeer’s Leap The ancient forest of Glyn was a famous hunting ground for the Welsh Princes in the 15th and 16th centuries.
14 Tuedd Carwe Carway Drift The Carway Drift was a major feature of the opencast mine at Glyn Abbey and is located underneath the 15th hole, just at the end of the 14th. The village of Carway can be seen in the distance to the left of the 14th hole and occasionally the wind will blow from that direction, carrying your tee shot into the woods on the right – another type of "Carway Drift"!
15 Tipyn o Sbri Capers After all the mining was finished, the decision was to restore the site as a golf course and provide the long suffering locals with “a bit of fun” – which is the meaning of both names! It is also the name of the clubhouse restaurant.
16 Ceiniogau Penny Pieces The name of a coal seam outcropping at this location. It refers to the size of the coal.
17 Fforest Uchaf High Forest It is both the site of a local farm of this name and reminds us about the forests in our area as well as connecting with the local forest around the green.
18 Tramffordd Adre Tram-way Home The hole follows the line from Carway Drift and home, with the "19th hole" within sight.