Golf


“Silver Birch is the only 18‐hole FootGolf Course throughout Wales,” commented Bryn, “and the UK FootGolf Association have held the Welsh Open here in 2016 and 2017, and have already honoured us with hosting the event again this year, 23rd September.” “They take it very seriously indeed. They are perhaps footballers more than they are golfers. But, mostly, they are outright Footgolfers ‐ and this is how they see themselves.”


“The game has it own techniques and its own identity, and these boys tour around far and wide to experience different courses.” Whilst the northernmost areas of Wales have some of the lowest clay concentrations in the UK, this site lies within a cool valley, which means that below‐surface water tends to stick around a little longer than it might just a mile north by the coast.


Bryn and Menna Jones at the official opening of the clubhouse


The surface water is less of an issue, due to those whipping winds. However, the team own their own Charterhouse Verti‐Drain machinery anyway, and use this as often as twice per month, which helps to force any water away from the playing surface. I asked Bryn whether there was anything, other than the wind, he felt was notable about his course: “The views”, he said, “are something I think are quite striking.” “Now, we hadn’t thought about that when we opened it. We have a huge number of caravans on the seafront over there, from Abergele to Rhyl. Thousands of them.” “So, we have quite a few people from St. Helens and Warrington and other places which are a short trip to those caravans who come to play golf here, because they’re in those caravans all summer.”


“Their comments are very often that the PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 I 41


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