Machynys Golf

Golf on the Carmarthenshire coast doesn't get much more straightforward than this. Machynys is a proper links course that demands respect from the moment you arrive near Llanelli - the kind of place where wind becomes part of your scorecard and the fairways run tight alongside marshland. Even if you're not swinging a club, the sprawl of the course against the Carmarthen Bay backdrop is worth seeing. The course winds through natural terrain rather than manicured perfection, which means you'll see actual landscape rather than a golf resort gloss.

Golfers will get hours of proper graft here. The layout rewards course knowledge and club selection over pure distance, so it suits mid-handicappers and experienced players far more than absolute beginners. Expect to allocate a full morning or afternoon for 18 holes plus drinks after. Non-golfers won't find much to do, so this isn't a couples' trip unless you're both keen.

If you're staying at South Wales Touring Park just 3.8 miles away - rated top marks by other campers - Machynys makes an excellent half-day addition to a caravan holiday in the area. Pembrey Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is slightly further out at 6.7 miles and gives you similar access. Both parks work brilliantly as bases for combining coastal walks with a round when the golf bug strikes. Contact the course directly for green fees and availability, as these change seasonally and by day of the week.