Pontardawe Golf Club

The golf course sits in the Swansea valley with decent views across the surrounding hills - nothing dramatic, but pleasant enough if you're mid-round. Pontardawe's the sort of course that doesn't try too hard; it's proper local, the kind of place where you'll see the same faces most weekends.

It's an 18-hole layout that'll take a standard four and a half hours, give or take. The condition varies depending on the season - winter can be a bit soggy down in this valley. Fairways are playable rather than pristine, greens are generally decent. There's a decent clubhouse with bar facilities if you fancy a drink after.

If you're staying at Black Ewe Glamping just down the road, this is about as close as it gets for a round without travelling. It's a working club with regular members, so you'll need to sort green fees and tee times in advance - just ring them up and they'll sort you out. Weekday mornings tend to be quieter if you want to avoid the Saturday rush.

It's genuinely more for golfers than casual visitors. Your non-golfing family members will be bored stiff. But if you're staying locally and fancy a reliable round in proper Welsh valleys, it does the job. Not spectacular, not trying to be - just solid golf at the end of the day.