Celtic Manor (Roman Road)
Newport, Wales
- AddressThe Usk Valley, Coldra Wood, Chepstow Rd, Caerleon, Newport NP18 1HQ, UK
- Championships hosted
The resort at Celtic Manor was conceived and developed by Sir Terence Matthews. In the late 1970s, Matthews bought a near derelict manor house and turned it into a small hotel. The hotel became popular and successful, winning the Egon Ronay Best Hotel in Wales award five years on the trot. Matthews’s long-term vision was a golfing complex; and after three years in the planning and making, the Roman Road course, designed by Robert Trent-Jones Senior, opened for play in 1995.
The par 69 Roman Road course played host to the 2007 Celtic Manor Wales Open for the third consecutive year. The last par 69 course used for a European Tour event prior to this one was the 2003 Hong Kong Open, staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
European Tour history was also made on the Roman Road course during the 2007 Celtic Manor Wales when nine golfers tied for the first round lead on 65 (-4) beating the old record of eight which happened at the 1995 European Masters – staged at Crans-sur-Sierre in Switzerland since 1939. The 2008 Celtic Manor Wales Open was held on the newly opened Twenty Ten Ryder Cup course. It is therefore unlikely that the Celtic Manor Wales Open will return to the Roman Road course in the future.
The main Roman East-West road crosses the course, hence the name. However the routing of the holes has ensured that the Roman archaeology has been preserved. In fact, the whole design is totally in tune with its surroundings. The natural contours of the land and the mature trees are at one with the golf course.
It stretches to a testing 6,600 yards from the back tees, but it’s likely that you will be asked to play from the yellow tees which brings the yardage down to a modest 6,000 yards (5,300 yards from the ladies’ tees). From the forward tees you might dismiss the course as short, but it certainly doesn’t play like a short course. Quite the contrary.
We are not buggy lovers, but we advise you to consider taking one because the walks between greens and tees are quite lengthy and the undulating layout makes for tough walking.
There are many memorable holes on the Roman Road, especially the long par three 8th, played through a tunnel of trees and the short par four 14th, a right to left dogleg. The second shot needs to carry a lake, which protects the green.
Trent Jones Senior has created an American-style course that will appeal to golfers of all abilities for the holes are captivating and challenging. Combine Celtic Manor's Roman Road with the Twenty Ten course (2010 Ryder Cup course) for a really memorable golf day.
The resort at Celtic Manor was conceived and developed by Sir Terence Matthews. In the late 1970s, Matthews bought a near derelict manor house and turned it into a small hotel. The hotel became popular and successful, winning the Egon Ronay Best Hotel in Wales award five years on the trot. Matthews’s long-term vision was a golfing complex; and after three years in the planning and making, the Roman Road course, designed by Robert Trent-Jones Senior, opened for play in 1995.
The par 69 Roman Road course played host to the 2007 Celtic Manor Wales Open for the third consecutive year. The last par 69 course used for a European Tour event prior to this one was the 2003 Hong Kong Open, staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Course Reviews
Leave a Review
Much better layout than the 2010 but if the course was looked after then it would be fantastic.
Bunkers are shocking just play them are GUR. Greens are good and roll extremely well.
It suffers in the wet to the point of losing balls in the middle of the fairway. During the summer the fairways are not great as you find a lot of bear lies.
Again like the other course on this property, it's poorly run as no marshal so pace of play is extremely slow.
During a memorable two-day stay and play at Celtic Manor, the Roman Road course offered a refreshing change of pace following the challenging Montgomery course the day before.
In stark contrast to its predecessor, the Roman Road course presents a flatter and less undulating landscape, making for a more forgiving and enjoyable golfing experience. The wider fairways and more accessible holes provided a welcome respite, allowing us to focus more on the fun and camaraderie of the game rather than the relentless challenge of the terrain.
Playing alongside two members added an extra dimension to the round, offering insights into the course's nuances and enhancing the overall enjoyment. As a 17 handicap golfer, I found the Roman Road to be particularly enjoyable and less frustrating compared to the Montgomery, thanks to its more forgiving layout and open fairways.
The facilities at Celtic Manor maintain the same level of professionalism and luxury that permeates throughout the resort, embodying the rich tradition and history of the sport. From the well-appointed clubhouse to the meticulously maintained course, every aspect of the experience exudes excellence and attention to detail.
Overall, my time on the Roman Road course was a highlight of my stay at Celtic Manor. While the Montgomery may have presented a greater challenge, the Roman Road's accessibility and enjoyable layout made it my personal favourite among the courses available at the resort. Though I have yet to experience the 2010 course, and while the Montgomery certainly tested my skills, the Roman Road left a lasting impression as a course that strikes the perfect balance between fun and challenge.
No matter what time of the year take welly’s! Greens are always fantastic however and as a layout it’s the best at the Celtic Manor resort but saying that the other two are not up to much.
Of the three course this was the one in the worse winter condition especial around the front nine.
The front nine which though starts on the hotel side of the road before play out sand back on the other side of the road from the main resort. It,s a hilly course and winds through woodland. A lot of uphill holes.
You cross back under the road for the back nine which we found much more enjoyable both visually and conditions wise. Hole 13 is a great down hill hole and the finish few holes are very enjoyable.
Least enjoyable of the three course but due to wet muddy conditions and think in summer May we’ll be as good if not better then Montgomerie.
Reasonable but forgettable.
I have ranked this the same as The Montgomery’ both are part of the fantastic Celtic Manor complex and both play 2nd fiddle to the overpriced 2010.
As a member of roman rd im fortunate to play this course every week, and between the two championship courses at Celtic Manor, the majority will agree this is the better of the two! Similar to monty each hole is completely different to the rest, the course is always in good shape! winter and summer! it plays long! but theres some incredible holes including the par 5 5th, par 4 10th, and an amazing par 3 over water on 16.
An attempt at an American resort course in Wales.
On the plus side, the course is well maintained and the set up is very friendly.
This is a much better course than I had expected, and pretty decent value.
I think that the order of play has been changed since some of the earlier reviews.
In general, the course is set up to be pretty forgiving from the tee. You can be quite wayward without any punishment worse than some gentle rough.
In my view the star hole is the 13th, a dog leg par 4 which requires a pretty daunting mid-iron second, from a downhill lie, across a water hazard lined with dense scrubby bushes, to a very elevated green.
The 5 par 3s are quite tough, two at about 175 yards and three at about 210 yards. In a way they sum up the course - a decent design, a good test, but lacking in character.
The Roman Road was pretty much what I was expecting.
The course was manicured perfectly with excellent tees, closely mown fairways and true greens. The ball seemed to sit up on top of the grass if you missed a green making chipping and pitching a lot easier than at some courses where the ball can nestle down.
At just under 6,500 yards the Roman Road course isn't a monster but it does require long hitting at times.
Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.
Thanks for the review
Your review has been successfully submitted and will be reviewed for approval.
Course Reviewed
You’ve already submitted a review for this course.
Course Architect
View All
Robert Trent Jones arrived in New York aboard the steamship Caronia from Liverpool on Monday, 29th April 1912, exactly two weeks after the Titanic had sunk on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic.
