Storws Wen Golf Club

History of Storws Wen - Brynteg

 

 

Situated off the North west Coast of Wales, lies one of the most beautiful collection of islands the world has to offer. The Isle of Anglesey consists of a number of islands including Puffin Island to the north, South Stack and Holyhead, the most densely populated dwelling on Anglesey.

 

The Island is relatively flat with varied coastlines. Large parts of which are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At 676 square kilometres (261 sq. mi), the Isle of Anglesey is one of the largest in Wales and the Irish Sea. The northern and eastern coasts of the island are particularly rugged, while the southern and western coasts are generally gentler, with wide sandy beaches.

 

Puffin Island Ynys Seiriol is an uninhabited island off the eastern tip of Anglesey, Wales. It was formerly known as Priestholm in English and Ynys Lannog in Welsh. A hermitage was established here around the 6th century, and there are remains of a 12th-century monastery on the island. (find out more here) The island is also a Special Protection Area for wildlife.

 

Puffin Island's highest point consists of Carboniferous Limestone at 192 feet (59 m) above sea level, having steep cliffs on all sides. It has an area of 69 acres (0.28 km2). The island is privately owned and is of limits to the pubic but tourists can take a boat trip from Beaumaris to get a closer look and the inhabitants of the island.

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A map of the island from 1947

 

 

To the West of Puffin Island is red Wharf Bay and the award-winning town of Benllech. This town is the proud recipient of a European Blue Flag and is a popular holiday destination with its sandy beaches and beautiful views out towards The Great Orme and Penmon Point.

 

Further West again, and you arrive the sleepy village of Brynteg and the hub of this, Storws Wen Farm. Nestled in the Anglesey dales is the 40 acre site which was farm land and now houses Storws Wen Golf Club.

Formally known as Storehouse Wen in the late 1800’s, the farmland was used as grazing land for cattle and sheep for a century until it became known as Storws Wen. The land was transformed into this beautiful nine-hole golf course you see today.

 

Emyr Rowlands is the General Manager and the Head Greens Keeper here at Storws Wen and worked the land long before it was a golf course. You can listen to an interview with Emyr HERE where he talks a little about the greens and ecology and a little about the history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    A Map of Brynteg showing the aforementioned Storehouse Wen from 1888

 

 

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The Land on that Storws Wen was built upon had been in Eleri Jones' family for generations where it was primarily used for grazing pastures for sheep and cattle. Ken and Eleri, being keen golfers, came up with the idea of transforming the land into something that was very close to their hearts. A golf Course. Permission was granted and the first layouts for the course were drawn up and works soon began, but a number of challenges lay ahead. How do you design a layout on this terrain was one scenario, and how do you go about building something of this magnitude? This is where Emyr comes in.

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“I have a job for you.” These words uttered by Hughie Davis brought on a challenge to the then teenage farmer that would change his life. “How would you like to be a Greens Keeper?”

And the rest is in fact, history…. but there is much more to this equation.

 

The initial planning was undertaken by Ken Jones in 1994 and the plans were drawn up for the initial layout of Storws Wen. Once approved by local council, the task got underway to nurture the soon to become fairways on the newest addition to Anglesey Golf.

You can Listen to Emyr Rowlands talk more about this process HERE.

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The Club officially opened in 1996 with Ken and Eleri becoming the first official Mr. Captain and Lady Captain boldly leading Storws Wen into a new era.

 

The club was then bought out by the current owners who had a vision of how to move the club forward and work tirelessly towards a redesign of the course and to ensure Storws Wen has a bright future by engaging, nurturing and welcoming a number of local Junior players to the club.

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You can read more about the future projects HERE.

 

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