YOU know you're playing a half-decent golf course when there's a former Ryder Cup captain in the fourball behind.

And whether you're one of those lucky bleeders with a single-figure handicap, or one of the less fortunate souls who sometimes take double figures on a single hole, you're glad to discover that the ex-skipper is teeing off a good half an hour after you.

Sadly, as a result of all the hours spent sweating in the office rather swinging on the range, the Evening Post's newly-appointed course reviewers fall into the unfortunate category.

For us a round in the seventies is an impossible dream.

Hence the relief on the first tee when it dawned that a star of the seventies was nowhere to be seen.

Brian Huggett played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Ryder Cup six times between 1963 and 1975, winning eight and halving six of his 24 matches.

He also led the side in 1977.

These days Huggett is president of Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club, and he was in town for a round the day we paid a visit.

By all accounts Huggett is a nice guy, but we didn't need him watching as we hit the ever nerve-wracking opening tee shots of the day.

As it turned out there was no-one around on a fairly quiet, midweek morning.

The pressure was eased.

After a warm welcome in the well-stocked pro shop and a warm-up on the club's driving range, we both hit decent enough drives.

They flew a couple of hundred yards and, crucially, in roughly the direction of the hole.

There began a round we'll remember for a while.

There were the usual infuriating moments.

One of us needed four putts to get down when 20ft away in three on the par five 13th, the other blew what should have been a winning par on the rising 16th by fluffing from an inch outside gimme territory.

But at Machynys, golf doesn't feel quite so cruel.

The ball's failure to disappear is easier to take when you're knocking it around a place like this.

There are cheaper courses, but Machynys is worth the extra pennies for it's well-kept fairways, superb greens and fine views across the Loughor Estuary.

The rough — as you'd expect on a links course — can be severe, the bunkers are numerous and the water isn't reserved for the bay.

But remarkably, we only sent one ball swimming between us all day.

Needless to say, the splash occurred on the 18th, just where all those enjoying the views from the balcony in the clubhouse bar could see us.

But then nobody seemed to mind.

Machynys is tough enough to test the best golfers — Laura Davies and Co will be there for the Welsh Ladies Championship of Europe in August, and there is talk of the men's tour coming to Llanelli as well.

But with five different tees to play from, it offers higher handicappers a hugely enjoyable challenge too.

There's only downside to the place, really, and that's having to go home at the end of the day.

HOW MUCH? £50 weekdays, £60 weekends. There are plenty of offers, like £35 each in a fourball package on weekdays.

CAN YOU GET ON? Yes, but you need to book and a handicap certificate is required.

WHERE IS IT? On the Llanelli coast behind Corus steelworks.

HARDEST HOLE: 16th — First a lake to clear, then various bunkers leading up to a raised green. Tricky.

BEST HOLE: 4th — plenty to choose from here, but we liked the sizeable stream which splits the fairway and makes you think on the tee.

DID YOU KNOW? Andrew Minty, one of four golf pros at Machynys, counts George Clooney among his past pupils.

AND ANOTHER THING: Machynys isn't just a golf club. There's also a health club, spa and brasserie.