Sir Terence Matthews designed and built the resort at Celtic manor. Matthews purchased a near-derelict manor house in the late 1970s and converted it into a small hotel. The hotel became well-known and prosperous, receiving the Egon Ronay best hotel in wales award for five consecutive years. Matthews' long-term vision was for a golfing complex, and the roman road course, designed by Robert Trent-jones senior, opened for play in 1995 after three years of planning and construction.

The course is named after the major Roman east-west path that passes through it. However, the holes were routed in such a way that the roman archaeology was retained. The entire architecture is, in truth, absolutely in harmony with its surroundings. The golf course blends in with the land's natural contours and mature trees.