The Vale Resort

Hensol Park, Hensol,

nr Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan CF72 8JY

  • Office

    +44 (0)1443 667 800
  • Pro shop

    +44 (0)1443 665 899
  • Fax

    +44 (0)1443 667 801
  • Golf pro

    Several
  • Academy

    Vale Golf Academy

About the course

  • The Course:

    18 holes. Tree-lined & open parkland. Undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb and some longish green-to-tee walks, but not an onerously hilly or tiring course.

  • Surroundings:

    Rural countryside and woodland.

  • Designer:

    Peter Johnson

Back
tees
Club
tees
Front
tees
Yards
7413
6530
5846
Par
73
73
74
SSS or slope
75
71
74

At the same location:

18-hole par-72 Lake Course (6438 yards)

Location

Latitude:

51.495278

Longitude:

-3.376632

How to get there:

10 miles W of Cardiff

Leave M4 just west of Cardiff at exit 34 (A4119 Rhondda) and follow direction Pendoylan. After 50 yards from motorway roundabout turn right, direction Vale Hotel. After 500 yards turn right direction Vale Hotel. After 200 yards turn left and then after 300 yards turn right into the Vale Hotel.

The Vale Resort (Wales National course)

3-PLUS: Good course - several memorable features; worthy of 3½ stars.

Est. 2003

The Vale Resort (Wales National course): If Vale's Lake Course is short and compact, then the Wales National can only be described as long and expansive. At 7,400 yards from the tips it will give your woods and long-irons a thorough workout and your legs a good stretch.

The views over the Glamorgan countryside beyond the course are stunning, while the on-course visual delights include several water features, shrub and flower beds, well crafted earth mounding, substantial bunkering and fast heavily-contoured greens. Some holes are open and linksy, others follow a more tree-lined routing, not least the dauntingly tight par-5 2nd. There are also some ancient celtic stones spread around some of the greens, which provide an excellent viewing amphitheatre for spectators.

Some may refer to this layout as an expansive feast of Welsh golf (we'd agree with them) others may view it as a bit of a monster (or Welsh dragon perhaps ?). But what is abundantly clear is that the Vale Resort's Wales National course provides terrific value and a most challenging round - whatever your handicap.

List of courses: Wales - South

Visitors

Who can play and when?

Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.

Must book in advance. Handicap required.

Green fees

Visitor fee, 18-holes in high season: £70.

Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2019].

Other information

Players generally walk this course.

Practice facilities

Excellent

Did you know?

The Vale Hotel and its golf courses are part of the Hensol Castle estate. There are substantial development plans for the 17th century castle, which would then be included in the current attractions of this excellent Stay'n'Play location.

Published ranking

Wales: 28th best course in Wales (Golf World, 2023).

Where2Stay

  • The Vale Resort4-star

    Hensol Park, Hensol, nr. Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan CF72 8JY

    +44 (0)1443 667 800

    Visit website

    In 2006 the Vale Resort was named by The World Travel Awards as Wales' largest and best spa.

    • Golf at this hotel:

      Lake Course, Wales National Course

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      No

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Royal Porthcawl; Southerndown; Pyle & Kenfig

  • Coed-y-Mwstwr3-star

    Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire CF35 6AF

    +44 (0)1656 860 621

    Visit website

    Perched on a Welsh hillside and surrounded by woodland, this Victorian mansion provides a cosy and secluded hideaway overlooking the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan. The name Coed-y-Mwstwr translates as "Whispering Trees".

    • Golf at this hotel:

      No

    • Golf within 5 miles:

      Southerndown

    • Golf within 20 miles:

      Royal Porthcawl; Pyle & Kenfig; Vale Hotel (The Lake course and Wales National)

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

AVIS CAR RENTAL

To secure the best rates and ensure availability, it's recommended to book your rental car in advance, especially during peak golfing season.
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Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

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