Hensol Park, Hensol,
nr Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan CF72 8JY
Office
+44 (0)1443 667 800Pro shop
+44 (0)1443 665 899Fax
+44 (0)1443 667 801Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
SeveralAcademy
Vale Golf AcademyThe 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
18-hole par-72 Lake Course (6438 yards)
51.495278
-3.376632
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): 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.
Visitors welcome on weekdays and weekends.
Must book in advance. Handicap required.
Credit cards accepted. Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2019].
Players generally walk this course.
Excellent
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.
Wales: 28th best course in Wales (Golf World, 2023).
Hensol Park, Hensol, nr. Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan CF72 8JY
+44 (0)1443 667 800
Visit websiteIn 2006 the Vale Resort was named by The World Travel Awards as Wales' largest and best spa.
Lake Course, Wales National Course
No
Royal Porthcawl; Southerndown; Pyle & Kenfig
Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire CF35 6AF
+44 (0)1656 860 621
Visit websitePerched 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".
No
Southerndown
Royal Porthcawl; Pyle & Kenfig; Vale Hotel (The Lake course and Wales National)
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).
To secure the best rates and ensure availability, it's recommended to book your rental car in advance, especially during peak golfing season.
Car Rental in Belgium, Europe & Worldwide – Avis
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: 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.
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
