The Vale Resort is one of the leading venues in Wales to hold a place on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. The venue plays host to two glorious golf courses, world class sports facilities used by the Welsh national football and rugby teams, an award-winning hotel, and a glorious health club and spa.  

 

The Lake Course predates everything at the resort and opened back just before the turn of the millennium. 12 of the 18 holes on the 6,400-yard, Par 72 layout feature water of some kind, meaning that it is not an easy ride. Add another 1,000 yards on and you have the distance of the Wales National Course. This has been a host course for the European Challenge Tour and Seniors Tour in its two-decade history and it is a stern test for golfers of all abilities. 

 

The hotel at the Vale Resort is an award-winning one, having taken home the Wales’ Best Golf Hotel Award on multiple occasions. It is not difficult to see why, with 143 beautifully designed rooms that exude elegance and comfort. Add in some great dining options and a creche for the little ones, and it’s an exceptionally good family option when it comes to a holiday. 

 

Golf is not the only activity to get involved in during a stay at The Vale Resort. The sports facilities are second to none, with FIFA- and IRB-standard football and rugby pitches. There are also tennis and squash courts in the Health Club, along with a fully equipped gym, swimming pool, sauna and steam room. Guests can also relax and unwind with a massage or treatment from one of the qualified therapists on site.  

 

 

Book your trip to The Vale Resort with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit The Vale Resort’s website here.  

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The Vale Resort is home to two very different golf courses – the Wales National Course and the Lake Course. The former is the championship offering at The Vale Resort and it is a brute. As you might expect from its name, water comes into play a lot more on the Lake Course, with 12 out of the 18 holes featuring a water hazard of some sort.  

 

Wales National Course 

The Wales National Course opened in 2003, and it is regarded as one of the best inland courses in Wales. In its first two decades after opening, the Wales National Course at The Vale Resort has already hosted the European Challenge Tour and European Seniors Tour.  

 

The Par 73 layout measures almost 7,500 yards, making it one of the longest courses that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. The par 5 2nd hole is the longest hole in Wales, at more than 605 yards long. Trees on both sides will catch you out, and although the hole plays downhill, only the strongest of hitters have a chance of getting home in two. Water in front of the green makes laying up the smart play for 90% of golfers. 

 

The 10th is another strong par 5 at 570 yards long. Water comes into play on the left side halfway down the hole and could be the reason most will choose to lay up with their second shots. There is only one bunker behind the green, but there is plenty of other trouble on 10. Two par 3s on the Wales National exceed 200 yards. The 3rd is almost 250 yards, but it is the 14th that is the signature hole. Water sits in front of the green, which is long and narrow. Depending on the tee position, 14 can play as short as 115 yards, making club choice crucial. Play one club more as the green slopes from back to front.  

 

Lake Course 

The Lake Course was the first thing to be constructed at The Vale Resort, dating back to just prior to the millennium. It is 1,000 yards shorter than the Wales National Course, but that does mean it is easy, as there are plenty of water hazards to catch you out during a round on the Lake Course.  

 

The Par 72 layout begins with a par 3, unlike most courses. With the hotel on the right, golfers will be aiming to avoid the dreaded S-word. Find the centre of the club face and you’re away with your round on the Lake Course. The 3rd is where the water makes its first real appearance, looming over the back of the green on this short par 3. The same lake is also behind the 8th green. 

 

6 and 7 are back-to-back par 5s, with the latter being 70 yards longer than the 6th. The 10th and 13th are both short par 3s, with the 10th being carded as only 125 yards from the back tees. 15 is a true risk-and-reward hole on the Lake Course. It is only 260 yards from the tips, playing as a dog-leg left. The green is within reach, but dare you go for it? The safe play is out to the right with a long iron to leave a wedge in hand. The closing hole on the Lake Course is a dog-leg left par 5, just shy of 500 yards. Thanks to the dog-leg, it is tough to get on in two, especially with a water hazard in front and to the left of the green.  

The hotel at The Vale Resort is a multiple-time winner of the Wales Best Golf Hotel Award. There are 143 rooms and suites in the hotel, offering guests from all walks of life a comfortable stay in southeast Wales.  

 

Thanks to The Vale Resort being a family-friendly resort, there are plenty of family rooms for those with younger children, while interconnecting rooms provide older kids with a touch of privacy, while also being close to their parents. These all come within the catalogue of rooms at the hotel, while there are also Executive Rooms and Junior Suites for those that are after that extra touch of luxury.  

 

The Vale Bar & Grill is the main eatery at the resort, with the grill section offering up a range of local produce. The Vale Bar has a stunning range of Hensol Castle gins, while there is a Welsh theme throughout the bar. The Salamanza Bar is a high-class bar, where guests can enjoy a tipple either before or after their evening meal. 

The Vale Resort is home to a fantastic health club and spa facility. Outdoors, there are three tennis courts, while there are three squash courts for those that want to work off their food and drink from the night before.  

 

The gym features a wide range of equipment, including cardiovascular and resistance machines, free weight and an outdoor fitness zone. There are also more than 80 fitness classes each week, from HIIT training to spin classes, Zumba to yoga.  

 

There are also plenty of wet facilities at the health club. There is a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, along with a whirlpool bath, sauna and steam room. The spa also encourages the use of these facilities, with a range of massages and treatments from a team of qualified professionals. 

As mentioned above, the Welsh national football and rugby teams both used the facilities at The Vale Resort. The sports facilities at the resort are simply world class.  

 

There are FIFA-standard football pitches and IRB-standard rugby pitches, along with 3G indoor and outdoor pitches as well. The facilities also include a state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool and cryotherapy chambers.  

Where is The Vale Resort?  
The Vale Resort is in South Wales, and one of four Welsh resorts on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. It is located just off the M4, and only a few miles from the coastline. The Welsh capital of Cardiff is less than 15 miles east of The Vale Resort.  

 

Both the Football Association of Wales and the WRU National Centre of Excellence are situated by The Vale Resort.  

What is the nearest airport and station to The Vale Resort?  
Cardiff Airport is only ten miles to the south of The Vale Resort. It is the busiest airport in Wales, with almost a million people travelling through Cardiff in 2022. Bristol Airport, which saw almost eight million people travel through in the same year, is around an hour from The Vale Resort, across the Severn Estuary.  

 

Pontyclun Station is just over three miles from The Vale Resort, with trains running through it from Cardiff Central Station to Maesteg. Crewe, Manchester Piccadilly and Newport are also serviced by Pontyclun.  

What golf facilities does The Vale Resort offer?  
The practice facilities at The Vale Resort feature a 16-bay, sheltered driving range along with a short game area. There are also three practice putting greens, with two in front of the Lake Course and one by the 1st tee of the Wales National Course. The Vale Resort also has a custom club fitting centre.  

 

Under Armour, Hugo Boss, FootJoy and Callaway are just some of the big name brands that are available to buy in the pro shop at The Vale Resort, while trolley and buggy hire is also available.  

Does The Vale Resort offer golf lessons?  
The Vale Resort is a Ryder Cup Centre of Excellence when it comes to golf tuition and coaching. Lessons are mainly taken in the practice facilities, with a team of PGA-qualified professionals on hand to advise. The club fitting centre can allow the professionals to fit you with clubs that will help to lower than handicap.  

What are the green fees at The Vale Resort?  
The price of a green fee at The Vale Resort changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at The Vale, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at The Vale Resort?  
The Vale Resort is the home to an award-winning hotel, which holds more than 140 rooms and suites. Classic Rooms, Executive Rooms and Junior Suites are all available, with the latter having sublime views of the resort's Lake Course.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
The Vale Resort is located close to two of the other resorts on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. Both Celtic Manor and the St Pierre Country Club are within a 45-minute drive from The Vale Resort.  

  

 

Book your trip to The Vale Resort with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit The Vale Resort’s website here.  

Go Back To NCG Top 100s Homepage.