Vale of Llangollen

The Vale of Llangollen Golf Club has been around for well over a century now, dating back to its original 9-hole layout which opened in 1908.  It was not until the 1960s that the course was extended and redesigned into the 18-hole layout that golfers can enjoy today.   In recent years, the club has hosted several national tournaments, including the Welsh Team Championships, Welsh Ladies Championships, Welsh Girls Championships, and the Welsh Ladies Team Championships.

The 18-hole layout at the Vale of Llangollen has plenty of challenges for golfers of all abilities. With the River Dee running alongside several holes, with stunning views of the rolling hills and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The Par 72 course plays at more than 6,600 yards from the tips, and still more than 6,400 from the yellows.   Golfers are given a gentle start to their round at the Vale of Llangollen, with three genuine birdie opportunities to start. The opener is a dog-leg right par 5 which is only carded as 467 yards. The short par 4 2nd – at just 285 yards – follows on, before the par 5 3rd. 509 yards from the back tees, it is another long hole that could be reached in two if you get a good drive away. From there, it gets a lot more difficult.  The other par 5s on the front side of the course are all at least 380 yards, with three of them pushing past the 400 mark. The other hole, the 6th, is the first of only three par 3s on the card at Llangollen. At 187 yards, and with three bunkers guarding the green, there is plenty of danger. Add in the River Dee in the background and the tough stretch continues. The 9th is the signature hole at the Vale of Llangollen, playing as a dog-leg left around the trees, but with the River Dee following you on the right side. It is a 436-yard par 4, meaning two strong shots are needed to get home in two, but there is little space between the right edge of the green and the water.   A good drive is needed if you are going to make the green on 10, with two large trees in the fairway. The 11th – at 330 yards – provides some respite, before the tough 12th and 13th. 12 is a dog-leg right of more than 400 yards, while the 13th is 399 yards from the tips. It is dead straight, with no bunkers and quite a wide fairway, but the green is one of the smallest on the property.   The closing run of holes includes two par 3s and a par 5. It starts with the 167-yard 14th, which plays slightly downhill to a green guarded by a pair of bunkers and two large trees at the back. 15 is the final par 5 at Llangollen, and runs alongside the River Dee, so anything left off the tee is in trouble. At just 485 yards, this is reachable in two for those that dare risk it! 16 also plays with the Dee down the left, and with trees encroaching into the left side of the fairway, it is well worthy of its stroke index 3. 17 is a gentler par 4 at 360 yards, with the closing hole being the final par 3. Four greenside bunkers, trees behind and people watching on from the clubhouse. It’s a tough final approach shot!

Greg Webber: A pretty, well-presented, pleasant parkland course situated in the Vale. Maturing trees provide the shape and definition to the holes. It is well worth a visit.

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Where is Vale of Llangollen located?  
The Vale of Llangollen Golf Club is in northeastern Wales, and the venue is just six miles from the Welsh border with England. The club sits directly off the A5 – which runs between Central London and Holyhead – while the River Dee forms the natural boundary around the northern and eastern sides of the property. The town of Llangollen is a mile west of the club.  The nearest train station to the Vale of Llangollen – Chirk Station – is five miles to the southeast of the club. Trains run between Shrewsbury and Chester, running through Wrexham in both directions. Both Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport are within an hour to the northeast of the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club. The former is the bigger and busier of the two that service the northwest of England and is also the busiest airport in the United Kingdom outside of London. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
The Vale of Llangollen is one of three venues in the northeastern corner of the country, with Wrexham and Northop within 25 miles to the north. Welshpool is also within 30 miles to the south of the venue.
What golf facilities does Vale of Llangollen offer?  
The Vale of Llangollen Golf Club has a practice area between the 5th and 18th holes in the middle of the property. There is space for mid-to-long irons, along with a practice bunker. The putting green is at the northern end of the building, on the walk to the 1st tee from the clubhouse.  
What are the green fees at Vale of Llangollen?  
The price of a green fee at Vale of Llangollen changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.   For more information on current green fees at Vale of Llangollen, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Visit the Vale of Llangollen's website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.