Vale Resort (Lake Course)

The Lake Course was the first thing to be designed and constructed at the venue, before the hotel and Wales National Course.  The course dates back to just before the turn of the 21st Century, and has played host to several PGA Championships and national tournaments in its short history.

With 12 of the 18 holes featuring water hazards in some shape or form, you can understand why it is called the Lake Course. The shorter of the two courses at The Vale Resort, the Lake Course offers a challenge for golfers of all abilities, measuring 6,300 yards from the tips and just shy of 6,000 yards from the yellows. There are five par 3s and five par 5s on this Par 72 layout.     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 and the out of bounds down the right side. Find the centre of the club face and you’re away with your round on the Lake Course. The 2nd is the first of those five par 5s, and plays as a sharp dog-leg right. The 3rd is where the water makes its first real appearance, looming over the back of the green on this short par 3.   4 is the hardest hole on the course, a 440-yard par 4, and it is followed by the tough 5th which is the stroke index 3 hole on the Lake Course. 6 and 7 are back-to-back par 5s, and both offer up birdie opportunities after the tough stretch that precedes them. The 6th is only 485 yards, while 7 is 510 yards from the tips. The 8th is the longest of the par 3s, at more than 200 yards. There are seven bunkers guarding the green, while anything long is in danger of finding the drink. The front side closes with a 385-yard par 4, with the approach shot being played over water to the green.  The 10th and 13th are both short par 3s, with the 10th being carded as only 127 yards from the back tees. It also has water behind the green, while the 13th – at 137 yards – has a large bunker in front of the green. Two short par 4s are sandwiched in between these holes, with the 12th only 315 yards long. However, 12 has an island green with two bunkers almost on top of the putting surface, so finding the fairway is crucial to attack the dance floor.  14 is the longest hole on the property, and one of the longest holes in the country. Measuring 608 yards from the tips, it is a true three-shot par 5. 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. 16 is the hardest hole on the back nine, while the penultimate hole is also drivable, but again, there is water lurking. 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.

Chris Myatt: One of two very solid and well-presented resort courses. Conditioning, moreso considering footfall, is very good. Two very different courses on very similar land.

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Where is The Vale Resort located?  
The Vale Resort is in South Wales, and 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.    Cardiff Airport, the busiest airport in Wales, is only ten miles to the south of The Vale Resort. Bristol Airport 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. How many courses are at The Vale Resort?
The Vale Resort is home to two 18-hole layouts - the Wales National Course and the Lake Course. Are there any other NCG Top 100s: Wales venues nearby?
The trio of Southerndown, Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig are all within 20 miles to the west of The Vale Resort. The Celtic Manor Resort - home to the Twenty Ten Course, Roman Road Course and Montgomerie Course - is 25 miles to the east.
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.   
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 Resort, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).   Check out our full piece on The Vale Resort here.Visit The Vale Resort’s website here (opens in a new tab). Go back to the NCG's Top 100s Homepage.