Vale Resort (Wales National)

The Wales National Course at the Vale Resort is one of the youngest layouts that you will find on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list.  The course, designed by Peter Johnson, only opened in 2003, but it has received plenty of acclaim and competition action in its two-decade history.  Both the European Challenge Tour and the European Seniors Tour have held events on the Wales National Course at The Vale Resort in that time.

Along with being one of the youngest courses, it is also one of the longest courses you will find, not only on the NCG Top 100s: Wales list, but in the entirety of the United Kingdom. From the blue championship tees, the Wales National course is 7,433 yards. Luckily for us mere mortals, there are a range of teeing options to bring that distance down and to make a round more enjoyable for players of all abilities.  Don’t expect to score early on the Wales National, with the opening two holes being two of the hardest on the course. The opening hole is more than 480 yards from the tips, and plays as a dog-leg left, before the daunting 2nd. This par 5 is one of the longest holes 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 3rd is the opening par 3 on the course, but it is not an easy one. It is almost 250 yards from the tips, with two bunkers at the front of the green. The 4th and 7th are the other two par 5s on the front nine, with the latter only 485 yards. It is a sharp dog-leg right, but if you get a good drive away, then this might be one of the best birdie opportunities on the card. 6 is another, at just 320 yards, but there is water in front of the green on this par 4, so going for the green off the tee is a no-go.   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. The 11th is somewhat of a break from the torture, at just 345 yards, while the 12th is the easiest hole on the property.   The 14th is the signature hole on the Wales National, and it measures exactly 200 yards from the blue tees. 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. From there, the closing stretch is brutal. 15 is a par 5 with multiple water hazards awaiting anything that misses the fairway, while both 16 and 17 are par 4s of more than 490 yards in length. The closing hole on the Wales National is a 405-yard par 4, which plays as a slight dog-leg right. Water to the right of the green is the final hazard to avoid on this incredible course.

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.