Vale (Wales National) - South Wales - Wales
Vale Hotel,
Golf & Spa Resort,
Hensol Park,
Vale of Glamorgan,
CF72 8JY,
Wales
Golf & Spa Resort,
Hensol Park,
Vale of Glamorgan,
CF72 8JY,
Wales
+44 (0) 1443 665899
M4 J34, towards Pendoylan
Welcome - contact in advance
Peter Johnson
Clive Coombs
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Peter Johnson, the Wales National designer and former professional at the Cardiff Club, first began the development of golf within the former estate of Hensol Castle, a Grade I listed 17th century stately home, when he built Vale’s other 18-hole layout, the 6,700-yard Lake course. Following a visit to USA, he returned with the idea that Wales required a tougher, longer course to test the modern day golfer. Hence the Wales National course stretches to more than 7,400 yards over nearly 200 acres with five lake areas coming into play at half the holes on the card. A standard scratch score of 75 against a par of 73 lets you know that this course has been constructed with some serious golf in mind. As Johnson says, “new golf technology has seen top golfers destroy the reputation of some of our traditional courses with their huge driving and we have to develop more challenging courses. However, I am a bit of a traditionalist and set out to mold the course into the countryside, making the most of the land's natural contours, features and waterways”. Set within some beautiful Welsh countryside, the course contains a mix of wooded areas, wide and narrow fairways, along with some enormous water features and bunker complexes, with all putting surfaces constructed to USGA standard. The 495-yard 16th is rated by some as one of the best par fours in the UK with an incredibly undulating green that sees more than its fair share of three putts. |
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Reviews for Vale (Wales National)
Av. Reviewers Score:
All i can say is dont bother if it's been raining for any time. This is by far the wettest course i have ever played, some holes are more akin to a bog if you venture more the a yard off the green. I complained by email that in my opinion the course wasn't playable but after 3 weeks and 3 emails later all i got back was that they did have a few problems with drainage but in their opinion it was ok.
November 29, 2012
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Raindog
November 29, 2012
This club is not worthy of this website. Even if the weather has been good please save your money and go and play the best course in Newport, Newport golf club.
Mark
August 24, 2015
I’m not generally a lover of resort courses, but the Vale and the Wales National course in particular blew me away (although the Lake course is not bad either). I suspect that the anonymity of Peter Johnson – the course designer – had something to do with the quiet and unassuming way that this course slipped on to the scene. If the names of Kyle Phillips or Jack Nicklaus were associated with this course, things would probably be different. Nevertheless, Peter Johnson has done a pretty good job fashioning the course out of rolling land that’s flanked by mature woodland. There’s a distinct American feel here with sand based greens and tees and yet the course blends nicely into the landscape. There are good golf holes straight from the off, with a long doglegged par four to start followed by the 2nd which is the longest hole on the course, a tight tree-lined par five measuring more than 600 yards. I’ve played and stayed at Celtic Manor on a number of occasions but I prefer the Vale because it has a much cosier feel and, given the stay and play choice, I’d choose the Vale every time.
I played here earlier this month and although there was unseasonal July weather at the time I can echo the comments in previous reviews about the soggy fairways. It certainly played out its rather large yardage which did not make for a very rewarding day. It's also clearly a course designed around buggies which as a walker added to the feeling of going up hill the whole way round. On the plus side there are some interesting greens (maybe too interesting on some of the back nine) and the long downhill par 5 second through trees is exciting if a bit too penal. All in all a course that probably deserves no more than ints current rating on this site.
July 28, 2011
I played here at Easter and found it to be a bit of a slog. I'm a pretty long player but the fairways had no run and I've never hit so many 3 irons in my life. From memory one par 4 hole was about 480 yards and in wet conditions it was impossible. The second hole is a par 5 that is over 600 yards yet the fairway seems to be only 15 yards wide with out of bounds all down the side. On the plus side the tees and greens have fantastic drainage, it's just a shame that all the drainage budget was spent on that and none on the fairways. Unless it hasn't rained for a month or so I would say stay away....
May 11, 2010
Played the National a few times now at various times of the year and to sum it up in a few words '' An Absolute bog'' you'll definatly need your wellies to play here at any time of the year. the layout itself is not bad but there are far better course than this in the area at half the price. If you are going to make a visit here i would recommedn playing the 2nd course (The lakes) it is in far better condition and a lot cheaper. Personally the National course is well over rated and i can see why there Solheim cup bid failed
September 06, 2009
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William Dunne
January 11, 2016
I am led to believe that the Lakes course was not designed by Peter Johnson, as it was designed by Landscape Architects Celyn, who were part of the team that secured planning permission for the Hensol site. It is somewhat disingenuous therefore for Johnson to claim credit for it. I found the course to be far nicer and more interesting than Johnson's National course, which as one comment rightly states is a complete bog throughout the year!
M Aspinall
January 13, 2016
The Lakes course was in fact designed by Golf Course Designers, Celyn, who have since been taken over by a larger outfit. It is somewhat disingenuous to say that the course was designed by Peter Johnson, who may have played a part in its construction. Celyn was part of a team that secured planning permission, and produced route plans and detailed specifications for the Lakes Course. Indeed many golfers prefer the layout of the Lakes course as it cleverly follows the topography of this beautiful landscape. I understand that Celyn also designed two other courses in Wales - Woodlake Park, Cwmbran and Alice Springs (Kings Course),Usk. Good courses, but not as good as the Lakes Course, which is one of their best designs. I am given to understand that the resort was formerly owned by horse breeder, Howard Joyce, who obtained Planning Permission for a golf course and hotel on the land in the 1990s. Still, if Mr Johnson wishes take credit for the design of the Lakes course, well good luck to him - but just check the Planning records at the Vale of Glamorgan Council to confirm that CELYN were in fact the actual course designers. Happy swinging!
Oh dear- what a let down. Like similar reviewers, we were spoiled by playing Porthcawl and Southerndown before visiting here- both far better courses in much better condition. This was a route march- long walks between tees and greens and some poorly designed holes- how can a par four be two nine irons?- the sixth?Shame really as the setting is good and the staff really do try hard
March 18, 2008
A bit of a slog - some of the par 4s seem to just have length for the sake of it rather because it makes the hole any better. Some nice par 3s (although the bunkering on the 8th is a bit gimmicky), a really nice second and some memorable holes from about 13-16. The 18th is a weak finish. Very tiring even when you are firing long.
November 06, 2007
We played this as part of the Waverleys tour and was a bit of a letdown after P&K and Southerndown. To be fair, if you like all that corporate golf-thing it is probably not a bad course - the 2nd being a bit special. However, proper golfers are surely going to give this a wide berth with P&K, Southerndown and Porthcawl only 25 mins away. The staff were all friendly but be prepared for a bit of a hard-sell on the old "timeshares". We were approached on the course and told we'd a get a free upgrade to a de-luxe jacuzzi if we signed up before the 17th tee!!
July 03, 2007
The resort at the Vale is a welcome addition to the M4 golfing corridor that includes St Pierre, Celtic Manor, Porthcawl, and Pennard to name a few. The Vale will be hoping take resort business certainly from St Pierre and Celtic Manor and I think it is doing a decent job. All of the modern resort facilities that you would expect including two golf courses. The Wales National course is only three years old (2003) and some of the early holes (1st, 4th 5th) have a decidedly young look about them. With some TLC over the coming years I am sure they will mature and evolve correctly as right now they are a touch bare in terms of trees for example. The 2nd is a long par 5 and already a great hole, the 3rd is a par 3 and in my mind is routed the wrong way around (if the tee and green were swapped, the flow would be so much easier). There are some really great holes after crossing the track behind the 6th with the pick probably the 16th, although it does have a bit of a comedy green (huge humps and bumps that should be flattened a little to be honest). The National course at the Vale is well positioned to become a true great course in south Wales, but not just yet…give it time though and this has chances to become the first choice for stay and play and not just an alternate to the others mentioned earlier. Worth a visit.
October 12, 2006
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Played the Wales National last October and it's a pretty good test of golf and enjoyable too for an American styled course. The 2nd is as tough a par 5 as I've come across, a massive 607 yards from the back tee. My only real critisism is that the 18th hole is a bit of a letdown. It finishes behind the car park and it's probably the weakest hole on the course... if only they could somehow create a closing hole half as good as the excellent 16th this course might be a Top 100 contender.
January 03, 2006