The Vale Resort, Vale of Glamorgan
The Lakes Golf Course Guide

The Vale Resort - Golf

My hole in one on the 3rd, August 2020!

Since around autumn 2020 I’ve been a member at the Vale Resort having taken up golf seriously when I retired at the end of 2019, just as covid reared its ugly head. Usually I try to play 2 - 3 times a week. I thought it would be interesting to pen my guide to the Lakes course, which is the course I normally play, partly for interest to anyone who may be less familiar with the course, but also by doing so, taking the time to review and reinforce my own strategies for playing the course. At the time of writing (late 2025), my current handicap index is 16.4, so a bang average golfer, although I believe I can get that handicap a bit lower.

First things first: This is a resort course so as well as members, there are regularly guests and corporate groups playing. There are also two courses at the Vale Resort.  The longer and tougher “National”, and the one members usually play, The Lakes. This guide is only about the Lakes course.

There’s a well stocked, friendly Pro Shop and an adjacent clubhouse and bar, separate to the main Vale Resort Hotel, and there’s plenty of parking available both in the main Resort car park and a separate golf club car park. Using either is fine. A driving range is available, and pair of putting greens sit just outside the clubhouse patio. There’s usually a Marshall doing the rounds on the course in the summer to keep an eye on things and keep groups moving, but they’re less evident in the winter. 

The course is usually in fine fettle in the drier months, but can get very soggy and soft underfoot in the winter - and from a purely personal opinion, I think at times it’s kept open when it’s too wet and should be closed, but there’s undoubtedly pressure to keep it open being a resort course. In winter, due to weather and/or greens maintenance, there can also sometimes be temporary greens on several holes for long periods of time. As a side note, the National course suffers as badly in wet conditions as the Lakes, or perhaps even worse. That being said, when the course is dry, it’s fabulous to play. Always check with the Pro Shop before you go out.

There are some elevation changes over the 18 holes - mostly on the front 9, but nothing overly taxing.

As a general rule, I’d give the quality of the bunkers around the course as a 7/10. They’re ok, but not great and some have quite shallow sand. In the winter (2024/5) all bunkers were classed as ground under repair (GUR), with the option to pick and drop at the nearest point of relief, but currently all are in play.

There are ball cleaners and rubbish bins on some, but not all holes. Benches are few and far between - i fact I can only think of one hole where there is a bench as a memorial to a greenkeeper who passed away a couple of years ago. 

The signposted “half way house” at end of the 9th hole consists of nothing more than a vending machine and one toilet for men, and one for women.

The course

The Lakes is a parkland course, with most fairways lined by trees or woody areas, and comes in at a tad under 6,000 yards at 5,986. It’s a par 72 (36 out, 36 back) off whites and yellows, or par 74 (37, 37) off Reds. Water is potentially in play (depending upon how wayward you are), on 12 of the 18 holes, although if you find the wet stuff on several of those holes, you’ve either seriously misjudged your club choice or hit a decidedly wayward shot!

My best score on this course is a gross 82, and I’m currently typically in the 88-94 region off yellows.

Hole 1: Par 3, SI 9

White 199 

Yellow 180 

Red 160 

Tee shot from the 1st

The opening hole is a straight gentle downhill par 3. There’s a bunker front left of the green, out of bounds (OB) all the way down the tree lined right hand side and beyond the green there’s a sharp bank down to a stream. The green slopes gently down from front to back. The white tees for the 2nd hole are under some trees on the left, so be ready to give a shout if your opening hole tee shot goes too far left.

Hole 2: Par 5, SI 13

White 491

Yellow 445

Red 430

After a shortish and fairly straightforward opener, the 2nd poses more a few more challenges. It’s a near right angle dogleg par 5, although the fairway is quite wide all the way. However, trees and rough on both sides will consume the ball from a wayward tee shot. The whites are set well back and lower  than the yellow and reds with plenty of rubbish in front when on the winter mats. A strong tee shot 200 yds or so off the yellows will get you to close to the dogleg. If you can hit it 250 and high enough, you could cut the corner, but you’d need to be brave and a long high hitter to try that.

The view of the 2nd fairway from the winter tee mats

The photo above shows the view from the winter mats, with the summer tee red and yellow tee boxes up on on the right. The whites are behind this view across a stream!

Assuming you get close to the dogleg, you then have around 220 yds to the middle of the flatish green with a bunker protecting the front. Hit it long and you’ll be in rough close to a stand of trees.

The fairway remains pretty wife and flat, so keep on the short stuff and you’ll be ok!

Hole 3: Par 3, SI 17

White 157

Yellow 144

Red 131

Winter tee for the par 3 3rd.

Update: The stroke index on this hole off yellow and whites changed from 15 to 17 in September 25.

The 3rd is the second par 3, with an elevated green protected by a bunker front right that has a steep and high face, and another one behind and back right down bank. If you over club, there’s a risk of going into a lake beyond the green but that would be a serious misjudgment of length/club (although I have done that!).

A stand of trees on the left can cause some problems if the pin is centre or centre left and you attack it aggressively. 

There are a few slopes on the green that provide some putting challenges.

This hole is where I achieved my only hole in one to date about 6 months after I started playing - although to be fair, I thinned a 7 wood off the tee. If it hadn’t bounced on the green and hit the flag and gone in, it would have run on another 25 yards into deep, wet trouble. It was a 1 on the card though!

Hole 4: Par 4, SI 1

Par 5 off Reds

White 440

Yellow 435

Red 430

4th green looking back down the fairway

The first par 4, and according to the card, the hardest hole on the course with its stroke index of 1, although it’s not that long. 

There’s OB down the left off the tee (protecting the 5th green and it's approach) to a left hand dogleg, after which it becomes red stakes all the way down the left. OB stakes on the right can be ignored - they’re for the 17th fairway. 

The safe shot off the tee is straight, beyond the dog leg leaving a longish layup shot. The aggressive line for bigger hitters is cutting the corner over the trees on the left but you’ll need about 190 yards and enough height to clear the trees to do it. That gives long hitters a chance of getting there in two. For the rest of us mortals, it’s usually a layup short of the green for a chip up and on. 

There’s a stream/pond protecting the front for those trying to get there in two (or even three as I can attest). There are two steep bunkers beyond the mostly flat green. The photo above is the 4th green looking back down the fairway towards the dogleg on the right.

Hole 5: Par 4, SI 3

White 403

Yellow 362

Red 357

5th hole, winter tee

Another par 4. Slightly downhill and a little right to left down the narrow fairway. It's straight all the way down, with a little switch to the right for the approach shot. There are red stakes all the way down the tree and ditch lined left, and in dry summer conditions even a ball landing in the middle of the fairway can find itself rolling into the ditch. The line is therefore right hand side, but with trees all the way down the right, it can be tightish if you stray too far in that direction. 

A long tee shot gives you a chance of getting the green in two, but a layup can be a sensible option if the tee shot isn’t long or a little wayward as there’s a pond protecting the front of the green. Long or right on approach risks finding the very long stuff. The green slopes gently right to left on the right hand side, steepening towards the left, so take care with your line when putting.

The 6th fairway runs  back towards you along the right side of this 5th hole, and slopes severely down to this fairway, so be watchful for players playing up that hole as they can often be rooting around on the edges of this fairway for balls that have rolled down and across.

Also be mindful of players on the 4th tee who should wait until you’ve cleared the green, but you can of course wave them to play if you’re confident they won’t hook their drive whilst you’re putting!

Hole 6: Par 5, SI 17

White 483

Yellow 463

Red 449

6th tee. Look at that slope on the fairway!

The first of two consecutive tricky par 5’s. This is especially challenging for shorter hitters, where the SI of 15 allegedly making it the fourth easiest hole on the course is debatable!

Note: The SI of this hole changed from 17 to 15 in September 25.

The first 250 yards of this slightly uphill right to left dogleg slopes severely from left to right. Anything landing in the middle, or even left side of the fairway cut, could well end up down in the first cut on the right and almost certainly will in dry conditions. Longer hitters can clear the worst of this slope. Beyond the left hand dogleg the fairway levels out a little but remains undulating eventually dropping to a green protected front right by a small bunker. 

The green itself is flat(ish) at the back but then slopes quite severely from the back to front. A pin anywhere on the slope makes putting, even when greens are slow, very tricky, and in summer when they’re fast, ridiculously treacherous, with it being almost impossible to stop the ball. Three or even four putts are not unheard of here. Good luck!

Hole 7: Par 5, SI 11

White 510

Yellow 510

Red 475

Aim for the gap!

White and yellows are given the same yardage on the card on the 7th, but can vary by 10-20 yards or so. The stroke index of 11 belies the challenges of this tricky hole.

Where the previous fairway sloped hard left to right, this one, going back the other way, slopes steeply right to left after an initially flattish 100 yards or so. However, before you get to that point you first have to navigate a tight gap between tall trees at about 150 yards where there is also a deepish trough in the fairway. Clear this and you can give yourself a chance at a decent 2nd shot shot. 

A middle of the fairway second (or long first) can easily end up way left - and in the summer when the grass is short and dry, it’s not unheard off to see balls end up so far left they go down the slope and across the 6th fairway ending up on the bottom edge of that fairway! But you’re not done yet. 

There’s also OB all the way down the right of the fairway to the green along this steep sloping right to left fairway.

From about 130 yards out, the fairway cut stops and you have to get over shorter rough to land on the long green. It’s a narrow shot in, with a steep bank on the right down to the green, and a steep bank left off the left hand edge of the green with VERY long grass and a bunker back left of the green. Miss the green and bunker left or long and it’s often goodbye ball.

The green looks flat-ish but has some very deceptive borrows. Take care.

Hole 8: Par 3, SI 5

White 210

Yellow 207

Red 196

View from the elevated 8th tee

This is one of my favourite holes on the course, a tricky but delightful par 3. A high elevated tee sees you hitting down to a two tier green. There is OB all the way down the right (a sheep field), and a steep rough bank adjacent to the field that runs down to the green. There’s water if you go long - although you’d need to seriously over-club to do that, hitting in excess of 230 yards, but with the flag sometimes right at the back, it's not out of the question. There’s a stream down a bank on the left of the green, and to top it all off, there are eight, yes, eight bunkers waiting to gobble up your ball. Club selection and accuracy is key. Wind often puts another factor into play here

The green top tier is at the back of the green with a big slope down to the front tier.

Be wary of golfers on the path walking from the 3rd to the 4th tee, or those on the 17th green if you hook your drive.

Hole 9: Par 4, SI 7

White 387

Yellow 382

Red 370 

Approach to the 9th green

The closing hole on the front 9 is straight and fairly flat, with trees lining the fairway on both sides. It requires you navigating water on your second (for long hitters) or third shots into the green. It’s not a difficult shot in theory but is psychologically tricky because of the water that runs all the way across the fairway and down the right side of the approach apron and green. The green itself is pretty flat.

Hole 10: Par 3, SI16

White 127

Yellow125

Red 122

Teeing up on the short 10th

Update: The SI of this hole changed from 16 to 18 in September 25.

A deceptively easy looking short par 3 but with water risk.  The flag in the photo is hidden over the golfer’s shoulder.

The key here, especially in summer is stopping the ball, as there’s water straight off the back of the green, and which is also runs along the left side of the putting surface. There is a small but shallow bunker front right and OB if you slice it too far right. The green is flat. Club choice is key.

Hole 11: Par 4, SI 12

White 341 

Yellow 335

Red 328

The 11th tee

The 11th is a shortish, and mostly straight par 4 that slopes gently left to right, with tall trees lining both sides of the fairway. A straight tee shot is key.

There’s a fairway bunker (one of very few on the course) at about 240 yards off the tee or about 90 short of the green. 

The green slopes front to back slightly, and there’s a bunker at the back of the green, and water back right. The photo is the view off the yellow tee.

Hole 12: Par 4, SI 6

White 315

Yellow 308

Red 295

The 12th - this is the Lakes course signature hole

A short par 4 with an island green after a dogleg left is the Lakes course signature hole. There are a couple of trees on the left of the fairway that you either need to get past, or leave yourself short enough to get over them if you’re going for the green in two. 

I’ve seen confident (and competent) long hitters go for the green off the tee, but there’s an awful lot of water and trees in front of you if you do that, and a wooded area left that will result in a lost ball should you stray that way. You’ve got to be very, very good to get there off the tee. The more sensible options for higher handicap players are a long drive followed by a pitch in over the water to the narrower part of the green, or for more confident, lower handicaps a shorter tee shot with a mid iron in over the trees and water utilising the length of the green to help stop the ball. 

Again, any shot into the green requires the ability to stop the ball in drier conditions with water all around. 

It’s great if you can impart spin on the ball! Not so much of an issue in softer conditions. There’s also a bunker front, and back right. It’s a hole that can get in your head very easily, but very satisfying when you get there in two and either par or even birdie it. 

Hole 13: Par 3, SI 18

White 137

Yellow 130

Red 129

Update: The SI of this hole changed from 18 to 16 in September 25.

13th par 3 off the old winter mats

Previously the easiest hole on the course, this straight and short final par 3 is had its SI changed to 16 in September 25. It’s guarded by a green wide bunker just short of the green. However, add in OB all the way down the right and off back of the green, and the risk of water around the 12th green front left from a hooked tee shot, and it adds some jeopardy. Once on the green, it’s pretty flat. 

The photo is an old image showing the old winter mats. The new winter mat is to the left of picture, and slightly further back.

Hole 14: Par 5 SI 4

White 608

Yellow 558

Red 507

14th fairway

The longest hole on the course is the par 5 14th. 

The fairway bends to the left at around 300 yards, where it also starts to go slightly uphill, before a final slope down to the green. 

The white tees are set considerably further back than the yellow and red tees here, requiring an accurate shot off the tee, which makes it a real knee trembler for mid to high handicappers, especially with early water and then OB down the right creating risk for faders and slicers.

That OB all the way down the right of this hole, is made more problematic by the left to right sloping fairway beyond the bend. Firm dry conditions in the summer have accounted for many a ball landing in the middle of the fairway running into the longer rough and then down and OB. A couple of bunkers on the right hand edge of the fairway close to the green don't normally cause any problems.

The green has a bank down to it on the left and it’s easy to run off and OB just off the right hand edge if you over-club your approach, especially in firmer summer conditions. A marker on a pole gives you the line to the green from the fairway which you may not be able to see when playing your approach shot. If in doubt, aim left.  

There is a bell here for players leaving the green to ring. Wait for the bell before playing your shot to the green.

Hole 15: Par 4, SI 14

White 275

Yellow 270

Red 264

15th: The green is in line with the row of trees down the left edge of this photo

Another favourite of mine is the short par 4 15th hole that has a big right to left dogleg at about 170 yards. 

Confident and accurate players could go for the green in one - a shot of about 230 yards, but beware - it’s over a lot of high trees, with a woody area very tight to the left and OB beyond the green. I've seen it done, but if you can execute that, it’s an exceptional shot.

The more obvious and safer route for lesser players, is a shot to or just past the dogleg (where the pair of trees in the centre of the photo above are) and then a short iron or wedge into the raised green. The green has a bank at the back that acts like a backstop to help a thinned or over clubbed shot (so long as it’s not too over-clubbed that it goes OB), and a couple of gentle tiers.

Added hazards are a pond and ditch around 40 yards short of the green which catches many an errant or fatted shot, a bunker sitting below and left of the green and one front right. There’s also an enormous oak tree that could block your approach to the green if you take the dogleg route but hit too long off the tee.

Hole 16: Par 4, SI 2

Par 5 off Reds

White 457

Yellow 418

Red 404

The daunting tee shot off the 16th tee - straight down is the line

This is a lovely hole. Second hardest on the card according to SI, and the hardest part is getting your tee shot away safely.

An accurate tee shot is required to navigate between a narrowing of the fairway between two large trees at about 150-160 yards (off yellows). The fairway beyond then slopes downhill towards a right hand dogleg. 

Go left and you’re likely to be in big trouble in the trees and rubbish, but it is red staked. Go right and you OB is your enemy. A big sliced tee shot could end up close to the 5th tee so a courteous shout please if that happens.

Again, confident and big hitters could aim to cut the dogleg, but it’s a very high risk shot given the OB stakes on the right.

A new bell has been installed at the dogleg to let those on the tee know it's safe to tee off. Please use the bell.

Once at or close to the dogleg, the fairway flattens out with a straight run to the green, guarded by two large bunkers in front. The green slopes gently right to left enough to need plenty of care when putting.

Pitching into the 16th green

Hole 17: Par 4, SI 10

White 275

Yellow 271

Red 262

The tee for the 17th is to the right, the green away to the left

This is a straight and short par 4 hole, that looks easy enough but there are plenty of hazards. It’s red staked and woods all the way down the left, and if you go in there it’s pretty much guaranteed a lost ball most of the time. Off to the right hand side is some heavier rough and it's OB all the way down the right hand edge to the green, guarding the 4th fairway and tee.

The fairway runs out at about 190 yards to rough, a raised bank and a couple of bunkers, before being crossed by the cart path with a further 40-50 yards to the green beyond the path. The red stakes on the left continue all the way to the back of the green, with rubbish and a ditch and stream to further contend with on your left. A hedge at the back of the green will swallow an overhit ball.

The green slopes right to left and catches a lot of people out with the amount of borrow.

Hole 18: Par 5, SI 8

White 489

Yellow 443

Red 436

The view from the 9th green with the 18th green on the left

and a golfer coming down the 18th fairway

The final hole! Thanks if you’ve made it this far!

A nice gettable par 5 to finish, with water to contend with on your shot into the green. 

As with many holes on this course, the big guns can cut the sharp right to left dogleg here if they can get the elevation to clear the trees and they’ll then have a shot of less than 200 yards or so into the green. 

The safer shot for those of us that can’t hit 220+ at all, or with any regularity is a straight-ish shot to around 170-200 yards off the yellows to clear the dogleg. A second mid iron or hybrid shot along the flat fairway will leave you a nice short iron or wedge into the green, over the stream and lake that sits in front of and crosses both the 18th and the 9th greens. Go long on the green and you risk running OB over the back of the green, with water/stream all the way round the front and to the top left of the green.

 

The green slopes gently from back to front.

I hope you enjoy your round at the Vale Lakes course, and enjoy a welcome refreshment in the bar afterwards.