England - North East 5
Durham and Northumberland
There’s some wonderful golf to be found in these two counties and for the visitor to these shores interested in history some magnificent things to see. The scenery is also marvellously varied, from the grouse moors of Durham, the wide expanses of Kielder Forest or Hadrian’s Wall country in Northumberland, industrial archaeology left, right and centre, great buildings such as Durham Cathedral, historic Lindisfarne and Corstopitum, little fishing villages and unspoiled beaches. Many golfers, of course, will pass this area by in their hurry to get to North Berwick and Muirfield. Tarry a while here and your time will not be spent in vain.
http://www.barnardcastlegolfclub.org.uk/A place to get away from it all. The architecture is not a reason for visiting (but you might fancy that picture of the 1st green on the website), but it’s the combination of seriously fresh air, unspoiled English countryside and the proximity of a charming little northern market town. There are, however, several jolly teasing holes, not least the fun 17th.
http://www.bagc.co.uk/There’s something very homely about the photos on the website – almost a family photograph album – but then they call you ‘pet’ up here and they mean it. Again, not great architecture but a surprisingly interesting challenge in lovely country with fine views over the Bishop’s Palace.
I haven’t been able to find a working link to Brancepeth Castle, but this is an architectural must, worth driving a couple of hundred miles to play. It’s a Colt course distinguished by the large number of tee shots which must be played over deep ravines. It’s a handsome course, mostly heathland in character, with a number of tricky greens. The backdrop is of the Durham Moors to the south on which wild boar used to roam (hence the derivation of the village name: Braun’s Path), while to the north the castle and village church present a most agreeable backcloth. There are any number of memorable holes, but top of the list are the back-to-back par 3s at 9 and 10, both over 200 yards long, all carry over tree-filled ravines to hill-top greens. Don’t miss it!
http://www.hartlepoolgolfclub.co.uk/Hartlepool is squeezed between the railway and the sea on a fecund patch of undulating ground. Some of James Braid’s original design survives. Some of it is true links, not all, but it’s such a friendly place and there’s so much character to the place that you’ll come away with a smile.
http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s235.phpThis seems to be the official website for Seaton Carew. It has a fair amount of information but no course photos. Like Cleveland (see 9(d)) it’s overshadowed by industry, but once you are on the course you don’t notice it. It’s quite a flat links yet there is a central spine of low dunes which provide enough movement to yield some interesting green sites. 22 holes can be configured in several ways and I have to say that the new holes in the dunes beside the beach are among the best. It is surely the best value of all the top quality links courses in England.
http://www.southmoorgolfclub.com/I’m glad to see South Moor has begun to set up a proper website. When I was compiling the Times Guide they could let me have no printed material, there was no website and I was concerned that the place might be dying from lack of interest. The course pages show that they are taking it seriously and the green fee page will show that this must be the best value Mackenzie original in the country (and, therefore, the world). Worth pursuing, surely?
http://www.south-shields-golf.freeserve.co.uk/index.htmlA little-known (apart from the locals, that is) piece of heathland golf with fine coastal views only a mile or two from Newcastle city centre. Recommended!
The Northumberland Golf Club is the premier club in the Newcastle conurbation. I haven’t located a website. It’s laid out inside the racecourse (Colt and Braid) and has hosted a number of professional and R&A tournaments. Interestingly it has a completely different winter course from summer course (different routing). I have not played it. Can anyone tell me more?
http://www.cityofnewcastlegolfclub.co.uk/A Vardon course of some distinction a mere three miles from the city centre. There are some handsome holes (though only one par 4 exceeds 400 yards) and it is charming. Just look at the annual subscription – this for a course in the very centre of one of our big cities!
http://www.wbgolf.free-online.co.uk/There’s a charming and very witty page on the site – How to get round Whitley Bay and survive. I have only played it once but I enjoyed myself immensely. It’s not a links course, being set back behind the town about a mile from the sea, but the turf is crisp and links-like and many of the holes are affected by the chasms and craters of former mine workings. The wind will almost certainly be a factor and the finish is terrific with a nerve-jangling 16th of real quality, a cape hole of the first order. Sadly no photos on the website, but the description should be encouraging enough.
http://www.alnmouthgolfclub.com/A very old club (4th oldest in England), Alnmouth is a parkland layout beside the sea. The 5th and 6th could almost be links holes and the 6th is probably the hardest on the course. Most enjoyable.
http://www.bamburghcastlegolfclub.org/Celebrating its centenary this year, Bamburgh Castle is a wonderful marriage of golf and location. You can see five famous old castles from the higher ground, and on every hole there is a sense of being far away from all worldly cares. It’s not long, but neither is it easy. The 6th, for instance is a very unforgiving long par 3 with its green amongst the rocks.
http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/A very hospitable club with a pleasant links course with occasional views over the sea to the Farne Islands. Despite the proximity of the railway there is a wonderful feeling of remoteness here and the golf course has that lovely vintage feel, even if it has been delicately upgraded over the years.
http://www.dunstanburgh.com/Another friendly club with a links course two fairways deep keeping very close company with Embleton bay. A Braid design and, of course, wonderful value for money.
http://www.hexhamgolfclub.ntb.org.uk/template.asp?ID=208&resID=0209867ANot the greatest of websites, but the two photos will tell you what to expect. It’s one of the nicest parkland courses in this part of the country, mostly Vardon-designed. It’s a good combination of hilly and level holes and the scenery of the surrounding Tyne Valley is delightful.
http://www.magdalene-fields.co.uk/The most northerly course in England, on the Scottish border in Berwick-upon-Tweed (which, incidentally, is still at war with Russia, having been omitted from the peace treaty at the end of the Crimean War….). Some wonderful seaside holes including an all-or-nothing shot across an inlet of the sea.
http://www.seahousesgolf.co.uk/A decent course at only 5,500 yards from the back? How on earth can they hold county fixtures here? This is a really deceptive little course on which standard scratch score is rarely bettered. A little gem.
That concludes England and wales. Scotland and Ireland to come.
Happy browsing!