Dean Bailey revisits Burgham Park, a golf club looking ahead to a brighter future
With its Andrew Mair and Mark James-designed golf course set in a beautiful corner of Northumberland countryside, Burgham Park has been an important, modern part of the North East’s golfing landscape for nearly 30 years. Its challenging green complexes, huge bunkers and length from the back tees has proved challenging enough for top regional events since the club opened in 1994, and its owners – Burgham Park Leisure Ltd – intend to continue the club’s return to its very best in the years ahead.
Enhanced in 2022 with investment in machinery and on-course maintenance, the team at Burgham hope their plans will be delivered over the next few years to secure the long-term future of the golf course and improve the practice facilities and clubhouse.
The course remains testing for the latest generation of big hitters, with the maturing trees strengthening this test over the years as the playing corridors on a number of holes have been narrowed for long drivers, while still allowing high handicappers more generous targets.
The course’s championship pedigree is found from the back (blue) tees, which can stretch to just over 7,000 yards – though for many the most enjoyable rounds are played from slightly forward – particularly when the wind blows.
The opening two holes are fairly straightforward prospects. The fairway at the 397-yard first is generous, though there is a single bunker to the right and another to the left should you miss the short grass. A good drive will leave a mid iron to a wide green flanked by two more bunkers.
At the second, a 180-yard par three from the blue tees, a solid iron shot will find a generous green, though beware the five deep bunkers – two of which flank the putting surface while three more lurk 30 yards from the front edge of the green.
At more than 400 yards, the dog-leg right third hole is a tough test. A fairway bunker guards the right side, while another waits to catch out those who aim too far left. A tricky two-tier green features three bunkers, all cut below the surface.
At 511 yards, the par five fourth hole is reachable in two for the big hitters. From the tee, the key is missing the bunker on the left side. From here the hole drops towards a very tricky sloping green which sits at a 45-degree angle to the fairway and features steep mounding over the back edge, beyond which lies two more bunkers and out of bounds.
The 411-yard fifth hole is played straight away and players get a good look at this wide green should they find the fairway between the bunkers which flank the fairway.
The short par five sixth is an excellent birdie chance at 477 yards – should you manage to stay clear of the fairway bunker to the right of the lay up area some 110 yards from the green, while also avoiding the out of bounds on the left side. The green is defended by a deep front bunker and contains subtle, though challenging, contours.
The par three seventh got our pick for signature hole.
At just under 200 yards from the back tee, the par three seventh is sure to test your ball striking. Played into the prevailing wind, water lies just four yards from the front edge of the green. Aim for the more generous back portion of the putting surface and be thankful should you manage a par here!
The par four eighth plays shorter than its 455 yards on the card thanks to its downhill fairway, but beware the out of bounds fence to the right. Make it past the two fairway bunkers to the left side and you’ll be left with an approach over the larger of the two greenside bunkers.
The tricky ninth begins the stretch around the turn. A carry of 240 yards or more is required to clear the fairway bunker on the left side and cut the corner of the dog-leg. From here, your second shot is best coming up a little short rather than long as water guards the back of the green.
At the 10th, pay attention to the pin position and play into the correct quadrant of the green as the slopes will test even the best putters.
Driving the ball well is essential at Burgham and three good drives are required to tame the 419-yard 11th, 497-yard 12th and 441-yard 13th holes.
Play well clear of the two fairway bunkers short of the par five 12th if you take aim at the green, which sits above the fairway.
We recommend taking an iron from the tee at the 13th – the gap between the fairway bunkers is narrow and the pond gathers any balls which wander too close to its watery edges.
The story of Burgham Park is a complicated one and while its recent history has been tumultuous, owners Burgham Park Leisure Ltd have steadied the club during 2022 while investing in the golf course and machinery in order to return the course to its very best. The team hopes future plans will deliver the opportunity for more investment, with the course the first priority ahead of enhancing practice facilities and the clubhouse
The 441-yard 14th is a brute. Played uphill, the fairway is generous, but you must hit two great shots to reach the green, which is well-guarded with a large bunker at the front left and three more wrapped around its right side.
The 15th is a much simpler prospect. While still more than 400 yards, there is plenty of room left of the pair of fairway bunkers while the greenside bunkers are set away from the putting surface to provide a wide entrance to the green.
You’ll find a good birdie chance at the par five 16th, should you stay well clear of the trouble. Play short of the trio of fairway bunkers – two left and one right – then lay up short of the water to leave a short pitch to a generous target.
The penultimate hole is the toughest par three on the course. Measuring 172 yards, it’s played uphill to a green ringed by five bunkers and only the best struck shots will have any chance of holding the green.
Heading back downhill to the clubhouse, the 18th offers a great chance for birdie. Aim for the right side of this generous fairway to have the best angle to the green for your short iron approach in front of the clubhouse.
Caddy’s tip
The keys to scoring at Burgham Park are your mid and long iron shots – finding the right sections of these large greens consistently allows you to build a score here
Our verdict
Despite the challenges of the last decade, Burgham Park remains a fun, challenging golf course and an important part of Northumberland’s golfing landscape, which is on its way back to its very best
