Northumberland, England’s most northern county, is blessed with golfing landscapes across its rolling hills and on its spectacular coastline. Join us for a Special Focus which explores some of the best golf experiences in the north…
Alnmouth Village Golf Club
Within touching distance of the beach of Alnmouth Bay, the links of Alnmouth Village are simply stunning. Set on the rugged coastline, this is England’s oldest nine-hole links course and it remains one of its best.
Opened in 1869 with its designer, 1874 Open champion Mungo Park, as greenkeeper and professional, the opening holes are played within yards of the North Sea. You then climb Bracken Hill while playing the par four sixth hole, before being rewarded with one of the best views on any golf course in the UK from the seventh tee. The route in is unique and challenging in equal measure.
The course retains much of its original layout, while the 19th Century clubhouse is very welcoming.
While it is short, Alnmouth Village calls for imagination and accuracy to score well on small, fast greens with many swales and steep run-offs.
www.alnmouthvillagegolfclub.co.uk
Bellingham Golf Club & Riverdale Hall Hotel
Laid out over a spectacular piece of the North Tyne Valley in the Northumberland National Park, the golf course at Bellingham offers some of the best golfing views in Northumberland.
The layout here is fun, and challenging, with the many rises and falls with the landscape testing players throughout the round.
Founded in 1893, the par 70 course will test and delight in equal measure with plenty of traditional design elements and unique quirks. The signature par four 12th, Dormouse, is one of the best short par fours in the North East of England.
Bellingham Golf Club partners with the Riverdale Hall Country House Hotel to offer packages for societies and travelling golfers. The relaxed feel and hearty food here are perfect for those setting out for a day on the course or returning to unwind.
www.bellinghamgolfclub.com & www.riverdalehallhotel.co.uk
Blyth Golf Club
Close to the Northumberland coast – tucked away at New Delaval on the western edge of Blyth – you’ll find a fine example of Northumberland parkland golf.
The club was founded in 1905 and golf was first played on a nine-hole links site before players moved inland. In 1976, the first 18-hole layout was established at the club’s present site.
Recent investments have improved the layout and conditioning to new heights – with new and radically changed holes fitting in perfectly with the older parts of the course to offer a 5,940-yard, par 70 layout with tree-lined fairways and well-guarded greens.
Visitors are always warmly welcomed at Blyth – with flexible packages available to suit groups of any size – and off the course you’ll find a friendly clubhouse with high-quality food.
The Longhirst Club
Having opened its doors in 1997, today The Longhirst Club offers one of the North East’s premier golf experiences.
Formerly Longhirst Hall Golf Course, the club announced major changes to the business earlier this year as the team looked to secure and build on the legacy of founder Tommy Dawson.
When Tommy, who started North East-based travel agent Dawson & Sanderson in 1962 in Ashington, created Longhirst he had a simple vision – to provide high-quality golf to local people at an affordable price. Shaped from the former Butterwell opencast mine, which was once the largest man-made hole in Europe, the Old Course which came back into play earlier this season brings together the Northumberland landscape and Tommy’s love of golf courses in Florida.
As well as the golf course, which continues to evolve at pace as the team focuses its energy on just 18 holes, Longhirst is home to a floodlit driving range with Toptracer technology and a welcoming clubhouse which has been refurbished this season and now offers an expanded food offering throughout the day.
Matfen Hall
Since it opened for play in 1995, the golf course at Matfen Hall has undergone great transformation – not least in recent years under the ownership of the Walwick Estate Group.
A programme of investment across the business has included a multi-million-pound renovation to create Northumberland’s first and only five-star hotel; the creation of the spectacular Keepers clubhouse with fantastic views of the course, state-of-the-art simulators, and great food; and major investments on the golf course across its agronomy, machinery and staffing.
Work in the last 12 months has seen the golf course undergo a major redesign, with spectacular new greensites set to open for play in the last week of June. Work is also underway on a new, world-leading spa offering at the hotel as well as a new driving range, with both set to open in September.
From the end of June, Matfen Hall will offer an 18-hole championship course featuring nine brand new greens, alongside a nine-hole course, providing options for golfers of every level. With these new facilities in place, the team has set its sights on establishing the gold standard for golf in the North East, benchmarking itself against the very best the region has to offer. There are few venues that can match the combination of world-class golf, exceptional dining across the hotel and Keepers clubhouse, and a five-star stay – all set within one of Northumberland’s most spectacular estates.
Morpeth Golf Club
Golfers in and around Morpeth are blessed with some of Northumberland’s best golf courses on their doorstep. While links enthusiasts head to the coast, and those who enjoy modern design head to new courses, those who relish a traditional English parkland test head to Morpeth Golf Club.
Designed by six-time Open champion Harry Vardon, who picked some fascinating pieces of ground to layout his golf courses, today the course presents an exacting test of ball striking with its tree-lined fairways leading to unique greensites.
Lengthened in recent years to a total of 6,341 yards from the white tees, continued refinements ensure the course stands up to the modern game. While the fairways are generous, they are bordered by tall trees and even more trouble in a few places.
While the golf course has benefitted from continued investment in recent years, the clubhouse has not been left behind and popping in for a bite to eat is recommended.
Ponteland Golf Club
Ponteland Golf Club offers a fantastic all-round members experience as well as a spectacular location for a day on the golf course.
Founded in 1927, the club has a long tradition of hosting top events – including several Northern Counties championships and Northumberland county events as well as North East & North West PGA events.
The 6,567-yard, par 72 layout is an exacting test of ball striking and accuracy, with the tree-lined fairways leading to well-defended green complexes. Consistent investment in the golf course over recent years has seen it build on its already strong reputation, and it continues to hold a highly respected place among the leading venues in the region.
The club has been invigorated by major changes to its team in recent years, while the launch of an indoor TrackMan studio and the development of a new food offering have further enhanced the club.
www.thepontelandgolfclub.co.uk
Seahouses Golf Club
Set on clifftops above the North Sea overlooking Seahouses and Beadnell – with views of the Farne Islands – this predominantly links course presents a tricky test with a number of demanding tee shots and birdie opportunities on both nines.
The par threes are rightly celebrated – including the 10th hole, which is played over water, and the 15th, played on the clifftops and over an inlet with the North Sea crashing below.
The clubhouse and veranda are just 100 metres from the beach and both enjoy wonderful views while offering the perfect place to relax following your round.
Warkworth Golf Club
Founded in 1891 and laid out by Old Tom Morris, the nine-hole out and back course at Warkworth is a delightful example of golf on the Northumberland coast. The current layout features 18 tees – each separate from its counterpart on the opposite nine – to provide a different challenge on each loop.
From the highest points on the course you can enjoy views over the North Sea and across to the Carr Rocks and Coquet Island, while you can see Warkworth Castle when looking inland.
Measuring just under 6,000 yards from the back tees, the key to scoring here is finding the best position on the fairway to be able to access the correct sections of the well-defended greens – particularly when using the undulations to feed your ball in.
Wooler Golf Club
Set high in the hills and surrounded by a spectacular landscape, Wooler Golf Club is a delightful place to play the game.
Located on Dodd Law, above the village of Doddington and three miles north of Wooler itself – which has had a golf club since 1893 – the nine-hole course here measures just over 3,000 yards with a par of 36 and two sets of tees ensuring each loop presents a new, and in places very different, challenge. With views of the Cheviot Hills, Glendale Valley and beyond this unique and tricky hillside layout is a must-visit if you’re heading north.
