The best golf courses in northeast England
Planning a golf break in the North East of England? Explore 10 of the best golf courses in our guide.
The UK is home to some of the best golf courses in the world: from Royal County Down to Muirfield, from St Andrews Old Course to Royal Birkdale.
Yes, the British golfer is spoilt for choice – and that can make deciding on a holiday destination a little challenging.
Here at MVH Rental, we're blessed to be in northeast England. It's a region that boasts both bustling urban centres and gorgeous countryside.
Its golf courses offer access to both. You can find everything from courses with coastal views to parkland courses. No matter how good your game, you're bound to enjoy the surroundings.
After all, travel is a key attraction of golf for many people. It's not just about improving your game. It's also about exploring new courses and new destinations.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best golf courses in the area. We hope you hit 'em long and straight!
Rockliffe Hall, Darlington
Rockliffe Hall's award-winning course has been home to professional tournaments. But it's equally loved by casual golfers looking for 18 holes to remember.
The course was designed by the legendary Martin Hawtree. It's a challenging course with sand dunes, lakes, wetlands and woodland.
If you're there for a break, you could consider staying at its five-star hotel and cooling off in its luxury spa.
Slaley Hall, Hexham
About five miles south of Hadrian's Wall lies the village of Hexham. And in Slaley Hall, there are two golf courses you won't forget in a hurry.
There's the Hunting Course, nicknamed "the Augusta of the North". Then there's the gentler Priestman Course with its 360° views of the Tyne Valley. After your game, you can sit on the clubhouse terrace and watch all the action on the 18th hole.
It's an ideal destination if your golf break includes sightseeing. Golfers have easy access to the countryside and coast of Northumberland and Durham, as well as Hadrian's Wall.
Ganton Golf Club
Nine miles west of Scarborough, the village of Ganton in North Yorkshire is home to the award-winning Ganton Golf Club.
It's an 18-hole course that's hosted a wide range of tournaments, including the 1949 Ryder Cup, the 2000 Curtis Cup and the 2003 Walker Cup.
Widely recognised as one of the best courses in England, Ganton was described by The Times as "one of golf's historical shrines, with a wonderful course and a reputation that stretches around the world".
Alwoodley Golf Club
This 18-hole golf course in West Yorkshire was the first ever design by the golf course architect Alister MacKenzie. It takes its place in a portfolio of courses including Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne.
Widely regarded as one of England's finest inland heathland courses, Alwoodley Golf Club is located on top of Wigton Moor. Its rolling fairways and bunkers are cut out of gorse and heather.
In 2019, the course record was set during the 2019 Brabazon Trophy when Harry Hall carded a round of 63.
Goswick Links Golf Club
Six miles south of the coastal town of Berwick-upon-Tweed is Goswick Links Golf Club: an idyllic course with the railway on one side and the coast on the other.
With its undulating greens and fairways, Goswick Links Golf Club is a sight for sore eyes. This bucolic course enjoys views of the North Sea, the Cheviot Hills, Holy Island and Bamburgh Castle.
And with its signature holes including Cocklaw and Cheviot View, it's a challenging but rewarding course for golfers of all experience levels. Just make sure the views don't distract you from your swing. Fore!
Fulford Golf Club, Heslington (near York)
Designed in 1906 by Charles MacKenzie, Fulford Golf Club was moved to its present location in 1935. Since then, it has hosted professional tournaments, European Tour events and many stimulating amateur golf games.
It's perhaps most famous for the time at the 1981 Benson & Hedges International Open when Bernard Langer found his ball up a tree. To the delight of spectators, he climbed the tree and took his shot from there.
Fulford Golf Club is a private club, but visitors can use the green for a fee.
Moor Allerton (Blackmoor & High), Leeds
We look next at a golf course in Leeds described by English golfer Peter Alliss as "a golfing experience larger than life".
Moor Allerton is certainly built on a grand scale – a course compared by some to the courses of North America. With its dramatic contours, lakes, teeing grounds and 27 holes, it gives golfers a chance to dream big.
Matfen Hall, Northumberland
Part of a five-star country house of the same name, Matfen Hall is set in some 300 acres of parkland. It's an idyllic, secluded spot boasting 27 holes, a 10-bay driving range, a par-three short course and PGA pro coaching.
The original Douglas and Standing Stone loops were augmented with the Dewlaw nine-hole circuit in 2007.
If it's views you're after, Matfen Hall is a must. The course stars a dry-stone ha-ha, woodland, the rapid River Pont and panoramic views of the Northumberland countryside.
Macdonald Linden Hall Golf and Country Club, Northumberland
This unforgettable golf course lies just outside Longhorsley – the Northumberland village seven miles from Morpeth and 14 miles from Alnwick.
It's unforgettable for two reasons. First, there's the manor-house-turned-hotel and onsite pub. Secondly, there's the course itself.
With four loops and some legendary one-shot holes, the course provides players with views of the Cheviot Hills, the North Sea and Coquet Island.
There are teeing positions for players of all levels. But be warned: the course stretches some 6,846 yards from the back tees.
Need to hire a car for your golfing excursion? MVH Rental is one of the most trusted local names for car hire in Gateshead and Newcastle. To get started, browse our fleet online or call 0191 4888 700 to chat to our team.
