Northumberland Best Options

[snell]

Dunstanburgh is the best for me. Had a class day out there with Beezerk, Kraxx and Khamelion.

Also a big fan of Newbiggin, not one of the 'big hitters', but definitely worth the green fee.

 

[Tashyboy]

Sorry, I didn't realise you meant the trio of courses. I read it as coastal classic, Foxton. I'm just warming up the custard now to put on my humble pie 

There will be no eating of pies on this forum without the official pie taster having his piece first.

ladies and gentlemen I am now GM forum official pie taster. 😁

 

[USER1999]

There will be no eating of pies on this forum without the official pie taster having his piece first.

ladies and gentlemen I am now GM forum official pie taster. 😁

More so than pieman? I think not.

 

[Heavy-grebo]

"Was told today Seahouses has the best greens in the area".


Played Seahouses last weekend and the greens were superb, in my humble opinion. It surprised me because the last time I was there they were far from superb. The clubhouse side of the course is good, but over the road isn't as good. Another shout in that area is Warkworth, a classic old Tom Morris design, it's a 9 holer with 2 sets of tees. A true links in my opinion and not overcrowded.

 

[Tashyboy]

Afternoon heavy grebo hope Alls well. Was talking to one of the guys in seahouses club house a few years ago. On the other side of the road is the original old stone bridge which took the road into Seahouses. I mentioned about having a tee where you walk over the bridge and play a tee shot over the brook. They had applied to the council to buy the bridge and land to do exactly that but the council had told them to do one. Shame because it would be a stunning hole.

 

[Bigfoot]

Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh are excellent. Goswick too, but I may have been put off by the mist and rain when we played it. We didn't see it at its best.

 

[Heavy-grebo]

Afternoon heavy grebo hope Alls well. Was talking to one of the guys in seahouses club house a few years ago. On the other side of the road is the original old stone bridge which took the road into Seahouses. I mentioned about having a tee where you walk over the bridge and play a tee shot over the brook. They had applied to the council to buy the bridge and land to do exactly that but the council had told them to do one. Shame because it would be a stunning hole.

Hi Andy, are ya good me duck I noticed that bridge and I was wondering what it was doing on the golf course because it's definitely a road bridge isn't it...

 

[DCB]

Well, back to reality after a good weeks holiday down on the Northumberland coast. Played Dunstanburgh Castle, which we got for £20 including coffee & bacon roll on arrival. Course was in good condition and the views were superb. Walked alongside Bamburgh, but didn't play there. Maybe some day I'll manage it, bit too undulating for my liking at the moment

By chance we found Alnmouth Village, a wee 9hole links course set behind the dunes. Played there and it was superb. Greens were in great nic and the view from the 7th tee was amazing. I'll need to go back and play it in summer conditions with hard running fairways.

Enough left in the area to make another visit to pick off a few more. Thanks for the input gents.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

DCB - I first played golf at AVGC, my father in law still plays there. Nice little club that sits in the shadow of its big brother, Foxton. Legend has it that one of the old Dukes of Northumberland didn't want his workers playing at his club, Foxton, and so set up the village course for them. Ideal in winter, rain has no effect on it, and those upturned greens give more protection than people realise particularly in the summer when it hardens up. That 7th is a great hole. Once a year they move the course around and they turn that hole into a par 3, hitting onto the 4th green which you would see from the top of the hill/tee box. That makes a really good hole into a great hole but I could never convince the committee, I was on it for a spell, to make that a permanent move. Shame.

The club has struggled in recent years, ageing membership, proliferation of other courses, so they rely on visitors and their green fees. I can assure you that the members will be very grateful that you came to play, they realise how important the visitors are. If you come back in the summer, avoid school holidays. Too many people walking over the course, oblivious to the fact it is a golf course.

 

[DCB]

We were very impressed by the help we got from the Secretary when we used their web site to make an enquiry. he had it all sorted out for us in a matter of minutes. Very friendly members both on the course and in the clubhouse. I'll certainly be back.

That change from the 7th tee to 4th green change would have been amazing. Bet there would be some cricket scores racked up if that was to have happened.

Well worth visiting, you have to play really well to score well round there. I found it very tricky with shots slipping off the greens and before you know it you're racking up a big number.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I'll pass your comments on, they will be appreciated.

The scores on that hole could rack up but no more than hitting up the hill on the hole before. It would add real drama, great fun.

When I used to tell people I was a member there they would often sneer about "that little course". Not many chew it up though. It is not long but it is classic links when you are hitting approach shots and the upturned greens really defend it well. As you say you can look at your score and wonder, how did I play that many shots? It will never be the toughest course around but that is not what it is about.

An option worth looking at for future visits is staying at Foxton in their "Dormy" houses, self catering apts on the course. They can sort out tee times with other courses in the area at special prices and you can walk into Alnmouth at night to eat and drink. You don't mention playing there but Foxton itself is a very good course to play.