Brechin balata
Medal Winner
Anyone played it and what’s your thoughts if you have?
Slaley hall
- Thread starter Brechin balata
- Start date
rulefan
Tour Winner
Interesting courses but bit of a slog in the wet winter.
moogie
Tour Winner
2 courses
Hunting & Priestman
Hunting being their 'championship' course
Both are nice layouts
Hunting very demanding though, plays long, tough......no fun for short hitters in my opinion
Also as rulefan states, not a great draining course, so not a winter venue
Hunting & Priestman
Hunting being their 'championship' course
Both are nice layouts
Hunting very demanding though, plays long, tough......no fun for short hitters in my opinion
Also as rulefan states, not a great draining course, so not a winter venue
Golfnut1957
Newbie
I've only played the Priestman. They had just tined the greens and the wind was gusting 60 mph.
We also went to a local pub for beer.
My views are worthless
We also went to a local pub for beer.
My views are worthless
sunshine
Well-known member
Played both courses.
- Hunting has some very attractive holes, playing through avenues of trees. Quite long and challenging but I enjoyed it. I've heard it referred to as the Augusta of the north which is a joke.
- Priestman plays across more open land. Very bland and forgettable. I played in September and there was standing water in some bunkers, dread to think what it would be like in winter.
- Hunting has some very attractive holes, playing through avenues of trees. Quite long and challenging but I enjoyed it. I've heard it referred to as the Augusta of the north which is a joke.
- Priestman plays across more open land. Very bland and forgettable. I played in September and there was standing water in some bunkers, dread to think what it would be like in winter.
@sunshine the only people who could actually spout that nonsense would be the marketing team at Slaley. No one else. Marketing teams ?
As per others, The Hunting is a big boys course. It's very good, genuinely good, but also long. The Priestman is a bit meh to me but then I played badly that day, wind was up, so maybe it's more me than the course ?. If you are doing a 1 night, 2 round job, it's a decent trip.
The two downsides, terrible reputation for drainage so think about when you are playing it, and it also has a bad reputation for being a very slow round. 5hrs is not unusual and that isn't fun.
As per others, The Hunting is a big boys course. It's very good, genuinely good, but also long. The Priestman is a bit meh to me but then I played badly that day, wind was up, so maybe it's more me than the course ?. If you are doing a 1 night, 2 round job, it's a decent trip.
The two downsides, terrible reputation for drainage so think about when you are playing it, and it also has a bad reputation for being a very slow round. 5hrs is not unusual and that isn't fun.
Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
I've played both. Both courses have some memorable holes bit the Hunting is by far the better of the two. It's quite high above sea level and, as said above, does not drain well. Slaley bears the distinction of being the only European Tour event ever to be completely scrapped. In 1998, in the Great North Open, they were still completing round 1 on day three when the rain returned & swamped the course. I went to spectate for three days before I saw any golf, it was dire.
I would only consider playing there between May & September. Unless you're off low single figures I'd play off yellow tees or even, dare I say it, reds. Weather wise, find out what day the Steve Cram Golf Day is taking place in June. I photographed the event for about six years & every year the weather was blazing sunshine all day. Also, the tournament is a shotgun start on both courses so, by early evening, you have the choice of two empty courses to play.
I would only consider playing there between May & September. Unless you're off low single figures I'd play off yellow tees or even, dare I say it, reds. Weather wise, find out what day the Steve Cram Golf Day is taking place in June. I photographed the event for about six years & every year the weather was blazing sunshine all day. Also, the tournament is a shotgun start on both courses so, by early evening, you have the choice of two empty courses to play.
Golfnut1957
Newbie
Just play in 60 mph winds, the course will be empty.
Brechin balata
Medal Winner
Thanks for the info it’s a one night 2 round trip in August hopefully the weather plays ball.
That should be a lovely time to play it. It's a really nice setting, the Huntsman in particular I remember as being very pretty. Should be a good trip
Beezerk
Money List Winner
We played the Priestman last January, it was supposed to be the Huntsman but that was closed due to frost.
Some nice holes, some forgettable holes but we had a great time. Greens weren’t the best mind.
Some nice holes, some forgettable holes but we had a great time. Greens weren’t the best mind.
January to be fair
.Slaley is one of those hotel places that could be so much more if the hotel wanted it to be. The basics are all in place, it just needs a bit of extra tlc and better management.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
January to be fair
Slaley is one of those hotel places that could be so much more if the hotel wanted it to be. The basics are all in place, it just needs a bit of extra tlc and better management.
Yes the set up is top notch, very impressive, those houses on the left as you go in…wow ?
Jigger
Club Champion
You’ll enjoy it that time of year. Worth a visit in my opinion. Clubhouse prices are ridiculous though and it’s in the middle of nowhere.
I remember asking a waiter how to get to the beer garden and he had no clue what I was on about. So I said the Terrance next to the 18th and he said “oh! The Japanese garden”
I burst out laughing and said “you’re in Northumberland lad! It’s a beer garden!”
I mean it literally had a pergola and that was it.
sunshine
Well-known member
January to be fair
Slaley is one of those hotel places that could be so much more if the hotel wanted it to be. The basics are all in place, it just needs a bit of extra tlc and better management.
And better weather and different topsoil.
Yeah, but apart from that
rulefan
Tour Winner
My pal has a fortnight twice a year 3/4 bedroom timeshare there. May and October. We've been invited a number of times. October can be hard work if it is a wet month.
The hotel has changed hands a couple of times. Originally De Vere now QHotels.
The pro-shop often has good deals and buggies are plentiful. We all use buggies when playing the Hunting which is the better course by far.
But my pal is now suffering from Parkinson's so will be relinquishing the property this year.
Beezerk
Money List Winner
As an aside, sure I heard a rumour a while back that the Saudis are going to buy it and tart the place up. Then again I heard similar about Close House as well.
Jensen
Tour Rookie
Add in the Reuben Brothers and anything is possible
Maninblack4612
Tour Winner
It went bust before the hotel was finished. I worked for a Bank at the time & we had a golf day there. There were runours that it was in trouble & one of our guests bumped into a friend of his. Asked him what he was doing there & he said he'd come to repossess the switchboard. The accountant who was appointed receiver a few weeks afterward was one of our guests. He appreciated the preview.
