The Northumberland Golf Club Ltd
The Northumberland Golf Club Ltd, High Gosforth Park, North East, England, NE3 5HT
6 reviews of The Northumberland Golf Club Ltd
I was lucky enough to play here on Easter Monday following a return to the North East to visit family. I knew nothing of the club and was surprised to hear it was located inside the tracks of the Newcastle race course. On arrival there is classic looking clubhouse which has recently undergone a major refurbishment and this overlooks the 18th green and 1st tee. As I arrived the initial impressions were very good helped by a low sun and a mixture of mist and dew giving a very view pretty view from the clubhouse and what looked like a very interestng course. The course is a mostly flat apart from 1st and 18th holes set over a suprisingly natural heathland track. I was expected a fairly regular parkland course being located in the grounds of Gosforth Park and was happy to find otherwise. The rough was reasonably generous on the day having been cut back but I'm told it can get quite penal in the Summer. One of our group consistently found fairway bunkers and on two consecutive holes was unable to escape after decent drives which probably a little unfair. Despite a very enjoyable round the lack of real variety was one slight disappointment as many of the holes lacked real character. On the day I played with a borrowed set of clubs and an 'explosive'driver which really helped my game. Without it I may have struggle a bit of the length of some of those 400+ yard par 4's. The standout holes for me were the Par 3 14th a real cracker at the far edge of the course set amongst the trees. Handily I grabbed a par to increase my enjoyment. The 18th hole was also a great way to finish playing across the race tracks and a valley and then back up to the green infront of the clubhouse. Could be quite daunting playing long approaches from the depth of the valley to the green only yards infront of the newly refurbished clubhouse. Although the main 'complaint' of the day was condition of the greens. For the time of year I though they were very poor. There maybe some 'sour grapes' here as I putted poorly all day but they had been heavily sanded and appeared to have very little grass on them and subsequently found them very difficult to read. What could have been a great personal score became average one. Overall though I was very impressed with the club and setting although as a previous reviewer has pointed out there is no club shop so come prepared. I get the impression its quite a 'private' club which has only recently (last 5 years) relaxed its membership rights on ladies being full members and maybe this privacy is reflected in the fact there hasn't been a report for 2 years. However I found the people I met to be very friendly and approachable and the clubhouse looks great now. So next time I return to the North East I will definately push to get another invite and hope those green have improved the match the rest of the course.
Set next to Newcastle racecourse, this is a lovely course with rhodadendrons and azaleas around the drive and clubhouse. You could be mistaken for thinking you were at Augusta, yet get out on the course and there's a heathland feel to other parts of it. The greens are the best part of the course, seriously quick and put in some evil positions when we played. The racecourse is actually in play on some of the holes too! I was curious to see how the club was inside the clubhouse, with a reputation for being so traditional. The answer is that male and female mix fairly well. The main bar area is wooden panelled and has that classy 'old golf club' smell. One other piece of advice is to make sure you bring everything you need with you - there is no pro shop here! The Secretary will sort out any course planners and scorecards etc but don't arrive short of balls, tees or pitch repairers otherwise it's a slightly ambarrassing trip down the road to American Golf!
I play here regularly and the course is always in superb condition. Whilst the arrangements are somewhat old fashioned (particularly as regards ladies and the need for a jacket and tie in the men-only bar)the club is quite welcoming to visitors. Narrow and long [in some parts] they have now sadly changed the 15th hole so that you no longer drive over the race-course...that was a drive which punished the greedy....and altered the 12th hole which had a superb sloping green. No doubt the new one will mature nicely but I think the course is diminished rather than enhanced by the alteration. A real challenge for any golfer.
I used to be a full member and now am a country member since moving to Yorkshire. This is a superb course. It is within the racecourse and the course is intergal to a number of holes which adds to its character. Avoid it though because it hell to get out of. There are a number of memorable holes but watch out for the 6th a really teasting par 4 and the 18th a magnificant finishing hole.
Played as a guest. I found the course very mature, fairways quite tight and had to be played straight. Greens absolutley superb (do I put or pot the black) Fantastic
fantastic
Course information
Tee information
Tees | Yards | Par | SSS |
---|---|---|---|
Competition | |||
Men's | 6629 | 72 | |
Ladies' |
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