The Northeast of England is rich in culture, history and, more importantly, fantastic golf courses. Newcastle has flown under the golfing destination radar a bit, but we are going to put it back on the map.

As a city, Newcastle is incredibly vibrant and dynamic and it has a modern-feel yet the city’s past remains evident. The city is perfect for a guy’s/girl’s golf trip as the nightlife is incredible! With plenty of bars and clubs to choose from, you will have a lot of fun when not on the course!

Being near the coast, you can expect some wonderful links terrain to play on but there are also some great parkland courses on offer too. Here are the courses that should be on your list when you’re in the Northeast!

Slayley Hall

Regarded by some as Dave Thomas’ greatest course, Slaley Hall is one of England’s finest golf resorts. With two exquisite courses to choose from, The Hunting and The Priestman, you are assured a great test of golf.

The courses are lush and each have their own challenges. The Hunting is tricky with trees making it tight and punishing wayward shots. The Priestman uses water hazards to defend itself against low scores.

After a great day on the course you will have the pleasure of reliving your round at The Claret Jug. A top-quality clubhouse with attentive staff and tasty local food! There is no surprise that this is one of the best golf experiences in the North of England.

Ramside Hall

If you are a fan of risk vs. reward golf then Ramside Hall is the place for you! Like Slaley Hall, Ramside also has two championship courses on the property. The Prince Bishops’ Course takes in views of the Durham Cathedral and no less than 16 water hazards! Don’t let the views distract you!

This course is just a lot of fun to play. It is a course that elite players can score well on and less advanced players will enjoy equally. Wide and generous fairways make it a fair course but if you’re feeling good about your swing you have options for going aggressive! This is a course for the tacticians.

Featuring stunning rolling countryside, the Cathedral Course is a new creation that also features some truly incredible scenery. The 12th hole on this course is reminiscent of the 12th at Augusta National. Play the Northeast’s own Amen Corner, you won’t regret it.

Close House

The two courses at Close House were designed, in part, by Lee Westwood and you can tell by the way he has put such a premium on well hit tee shots. The course will hold this year’s British Masters and will, no doubt, help produce an exciting tournament.

Westwood and Scott Macpherson took some of the course design elements favoured by Harry Colt to create this course named after the famous architect. The Filly Course is a shorter affair but a recent refurbishment, which focussed on adding and updating bunkering, has created a course for strategists.

At both courses you will find greens that are tricky but in superb condition. The clubhouse at Close House is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and a refreshing drink as you look out over the property and boast about your great shots.

Seaton Carew

Time for some links golf. Seaton Carew is one the ultimate hidden gems of the British Isles! Designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie initially, this is one of the oldest courses in the country and the only championship links on the Northeast coast.

Not many have played this course, which is a shame. The course has 22-holes so five different course layouts can be created. This means that you’ll need to keep coming back until you’ve played all of the combinations! If you are a lover of classic links golf courses then do not miss this gem!

Other courses to play

Some other great courses on offer in the area include: Wynyard Golf Club, Rockcliffe and Linden Hall.