COUNTY DURHAM
We venture 25 miles north and south of Durham to visit courses in the outer reaches of this beautiful county
Tyneside
Set above the Tyne at Ryton, Tyneside Golf Club is one of the oldest in the north-east, having started out in 1879. Today’s course was laid out by Harry Colt in 1911, with much of the front nine playing over the higher ground a little further from the river before you drop down early on the back nine. The 4th is a great hole playing over a crest and then down quite steeply to a green set very close to the putting surface of the par-5 7th coming back the other way. The 10th is then a cracker of a par 5, plunging down precipitously from an elevated tee before climbing steeply to the green.
The run for home starts in earnest on the 13th, a narrow hole that pinches in further in the driving zone and plays up to a long yet slender green cut into the slope. After climbing sharply on the 14th, the short par-4 15th provides a great chance to score, before a heavily bunkered par 3 and two par 4s that perhaps play longer than their yardage complete your round.
Par: 70, 6,068 yards GF: round: £30-£35
SHOWSTOPPER Blackwell Grange
This Darlington club’s history dates back to 1931, but it only moved to its current site on the former Stressholme Golf Course in 2013. It’s a good parkland test with the River Skerne featuring early on, especially on the short 4th, where you must traverse a kink in the river. The par 3s at 9, 11 and 13 are all excellent holes that have benefited hugely from recent bunker work. You’ll need to stay strong to the end, too, for the par 4s at 17 and 18 both stretch to 430+ yards.
Par: 71, 6,446 yards GF: round: £30 Fri-sun