Brancepeth Castle Golf Club ****

The Clubhouse, Brancepeth, Durham, DH7 8EA

Nearest main town: Durham

 

Brancepeth Castle is tucked away in the Durham countryside down a leafy lane from Brancepeth village, a former best-kept village in England. The golf club is also a best-kept secret: never too crowded and usually in good condition.

This parkland course is very exposed and is apt to be very windy, even to the admission of a linksman. You will find that it is essentially a strategic course with the exception of some of the closing holes, and the bunkering will generally direct you in the right areas to find the one line for the approach shot. Your strategy will also be directed by the mature trees that have separated themselves from the wooded surrounds.

The course's architect, Harry Colt, was not a man impressed with immaculately kept courses, and for him a nasty lie now and again was to be accepted with a rueful smile rather than an expletive directed at the green keeper. Consequently, in keeping with Colt's philosophy, the fairways are rippled, a drainage effect, and you should be prepared to hit approach shots off downslopes. The greens are also humpy, true and very quick, and they peak in midsummer, the best time to visit the club.

Much of the enjoyment of playing Brancepeth Castle is not derived from the beauty of the parkland but the historic surrounds that include the twelfth-century castle and the church of St Brandon, which flanks the castle and sits behind the 18th green. There's also a deep ravine that has to be crossed three times over a wobbling bridge constructed by the Royal Engineers. The drive at the 18th is straight over the ravine and it requires a solid strike if you don't want to be delving for more balls. The best hole, though, is probably the 9th, a par-3 through a chute of trees and then it's all carry to a small green that drops sharply away to the right and rises equally sharply to the left. The green is positioned at the foot of the castle, but only a monstrous hook will cause damage.

 

Secretary: None

Tel: 0191 3780075 Fax: 0191 3783835

Professional: Mr D. Howden

Tel: 0191 3780183

Playing: Midweek: round £30.00; day £35.00. Weekend: round £40.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11 am-9.30pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Rolling fairways in parkland setting. .. Great selection of par-3s ... Difficult par-3s ... What do you expect from the man who designed Pine Valley? ... Cracking 1st hole and doesn't let up ... Colorful club with proud tradition ... Best par-3s on any course plus splendid views... Always a great challenge and in excellent condition.

 

Barnard Castle Golf Club ***

Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, DL12 8QN

Nearest main town: Barnard Castle

 

Secretary: Mr J. Kilgarriff

Tel: 01833 638355 Fax: 01833 695551

Professional: Mr D. Pearce

Tel: 01883 631980 Fax: 01883 631 980

Playing: Midweek: round £20.00 (18 holes), £24.00 (27 holes); day n/a. Weekend: round £30.00 (18 holes), £35.00 (27 holes); day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11 am-10.30pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Improved since the course was extended in mid-1990s ... Full of character... Enjoyable, simple course... Views up Teesdale ... Water in play on almost all the holes with natural becks.