De Vere Slaley Hall Golf  Club ****

Hexham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE47 0BY

Nearest main town: Corbridge

 

Secretary: None

Tel: 01327 858092 Fax:01327 858009

Professional: Mr S. Harlock

Tel: 01327 858588 Fax:01327 858009

Playing: Midweek: round £20.00; day n/a. Weekend: round £30.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 9 am-9 pm.

Comments: 36 holes at this parkland course...Right next to Silverstone racetrack...Interesting setting but course average...Fair value for straightforward course...Bland Parkland.

 

Just twenty minutes from Newcastle, Slaley Hall is a very striking course (opened in 1991) in an area not exactly famed for its courses. With a hotel on site, it has been designed with Tour events in mind and as such has hosted the European Masters.

While the players rate the course highly, the terrible weather that has afflicted these tournaments - has not exactly put Slaley Hall in the shop window. Many have labelled it a 'Woburn of the North', but in truth it has been like a "Manchester of the North-East'. Every time a tournament goes there, a deluge has followed. This may have long-term benefits for the course, and players in the area are now certainly blessed with a course to be proud of, and that is not over-busy.

Designer Dave Thomas wanted to make every hole individual as well as challenging, and to some extent he succeeded. The start at Slaley is tough, as is the finish, although it is fair to say that the opening holes are generally tighter, with much emphasis placed on accuracy off the tee. The back nine is more open and the place to open your shoulders.

The course stretches over 7000 yards off the back tees and is carved through a 1000-acre estate of impressive pine forests. The trees define the opening loop and golfers who can maneuver the ball will be the greatest beneficiaries of its layout. For many, the signature hole is the 450-yard par-4 9th, known as the 'Sleeping Giant', which is uphill all the way to a green surrounded by rhododendrons, magnificent when in summer bloom. with a pond and a ditch to the left, and towering pines to the right, it is quite a combination.

 

Secretary: None

Tel: 01434 673154 Fax:01434 673152

Professional: Mr G. Robinson

Tel: 01434 673153 Fax:01434 673152

Playing: Midweek: round £45.00 (Hunting); £30.00 (Priestman); day n/a. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 am-10 pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Costly but very good course...Excellent - no other words to describe this one...Excellent condition and a good challenge...Great course and an exquisite restaurant...A course that asks you many questions...Products are just way too pricey...unquestionably one of the best new courses around...Very well-managed and enjoyable club...Straight tee shots required on a course that sparkles in the summer...Has everything at a price.

 

Allendale Golf  Club *

High Studdon, Allenheads Road, Allendale, NE47 9DH

Nearest main town: Allendale

 

Secretary: Mr. P. Mason

Tel: 01434 632288

Professional: None

Playing: Midweek: round n/a; day £12.00. Weekend: round n/a; day £12.00

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Food: Bar snacks.

Comments: Hilly parkland course extended to 18 holes...Not up to much even with extension...1000ft up-wasn't worth the climb...Cheap golf all that can be said.