While Northumberland is well-known for its historic castles, Hadrian’s Wall, Newcastle United, and Holy Island, its excellent golf courses often fly under the radar. A recent familiarisation trip opened the eyes of tour operators from Holland, Denmark, and Iceland, who were genuinely impressed by the quality and beauty of the region’s courses, particularly those along the stunning coastline.
The journey began seamlessly after arriving at Newcastle Airport, with the group heading directly to The Northumberland Golf Club, one of the county’s most respected venues. This beautiful Harry Colt design winds its way around Gosforth racecourse, giving players the unique feeling of enjoying golf within a special sporting estate. From there, they travelled north to Marshall Meadows Manor House Hotel, just 200 yards from the Scottish border, where excellent accommodation and dining awaited, perfectly positioned for exploring the historic town of Berwick upon Tweed.
The following day brought them to Goswick Links, an Open Championship qualifying course that provides a proper test of links golf along the dramatic coastline. The group then enjoyed a cultural interlude at Ad Gefrin Anglo-Saxon Museum and Whisky Distillery, sampling excellent English whisky before settling in for a peaceful night at The Tempus, nestled in beautiful rural surroundings.
Perhaps the biggest, pleasant surprise came the next morning at Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Club, a wonderfully maintained course that follows the natural contours of Embleton Bay. At £45 per round, it represents exceptional value, with quality that certainly matches the dramatic setting of castle ruins overlooking the links. The experience concluded perfectly with lunch at the boutique Bailiffgate Hotel, followed by tours of Alnwick Castle (famous from the Harry Potter films) and the impressive Alnwick Gardens.
This carefully planned itinerary successfully demonstrated that Northumberland offers much more than its famous historical attractions. The seamless blend of excellent golf, rich heritage, genuine hospitality, and beautiful scenery creates an appealing destination for golf travellers seeking something genuinely special. For tour operators, Northumberland’s golf scene represents a quality opportunity that naturally combines outstanding courses with authentic cultural experiences, all set against some of Britain’s most attractive coastal landscapes.
