Rockliffe Hall - Durham - England

Rockliffe Hall is one of England's most luxurious golf resorts with a genuine five star hotel and excellent golf and spa facilities. The golf course is thought to be the longest in Europe at 7877 yards from the Championship tees used during the European Seniors Tour events in 2013 and 2014. Surprisingly the monstrous length didn't exactly hamper the two winners, both shot nine under par 63's on their way to victory. Despite the headline length, there are another four teeing areas to choose from, ranging between 7230 and 5800 yards, giving ample opportunity to choose a tee that best fits your game.

The course certainly rewards good driving with relatively generous fairways in terms of width but the rough will often punish the most wayward shots. Mark Westenborg did a fine job with the bunkering which is big, bold and plentiful, not to mention visually intimidating.

Numerous ponds and lakes come in to play on a regular basis, providing a challenge on over half the holes. Two of the standout par threes make great use of the water hazards. The 5th requires a mid or long iron to an island green and the tricky 190 yard 15th requires a fine shot to reach the green which is heavily protected by a huge bunker at the front. Anything off line down the right will find a watery grave.

The greens are fast, true and interesting with numerous well designed run-off areas to punish an approach that misses the target. One of the best examples is the par five 16th. This heavily contoured, bunkerless green with low lying ground to the front and run-offs to the side and rear is certainly one that sticks in the memory. The 17th, is another great hole which makes you think from the tee as it curves left around a pond. It can be demanding if you take on the water but plotting a safe route is the primary objective. Even if the water is safely negotiated, can you avoid the bunkers which lie in wait on dry land.

Rockcliffe Hall is a strategic and at times penal layout but without question fun to play. It certainly got the better of me on my first visit but I can't wait to give it another go.

Maybe some bias as a member but feel the course is under rated. It’s a stiff test but always in good condition and outstanding facilities. Modern style Championship course, can be a struggle when the rough is up and having a bad day, but i’d easily have it as the best course in the region. Play Close House a lot but value for money wise and the Colt (at Close House) being a tough walk i’d play Rockliffe much more often.

A second visit for me (first 2010) and very happy to report that things are moving in the right direction. The course has definitely improved in terms of ‘settling in and maturing’ and finding it’s feet. No course is the finished article in the first couple of years of opening (just ask visitors to the Trump in Aberdeen which is already great but has still a long way to go to reach the projected potential) – course maturing cannot be bought, it just takes time. What I do like about Rockliffe is that when the rough is up and the holes are defined perfectly, this is a very technical course that has to be respected with very well positioned shots. Add in some classy bunkering and you can see why the course has been chosen again for the English Senior Open… Some of the modern style courses have what maybe is an impossible job when ‘competing’ for rankings against the obvious Links and Heathland beauties that normally can be found towards the top of any listings. I do think that Rockliffe over these early years can now be seen in the same light as other courses built in the last fifteen years like; The Grove, The London Club’s Heritage and also The Centurion – all of these feature in the current English Top 100 so the future could be ok. One of the best features of the course since my round in 2010 is now all of the green-sites; super condition and plenty of severe run-offs.

Until the trees grow in 20 years time this will remain a very open and windy course. It's not the most scenic of courses and the lie of the land is flat. Everything else is top drawer. Always in fantastic condition, playable all year due to the drainage, well designed holes, plenty of sand and water, terrific greens and as long as you want to make it by picking your tee box. With flat, wide fairways and not too many carries off the tee (at least without a cop out option) its accessible for all standards of golfer. My only golfing criticism is that for most players every hole, wind dependant, is driver off the tee. First class practice facilities, friendly staff, excellent course. Well worth a visit.

Visiting a newly opened venue is always pretty exciting and Rockliffe Hall lived up to expectations on many fronts - the main being, the course has the obvious new look to it but the potential to develop is certain. There has been a lot of thought in the design and the decent use of fairly flat land. The variation of the holes with at least twelve of these having brilliant bunkering at the green is clear. Seven of the front nine holes have water hazards to negotiate with one of the highlights coming at the 5th, an island green par-3 (I am sure golfers will mention the 17th holes at TPC Sawgrass and a little nearer home, at Chart Hills in Kent when arriving at the tee). My pick on the front include the par-5 3rd, where it is all about the approach shot; water left, bunkers right and a tricky green with plenty of sneaky run-offs. Another hole with a memorable approach is the 11th - probably about a mid-iron to another bunker protected green. The run-in from the 15th is the strongest part of the course; it starts with a long par-3 with water down the right, a jigsaw-piece shaped bunker front left and a nasty run-off at the green back towards the water. The 16th is the longest hole on the course and like many par-5's, the shot to the green is key; this time there are no bunkers at the green but the use of some dead-ground just short is very clever, plus the run-off at the rear of the green is bound to catch-out everything that is over-hit. I have something in me that says all courses should have a 'big' 17th hole...and Rockliffe does, in fact it is my choice of best on the course - the reason being I just do not think you can get away with anything less than really good shots to score well on this hole. The drive is tough with water and bunkers flanking the fairway at landing-point, this then leaves a mid to short iron to yet another difficult green with those now familiar run-offs at the back! The final hole includes out-of-bounds for the duration down the left and a perfectly positioned bunker right in front of the green. Like all new courses, this can be described as work in progress but the early signs are strong enough for me to give a 4-ball rating, as for the off-course facilities, well these are already the finished article ... a wonderfully unique hotel, and a 5-star attitude from everyone I met during my stay.