Durham

Map of Durham

County Durham flourished in the 19th century with the growth of the mining industry when large numbers of pit villages were founded throughout the region. With the modern day demise of the coal sector, Durham is undergoing a process of regeneration as it reinvents itself as a tourist destination.

The Durham County Golf Union celebrated its centenary in 2008 so it predated the English Golf Union by sixteen years, as the national governing body wasn’t formed until 1924. Today, the Durham County Union oversees the activities of 45 clubs in the north east of the country.

Durham County Ladies’ Golf Association was formed in 1922 and many of the early committee members were in post for long periods of time, beginning with the Marchioness of Londonderry, who held the inaugural Presidency until 1959. A number of long serving founders are remembered today by having county competition trophies named in their honour.

The Union’s Junior Coaching programme has produced an exceptional golfer, Graeme Storm, in recent years. Although he never won a County Championship, Graeme was the first Durham County golfer to win the Amateur Championship (in 1999) and compete in the Walker Cup for Great Britain & Ireland the same year.

Our County Durham golf course rankings were updated in 2017. Click here to read the story.

Top 100 Golf Courses - Durham

Seaton Carew

1^st

There are now 22 holes at Seaton Carew Golf Club - the members therefore have a number of playing options. The club claims that it can make five different 18-hole layouts, but we're bemused as to how and why.

Average Reviewers Score:

Rockliffe Hall

2^nd

Opened in 2009, the multi-million pound golf course at Rockliffe Hall is one of Europe’s longest tracks, measuring a whopping 7,879 yards from the tiger tees.

Average Reviewers Score:

Brancepeth Castle

3^rd

There is a great deal of variation to the holes at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club and the famous deep ravine, cutting through the course, makes for exciting golf.

Average Reviewers Score:

Wynyard

4^th

Host to the Seve Trophy in 2005, the fairways of the challenging Wellington course at the Wynyard Golf Club are laid out within a 200-acre wooded property where tees and greens have been built to USGA specification.

Average Reviewers Score:

Hartlepool

5^th

Hartlepool Golf Club is located on the coast to the north of Hartlepool and this par 70 course bears the design stamp of James Braid who reworked some of the holes between the dunes.

Ramside Hall (Cathedral)

6^th

Opened in 2014, the Cathedral course at Ramside Hall Hotel enjoys far-reaching vistas. Laid out over a hilltop by Jonathan Gaunt who christened the stretch from the 11th to the 14th “Ramside’s Amen Corner”.

Ramside Hall (Prince Bishops')

7^th

Designed by Jonathan Gaunt, the Prince Bishops' course opened in 1996, and is named after the warrior clergymen who ruled over the anarchic region following the Norman Conquest.

Tyneside

8^th

Justifiably proud of its 100-year-old course heritage, Tyneside Golf Club is now working closely with Frank Pont to restore the Harry Colt-designed layout to its former glory.

South Moor

9^th

Established in 1923, the moorland course at South Moor Golf Club was laid out by Dr Alister MacKenzie on the southern outskirts of the former colliery town of Stanley.

Castle Eden

10^th

Initially called the Dene Golf Club, this parkland course was originally laid out for employees of the Castle Eden Brewery and was renamed Castle Eden in 1927