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 2019. Click here to read the story.