North East England may not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a golf trip, but this former industrial heartland offers a remarkably rich and varied golfing landscape. Spanning the counties of Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear, the region stretches from the wild Northumbrian coastline in the north to the links at Seaton Carew in the south, taking in parkland, moorland and coastal layouts along the way. Across these three counties, more than 50 courses are now ranked — a figure that reflects just how much quality golf exists here, and how many experiences reward the travelling golfer willing to venture off the beaten track.
The current rankings represent a significant expansion of the region's listings, with Tyne & Wear appearing as a standalone county chart for the first time. A panel of dedicated reviewers with deep, first-hand experience of the region has shaped these standings, and the results paint a compelling picture of a golfing area with genuine world-class credentials alongside a strong supporting cast of quality local clubs.
Tyne & Wear makes its debut as a ranked county in this cycle, with three courses receiving official standings for the first time. The metropolitan county embracing Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and the coastal suburbs has always housed some of the region's finest clubs — they simply hadn't previously been disaggregated from the broader North East listings.
Northumberland Golf Club is the county's clear number one, an assessment that commands broad consensus across the panel. Located in Gosforth in the north of the city, this private members' club offers a demanding and beautifully presented parkland test that belies its suburban setting. Whitley Bay holds second position with Tyneside in third — a traditional parkland course set near the River Tyne with strong architectural bones and a devoted membership that has kept the layout in fine condition.
For the full Tyne & Wear county rankings, visit the Tyne & Wear golf courses page.
Durham is anchored by Seaton Carew, one of the most significant links courses in English golf, and supported by a group of inland clubs that offer variety and quality in equal measure. The top five positions reflect the settled hierarchy at the upper end of the county.
Seaton Carew Golf Club has been Durham's county number one since the panel first established Best in County rankings, and its status remains unchallenged. The club's founding in 1874 makes it the tenth oldest in England, and the layout carries the definitive architectural influence of Alister MacKenzie, who redesigned it in 1925, adding holes closer to the coast. With 22 holes spread across five possible configurations — the Old, Brabazon, Micklem, New and Bishop — Seaton Carew offers a flexibility that few clubs in England can match, and it holds a well-earned place in the England Top 100. Rockliffe Hall holds second, a luxury resort course near Darlington that has established itself as one of the region's most polished golfing experiences. Brancepeth Castle Golf Club is third, set within the grounds of a medieval castle and offering a parkland layout of considerable charm and character.
Hartlepool climbs one place to fourth, edging ahead of Wynyard Golf Club, which drops one position to fifth. Both are strong inland courses that justify their places in the county's upper tier. Further down the table, Ramside Hall's Cathedral course rises to sixth, South Moor holds seventh, and the Prince Bishops' course at Ramside Hall makes a notable climb to eighth. Bishop Auckland holds ninth and Castle Eden rounds out the top ten.
For the full Durham county rankings, visit the Durham golf courses page.
Northumberland is the jewel of the region. England's most northerly county delivers a concentration of coastal links and inland parkland courses that would compare favourably with any English county. Goswick Links leads the way as it has done since 2017, while Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course makes the most significant upward move in this cycle, climbing to second and displacing Close House's Colt course in the process.
Goswick holds its number one position and its place in the England Top 100. Established in 1890, the course sits a few miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed and has been shaped over more than a century by Willie Park Junior, James Braid and F.W. Hawtree. The result is a links layout of genuine character: varied, challenging and rich with architectural history. Tom Mackenzie has also been overseeing a front nine upgrade project in recent years, ensuring Goswick continues to evolve.
Dunstanburgh Castle, now second, is one of the most visually dramatic layouts in the country. Set on the Northumberland coast with fairways looking out towards Embleton Bay, James Braid extended the course to eighteen holes in 1920, and the combination of coastal scenery and architectural heritage makes Dunstanburgh one of the North East's most compelling experiences.
Close House's Lee Westwood Colt course drops one position to third but remains one of the most impressive modern designs in northern England. Hexham climbs one place to fourth, a parkland course with deep roots: Harry Vardon laid out a course on the Spital estate in 1907, James Braid re-bunkered it in 1920, and Ken Cotton set out the layout broadly in play today in the early 1950s.
Newbiggin makes the most dramatic move in the entire Northumberland rankings, rising to fifth. Alnmouth Golf Club holds sixth, Slaley Hall's Hunting course drops to seventh, and Bamburgh Castle slips one to eighth, with both remaining essential visits for anyone touring the county. Alnmouth Village climbs to ninth, and Matfen Hall (comprising the Douglas and Standing Stone nines) rounds out the top ten.
For the full Northumberland county rankings, visit the Northumberland golf courses page.
Coastal Northumberland Leads the Region
The concentration of quality along the Northumberland coastline is extraordinary. Goswick at the northern end, Dunstanburgh and Alnmouth in the middle, and Bamburgh and Newbiggin completing the coastal cluster give this stretch of North Sea shoreline a claim to be one of England's most underrated golfing corridors. All were shaped or influenced by architects of the calibre of James Braid, Willie Park Junior and F.W. Hawtree.
Seaton Carew's Enduring Authority
Durham's top spot has been occupied by Seaton Carew for as long as these rankings have existed — a tribute to the quality MacKenzie's 1925 redesign instilled in a course that pre-dates even the great architect's involvement by half a century. Its place in the England Top 100 reflects a national standing the course thoroughly deserves, despite the industrial backdrop that some visitors find unexpected.
Tyne & Wear Earns Its Place
The introduction of Tyne & Wear as a standalone ranking helps travelling golfers who are visiting the urban area golf clubs of Newcastle, Gateshead and the coastal suburbs. This will no doubt deepen on successive rankings.
Golden Age Architecture Runs Through the Region
It would be difficult to name another English region where the architectural fingerprints of James Braid are more evident. Goswick, Dunstanburgh, Hexham and Brancepeth Castle all carry Braid's influence, while MacKenzie's mark on Seaton Carew is definitive. Alongside Harry Vardon, F.W. Hawtree, Ken Cotton and Scott Macpherson, the region's architectural heritage is both deep and varied.
Northumberland Top 10, 2015
The Northumberland county rankings were revised in 2015, with the ranking being reduced from fifteen to ten courses. Close House's Colt course, opened by Lee Westwood in 2011, entered the rankings at number one — the first time Goswick had been displaced as county leader. Slaley Hall's Hunting course moved up to third, while Bamburgh Castle held fifth. Newbiggin and Dunstanburgh Castle were not included after the table was reduced.
North East Best in County Rankings, 2019
In 2019, Goswick reclaimed the Northumberland number one position it had held before 2015. The Durham chart remained stable at the top, with Seaton Carew retaining its county lead. Whitley Bay entered the Northumberland rankings at tenth following Jonathan Gaunt's remodelling work.
North East Best in County Rankings, 2023
The most recent update before the current cycle expanded all three county charts and introduced fifteen new entries across the region. Seaton Carew retained its Durham lead, Goswick held Northumberland's top position, and Dunstanburgh Castle rose to third in Northumberland. Matfen Hall, Linden Hall, Close House Filly, Newbiggin and Alnmouth Village all entered the Northumberland listings as new entries, while Bishop Auckland was the highest new Durham entry at tenth.
The North East lends itself to a structured itinerary based around its three distinct golfing zones. The Northumberland coast is the centrepiece for most visiting golfers — a journey between Goswick in the north and Alnmouth in the south, taking in Bamburgh Castle and Dunstanburgh along the way, provides one of English golf's most scenic sequences of courses. Berwick-upon-Tweed serves as a natural northern base, with Alnwick a useful midpoint.
Durham golf is anchored by Seaton Carew, which warrants a standalone visit for any serious golfer exploring the region. The links sit between Hartlepool and Teesside, and combining it with Brancepeth Castle inland makes for a compelling two-course day that covers both of the county's dominant styles. Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington, is the most resort-friendly option in the county for those travelling with non-golfers.
The Tyne & Wear courses — Northumberland Golf Club, Whitley Bay and Tyneside — are all accessible from Newcastle city centre, making them a natural addition to any North East itinerary that begins or ends in the city. Newcastle Airport also provides the most practical entry point for golfers arriving from further afield.
For the complete county rankings, visit the Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear listing pages on Top 100 Golf Courses.
