The Northumberland Golf Club

The Northumberland Golf Club — heathland golf inside a racecourse

There is nowhere quite like it in English golf: The Northumberland Golf Club is laid out inside the loop of Newcastle Racecourse, its fairways crossing the running track and its holes framed by the old grandstands and the woods of High Gosforth Park.

The Northumberland Golf Club is a classic heathland course at High Gosforth Park, on the north side of Newcastle upon Tyne in Tyne and Wear. Opened in 1898 and later reshaped by two of the greatest names in course design, Harry Colt and James Braid, it plays to a par of 72 over around 6,687 yards from the championship tees. Firm, fast greens, clever bunkering and a genuinely testing back nine have made it one of the leading courses in the north-east and a regular host of top competition.

Key Details

• Location: High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE3 5HT
• Length: approximately 6,687 yards (championship tees)
• Par: 72
• Designers: Harry Colt (from 1913) and James Braid (from 1919), on an original 1898 layout
• Established: 1898
• Notable events: the 1972 Dunlop Masters (won by Bob Charles); host to leading amateur championships and Open Championship regional qualifying

History and significance

The club was founded in 1898, its first course laid out on the parkland within High Gosforth Park with early design input from J. S. Caird, the professional on Newcastle’s Town Moor. As the club grew, the clubhouse was rebuilt at the west end of the park around 1913, and the course entered its defining chapter.

Harry Colt — a founder member of the R&A’s Rules of Golf Committee and one of the most influential architects in the game — was engaged in 1913 to redesign the layout. The First World War interrupted the work, and in 1919 James Braid, five-time Open champion and a Hall of Fame designer in his own right, was brought in to advise on further changes. The reconstructed course opened on 29 May 1920 with an exhibition match, and that Colt-and-Braid pedigree still defines the golf today.

The course and how it plays

This is heathland golf with a twist, because the whole course sits within the estate of Newcastle Racecourse and the routing weaves in and out of the racetrack itself. Several holes play across the running surface, and the wide, open aspect of the parkland leaves you exposed to the wind while the mature trees and heather define the lines of play.

The greens are firm and quick, the bunkering strategic, and the challenge builds toward a strong finish. The 13th is the card’s hardest hole — a long par four rated stroke index one — and it typifies the course’s demand for accurate, tactical golf rather than brute length. It is a fair but exacting test that rewards the thinking player.

Signature holes

The Northumberland is remembered as a complete, consistent test rather than a course of gimmicks, but a handful of holes stand out on any visit.

Hole 3 (Par 5, 497 yards)

An early three-shotter that plays out across the racecourse ground, the 3rd sets the tone for the unusual setting and offers a genuine birdie chance if you drive it well before the green tightens the approach.

Hole 7 (Par 3, 171 yards)

A well-guarded mid-length par three where club selection is everything, the 7th is exposed to the wind and asks for a precise, committed strike to a defended green.

Hole 13 (Par 4, 470 yards)

The hardest hole on the course, rated stroke index one, the 13th is a long two-shotter that plays near the racetrack and demands two of your very best shots to reach a green that gives nothing away.

Hole 18 (Par 4, 408 yards)

A strong closing hole that plays back across the course toward the historic clubhouse, the 18th is a fitting finish that has decided many a match and medal.

Why play The Northumberland Golf Club

You play it for the pedigree and the sheer novelty. Few courses can claim a design lineage of Colt and Braid, and fewer still let you play your golf inside a working racecourse. It is a proper championship test that has staged professional and amateur golf at the highest regional level, yet it remains welcoming to visitors.

For any golfer touring the north-east, it is one of the essential rounds — historic, distinctive and genuinely challenging.

Clubhouse and facilities

The handsome clubhouse, rebuilt in 1913 and set among the park’s woods, offers comfortable lounges, a sun terrace and an elegant dining room where the kitchen makes good use of local, seasonal produce. There is a well-stocked professional’s shop, a performance and coaching centre, and a practice area with short game facilities, plus full changing rooms.

Green fees and booking

Visitors are welcome, with tee times booked online or through the professional’s shop; the club is cashless, so bring a card. As a guide, green fees vary strongly by season, typically from around £40 in the winter months to about £95 at peak summer, with twilight rates available. A dress code applies — collared shirts and tailored trousers or shorts, no denim.

Fees are reviewed regularly and change through the year, so treat these as an approximate guide only. For current green fees and tee times, check the official website.

Getting there and parking

The club lies about five miles north of Newcastle city centre, within the High Gosforth Park estate.

• By car: head north from Newcastle toward Gosforth and enter the High Gosforth Park / Newcastle Racecourse estate, following signs for the golf club along the estate road.
• By public transport: the nearest Tyne and Wear Metro station (operated by Nexus) is Regent Centre, around 1.5 miles away, with local buses run by Go North East and Stagecoach, then a short taxi or walk.
• Address & parking: The Northumberland Golf Club, High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5HT. On-site parking is available.

Where to stay

The most convenient base is Gosforth itself, with the wider choice of Newcastle city centre only a few miles south.

The Holiday Inn Newcastle – Gosforth Park sits on the same estate as the racecourse and course, making it the easiest option for an early tee time. In the city, hotels such as the Vermont by the castle and quayside, the Leonardo and the Sandman Signature near St James’ Park give a good spread of comfortable, well-connected stays, with plenty of dining nearby.

What to pack

This is open parkland golf on an exposed racecourse plateau, so wind is a constant — pack warm, windproof and waterproof layers, especially outside high summer. Bring reliable, well-gripped golf shoes for the firm turf, a few spare balls for the testing back nine, and a card rather than cash, as the club is cashless.

Nearby attractions

Newcastle and the surrounding north-east offer plenty to pair with a round.

Conclusion

A Colt-and-Braid design threaded through a working racecourse, The Northumberland is one of English golf’s true one-offs — historic, characterful and a stern examination from the first tee to that long walk back across the track to the 18th green. For golfers in the north-east, it is unmissable.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can visitors play The Northumberland Golf Club?

Yes. Although it is a members’ club, The Northumberland welcomes visiting golfers, with tee times booked online or through the professional’s shop. The club is cashless, so payment is by card. A dress code applies both on the course and in the clubhouse — collared shirts and tailored trousers or shorts, with no denim or replica sports shirts. Because the course sits within Newcastle Racecourse, access is via the High Gosforth Park estate, and there may be occasional restrictions around race days, so it is always worth checking ahead. For current visitor information, availability and tee times, check the official website.

How much are green fees at The Northumberland Golf Club?

Green fees vary considerably with the season rather than sitting at a single price. As a rough guide they typically run from around £40 in the winter months to about £95 at peak summer, with twilight rates offering better value later in the day. Because the club reviews its fees regularly and prices change through the year, these figures are indicative only and should not be treated as exact. For the current green fees, tee-time prices and any twilight or society rates, check the official website, which always carries the up-to-date visitor details.

What makes The Northumberland Golf Club unusual?

Its setting is unique in English golf: the course is laid out inside the loop of Newcastle Racecourse at High Gosforth Park, and several holes play across the running track itself. Beyond the novelty, it carries a distinguished design pedigree, having been shaped by Harry Colt from 1913 and James Braid from 1919 on an original 1898 layout. It has also staged serious competition, including the 1972 Dunlop Masters won by Bob Charles, plus leading amateur events and Open Championship qualifying. Historic, distinctive and testing, it is unlike anywhere else you will play.

How do I get to The Northumberland Golf Club?

The club is about five miles north of Newcastle city centre, within the High Gosforth Park estate that it shares with Newcastle Racecourse. By car, head north toward Gosforth and enter the racecourse estate, following signs for the golf club along the estate road; the postcode for sat-navs is NE3 5HT and there is parking on site. By public transport, the nearest Tyne and Wear Metro station is Regent Centre, around a mile and a half away, with local bus services nearby, from where a short taxi ride completes the journey.