The Best Places to Play Golf near Newcastle
**Backworth Golf Club** features 10 holes with small greens and tight entrances protected by bunkers and water, located in Shiremoor, Newcastle upon Tyne. [8] Visitors at **Backworth Golf Club** can play 9 or 10 holes, which is becoming more popular in an increasingly hectic life. [8] **Matfen Hall Par 3** offers a high-quality 9-hole, Par-3 course in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland, with a total par of 27 and length of 985 yards. [5] The course at **Matfen Hall Par 3** is kept in fantastic condition all year round, requiring golfers to hit many different shots with various club selections. [5] **Morpeth Family Golf Centre** has a 9-hole par 3 course nestled in beautiful countryside just outside Morpeth, only 12 miles from Newcastle, combining picturesque views with challenges designed for players at every level. [1] The course at **Morpeth Family Golf Centre** takes approximately an hour to complete, allowing players to enjoy a relaxed round without taking up their entire day. [1] **High Gosforth Park Golf Club**, set on the grounds of Gosforth Park in Newcastle, offers an 18-hole golf course, 28-bay driving range, and 18-hole mini golf course. [15] **Ryton Willows Golf Course**, which became the home of the **Tyneside Golf Club**, was the first golf course to be set up on Tyneside in 1879, when a group rented a 60-acre plot of land at Ryton Willows from the stint holders for five shillings per year to create a nine-hole course. [9]
Fun Facts about Golf Courses near Newcastle
- The **Tyneside Golf Club**’s inaugural meeting was on November 13, 1879, with CJ Reid elected as President and 25 members each paying an annual fee of 10/6d. [9]
- On March 9, 1880, a gardener called John Wake was appointed to prepare the putting greens on Ryton Willows with horse and roller, and Mungo Park (Open Champion in 1874) was appointed to design the course layout. [9]
- The Golfing Annual Vol. II of 1888-9 said ‘Ryton has been pronounced by players of some eminence and experience in the golfing world as perhaps the best inland course in the country’. [9]
- **Matfen Hall Par 3** course, despite being only 985 yards long, has a slope rating of 87 for men and 89 for ladies, indicating its level of difficulty relative to its length. [5]
- **High Gosforth Park Golf Club** was originally known as the John Jacobs Golf Centre when established in 1966, with just a driving range until 1971 when a nine-hole course was opened and renamed Wideopen Golf Club. [15]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the oldest golf course near Newcastle?
Ryton Willows Golf Course (Tyneside Golf Club) was the first golf course to be set up on Tyneside in 1879, making it the oldest in the area. [9]
Which 9-hole course near Newcastle is best for beginners?
Morpeth Family Golf Centre has a relaxed dress code and ‘no booking required’ approach, making it easy to fit in a quick round whenever it suits you, and is ideal for juniors, seniors, ladies, beginners, and experienced players alike. [1]
Are there any practice facilities at Matfen Hall Par 3?
Matfen Hall Par 3 offers a driving range, pitching/chipping area, putting green, and teaching pro services. [5]
How long does it take to play a round at Morpeth Family Golf Centre?
The course layout at Morpeth Family Golf Centre encourages a quick pace, taking approximately an hour to complete. [1]
Are there any famous golf course designers who have worked on courses near Newcastle?
Six-time Open Champion Harry Vardon designed the 18-hole course at Boldon Golf Club in 1926, and Mungo Park, the Open Champion in 1874, designed the original Ryton Willows Golf Course. [9][11]
References
[1] https://morpethgolfcentre.com/course/ [2] https://www.thegolfguide.co.uk/golf-guide-golf-clubs/close-house-golf-club/ [3] https://www.great-aycliffe.gov.uk/oakleafgolfcomplex/about-oakleaf/ [4] https://www.cityofnewcastlegolfclub.com [5] https://www.golfnow.co.uk/courses/-6306-matfen-hall-par-3-details [6] https://www.newcastleunitedgolfclub.co.uk/course/ [7] https://morpethgolfcentre.com [8] https://newcastle.bestlocalrated.co.uk/best-golf-courses-in-newcastle/ [9] https://sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk/SMR/13570 [10] https://golfcoursenearme.co.uk [11] https://sitelines.newcastle.gov.uk/SMR/9621 [12] https://www.golflinks.ca/courses/newcastle-golf-club [13] https://www.newcastleunitedgolfclub.co.uk/green-fees/ [14] https://moderngov.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/documents/s10564/Keele%20Golf%20Course%20Future%20Use%20Options%20Appraisal.pdf [15] https://www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk/golf/welcome