Bamburgh Castle

Bamburgh Castle is by no means the longest course in the world, but it is certainly one of the quirkiest and the most fun. 

Situated on the northeast coastline of England, and with the castle itself as the backdrop, this 5,600-yard track will provide you with a lot of fun, and a few headaches along the way. 

With plenty of long, uphill par 3s, and downhill short par 4s, all while playing in a wind that will cause havoc, it is a great course to enjoy. 

Visit Bamburgh Castle’s website here. 

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Shortly after the turn of the 20th Century, Bamburgh Castle Golf Club was founded by Lord Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside. 

Thanks to Lord Armstrong, and a number of his friends, the club was a success (following two previous failed attempts at other venues). 

Despite disruption from a quarry in the middle of the course, and then the two World Wars – World War II seeing the RAF take over the majority of the layout, the club was able to survive, and adapted the layout following the Second World War. 

There can hardly be a prettier course in England – stand on the 14th tee and you can enjoy a view of the sea on three sides, miles and miles of unspoilt beaches, Holy Island and, of course, the eponymous castle, which on a bright morning is framed stunningly by the rising sun behind it. Fun from start to finish, Bamburgh is by no means the longest course you will ever play at under 5,700 yards. But a further glance at the scorecard will reveal a par of just 68, and that gives you an idea of the type of course this is.  

You do not get to play a par 4 until the 5th, which makes Bamburgh Castle unusual if not unique. Bamburgh begins with two par 3s, the first of which has the cliffs and the North Sea on its right, as you play over a drop to find the putting surface. The 2nd is much longer, at 210 yards from the tips, and plays slightly uphill. Then come a pair of par 5s, the 3rd being much the more difficult of the two. When you finally reach the brow of the hill here, the trademark Bamburgh views open up before you, with Budle Bay and its huge sandy beach to the fore. It is 530 yards from the tips, but feels more like 630 yards if you’re playing into the wind. The 4th is another par 5, where a marker post offers a line but the safe play is to go a little left of it, from where many will have a chance of reaching the green, cut into the hillside, with their second. 

Finally, a par 4 arrives at the 5th, but then it is another par 3. The 6th has the very unusal moniker of being the Stroke Index 1. It is also not without justification, because it measures more than 205 yards and climbs a rather substantial hill, with most needing at least a fairway wood to stand a chance of reaching the putting surface. The 7th follows exactly the same theme, with the only difference being that it is a par 4. Having reached higher ground, most will find it has been worth the effort. The 8th is a superb and distinctive short hole, the green protected by a rock short and right and the flag often tucked away just behind it. Not for the first or last time, there are shades of Windermere. At the 9th you must thread a drive from the elevated tee between gorse and the course boundary – “thread” is an exaggeration but rarely has such a wide fairway looked narrower. 

The back nine begins with another short hole, with the 10th being blind and requiring a climb to the summit of a stone staircase to gain a view of the green. At this stage, exactly half the holes have been par 3s, though no two of them remotely similar. The next three holes, by Bamburgh’s standards, are almost conventional. All par 4s, the 11th requires an uphill, blind tee shot played with position in mind as the hole turns abruptly left for the approach. Then it is downhill all the way. The most testing hole on the inward half is undoubtedly the 13th. Here you must find a generous fairway between swathes of gorse before tackling the blind second, all uphill, to a green on the plateau.  

The last of the par 3s comes at the 14th, and what a short hole it is! Semi-blind, you must trust that the green is accommodatingly nestled in a hollow and trust the yardage. It is an oddly-triangular shaped green, one that is difficult to find on a still day – let alone if there is some breeze in the air. Apparently, ‘Castle View’ (no prizes for guessing how the 15th was named) has been driven before now. At 417 yards but from a considerably elevated tee and often playing downwind, this might be just about credible, were it not for the deep gully separates the green from the fairway.  

A pair of short par 4s start the final trio of holes. 16 is 285 yards, and the green is in reach for some providing you thread a drive down what looks little more than a walkway between a large hill on the right and gorse on the other side. At 257 yards from the back tees, the 17th is one of those delightfully old-fashioned holes unconstrained by the notion of par. Played from another elevated tee, being able to reach the green is less of an issue than finding a safe path between out of bounds tight down the right and a small mountain on the left. Try playing this in a raging left-to-right crosswind! The course finishes with another short, downhill 4, and this one is not quite so innocent as it might appear at first glance. Again, out of bounds lurks on the right and with gorse in the very spot where you might like to bail out towards, you should think twice before taking on the green with your drive. 

Where is Bamburgh Castle located?  

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club sits overlooking the sea on the northeast coastline of England. The course sits in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle itself, and looks out towards the Farne Islands which are just off the coast. It is one of the northernmost golfing venues in England, with the Scottish border just 20 miles to the north. Newcastle is some 50 miles south, while the Scottish capital of Edinburgh is only 75 miles north.  

The nearest train station to Bamburgh Castle is at Chathill, eight miles to the south. Trains run irregularly through Chathill, with only a couple of services a day. Those travelling to the northeast of England via the air will be inclined to land at Newcastle Airport, which is 50 miles from Bamburgh Castle. For a larger array of flight destinations, Edinburgh Airport, although north of the border, might be a better option. It is the biggest airport in Scotland, servicing the nation’s capital, and is 80 miles away from Bamburgh.  

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

Bamburgh Castle is one of several venues on the northeastern coastline of England. Both Goswick and Dunstanburgh Castle are close by, while Seaton Carew is within a couple of hours to the south, further past Newcastle.  

What golf facilities does Bamburgh Castle offer?  

Along with the quirky links layouts, Bamburgh Castle is also home to a practice area. There is a short game area, along with a range that is long enough for irons to be hit down. The putting green sits behind the clubhouse, as you make your way round to the 1st tee. 

What are the green fees at Bamburgh Castle?  

The price of a green fee at Bamburgh Castle changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

For more information on current green fees at Bamburgh Castle, visit their website here. 

Visit Bamburgh Castle’s website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.