Brampton

Brampton Golf Club is a fantastic heathland layout in north Cumbria and is widely acknowledged as one of the country’s best kept golfing secrets.

Not only is it one of the highest courses in the land, at some 1,000 feet above sea level, but it is also undulating, just to add to the challenges.

Narrow and tree-lined fairways, those aforementioned undulations, and plenty of sand traps as well. There is a lot to avoid during your round at Brampton.

Visit Brampton’s website here. 

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Despite being founded in 1909, and having more than a century’s worth of history, Brampton Golf Club is not one of the oldest venues in Cumbria. 

The great James Braid – five times a winner of the Open Championship – was the man behind the original design at Brampton. 

Although not quite as elevated as Kington, Brampton Golf Club is around 1,000 feet above sea level, meaning the course offers incredible panoramic views of the North Pennines and the Lake District. It is not the longest course in the world; Brampton only measures 6,418 yards off the competition tees. Thanks to superb drainage, James Braid’s undulating par 72 layout can be enjoyed year-round. 

Unusually, Brampton begins with a par 3, but it is a test of your swing from the very beginning. 175 yards away sits a small green, guarded by three bunkers. The 2nd, aptly called “Railway”, has the train tracks running down its right side. At just 350 yards, this is a generous hole to come to early on. Known as “Curlew’s Nest”, the 422-yard par 4 3rd features tree-lined fairways and a pair of greenside bunkers. Making par on here – the Stroke Index 1 at Brampton - should be considered a success. The longest hole on the course comes next, with the 4th being a 565-yard par 5. There is a small lake on the right side of the fairway that must be avoided, and this will be a three-shotter for the majority. 

A quartet of par 4s take you towards the turn, all of which have their own challenges. The 5th is the longest of those at 395 yards, and with a slight dog-leg to the right. The 6th turns the other way, and although it is only 317 yards from the tips, it is one of the more difficult holes at Brampton. Thick trees sit to the left of the hole for the first 100 yards or so, meaning that there is no chance of trying to cut the corner. The 7th is drivable for some at just 275 yards, but five bunkers surrounding the green might put you off from taking it on. 8 is another shorter par 4, at 335 yards, but the fairway runs out around the 260-yard mark, so driver might not necessarily be the right play. The last hole on the front side at Brampton is a dog-leg left par 5. If your tee shot can find its way to the corner, then there is a chance of taking on the green with your second. Otherwise, this will be another three-shotter. 

The back nine begins with the easiest hole on the property, the Stroke Index 18. A generous fairway sits in front of you, while the green has just a couple of bunkers for company. The 462-yard par 411th is a testing hole. Appropriately named “Round the Bend”, it features a sharp dogleg and a downhill approach to the putting surface. To make matters trickier, the green is protected by a strategically placed bunker. 12 and 14 are the two par 3s on the back nine, and they are very different. The former is almost 200 yards from the tips, while the 14th is only 125 yards. Both feature a pair of bunkers to protect the putting surface, but the difference in club selection is vast. In between those lies the 13th, the hardest hole on the back nine. 

The run for home at Brampton can see you gain some shots back. 15 and 16 are short par 4s, the former being the longer of the two at 330 yards. That plays as a dog-leg right, while the 16th is a dog-leg left around the trees. A horseshoe-shaped bunker, which runs around the front and both sides of the putting surface, must be avoided. The par 5 17th provides another scoring opportunity, with it being arrow straight and with no bunkers until you get to the green. The closing hole gives one final bite back, though. At 453 yards, it is the longest of the par 4s at Brampton. Again, there are no fairway bunkers, but the fairway is narrow, and it must be found if you are to try and reach the green with your second. 

Where is Brampton Golf Club located?

Brampton Golf Club is one of the northernmost venues in England, sitting just over 15 miles from the border of the country with Scotland. It is on the northern edge of the North Pennines National Landscape, and sits just south of the village of Brampton. The city of Carlisle is under ten miles to the west, and the A69 and A689 both run nearby. 

Brampton Station is around three miles from the golf club, with train services operating through the station on the Carlisle-Newcastle line several times per day in both directions. Newcastle International Airport is the closest major airport to Brampton, around an hour’s drive to the east – some 45 miles away. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester Airports are all just over two hours from the venue.

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

With Brampton sitting in the centre of the country, it is some distance from the nearest venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Silloth on Solway is 35 miles to the west, with Seascale almost 60 miles away. Seaton Carew, Goswick and Dunstanburgh Castle are within 100 miles to the northeast.

What golf facilities does Brampton Golf Club offer?

Accompanying the 18-hole course at Brampton is a six-bay driving range, with all those bays being covered so you can practice no matter what the weather. There is also another practice area for irons and wedges, along with a short game area that has a green and bunkers. A putting green sits by the clubhouse and the 1st tee.

What are the green fees at Brampton Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Brampton Golf Club 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 Brampton, visit their website here.