Goswick

Goswick is, without doubt, one of the best golf courses that you will find on the northeast coastline of England.

The club dates back to the 19th Century, with the current course layout coming about in 1930, thanks to the masterful design of the great James Braid.

The course is so highly-rated, that the R&A have used it as a Regional Qualifying venue for the Open Championship on ten occasions since 2008.

 
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The club's history dates all the way back to 1889. A meeting was held that October about the beginning of a golf club, with the original 9-hole course being laid out and then opened a year later.

1894 saw the course extended to 18 holes by Ryton's club professional, R. Collins. James Braid's first involvement with Goswick came just after the turn of the 20th Century, when he played in a match against two of the club's finest players.

Following the First World War, Braid would return to properly put his stamp on Goswick. He renovated and revised the course, which re-opened in 1932. 

Frank Pennink then made his mark on the course as well, three decades later, by adding in two new holes - the current 5th and 6th. That came after the club had been ravaged once more by war efforts, this time the Second World War. 

The duo of Mackenzie & Ebert have been drafted in to commence a new project, which will reimagine five of the opening nine holes at Goswick. 
 

Goswick is home to a fine links layout, and with the likes of Braid and Pennink as designers, you can quickly understand why. Looking out over Cheswick Sands, the course has that seaside feel, and it plays tough, especially of the back tees at 6,850 yards.

The opening hole – Copse Corner – is a 392-yard par four which runs eastwards to the sea. A right to left dog-leg leaves you with a second shot to an elevated green that is guarded by a mound and bunker on the front left side. The 2nd is a mid-length par 3 which requires a well-struck tee-shot to clear the large grassy depression in front of the green. The first of five par 4s clocking more than 400 yards in length comes at the 3rd, before you get to the first par 5 on the course.

That comes at the 4th, at 545 yards, it may well requires three well-struck shots to reach the narrow green. Move onto the 5th and you reach ‘Penninks Way’, a hole named after famous architect Frank following the several modifications he made to the course. The hardest hole on the course plays much longer than its 466 yards as it turns slightly left uphill after your tee-shot, towards a green that slopes from front-to-back and has a very narrow entrance due to bunkering on the right.

The 6th is the other creation from Frank Pennink, and it is a fabulous par 5 which takes you to the northernmost point of the course. The 7th then starts to bring you back south, and with five greenside bunkers, all on the left side, the miss is definitely right. The 8th is a dog-leg left par 4, with the final hole on the front nine being a lengthy par 3. It clocks in at almost 200 yards from the tips, and is certainly one where a par is a very good score.

The 10th is the hardest hole on the back nine, and kicks off the closing side at Goswick with a bang. It is followed by the longest hole on the property, the 559-yard par 5 11th, one that has a stream running down the entirety of the left side. The 12th also features the same water hazard, with the 13th being the second 200-yard par 3 on the card. 14 takes you back along the coastline, and plays as a dog-leg right par 4. 

The 15th is the shortest hole at Goswick, at 150 yards, featuring five greenside bunkers and the same stream that is in play on 11 and 12 at the back right of the green. The closing stretch continues with the tough par 4 16th, before the layout finishes with two great scoring opportunities. The 17th provides marvellous views of the course and gives you the last of the par 5s. Find the fairway with your drive and you’re in a great position on this relatively flat, straight hole. Anything wayward will be punished however as there are no fewer than 13 bunkers ready to gobble up off-centre hits. The green lies just behind a gravel road and between the two upright stones which give the hole its name – Stonehenge. 

The closing hole at Goswick is a 269-yard par 4 which is definitely the easiest hole on the course and well-hit tee-shots will be rewarded with a very short approach to the green and perhaps an easy birdie chance. The green is guarded by four bunkers, leaving plenty to think about for the longer-hitters who might be tempted by taking on the green with their tee shot.
 

Where is Goswick Golf Club located?
Goswick Golf Club is situated in the northeastern corner of England, halfway between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Bamburgh. The course is next to Cheswick Sands & Nature Reserve, with the A1 just a couple of miles inland from the venue.

The nearest train station is is Berwick-upon-Tweed, which is around seven miles to the north of Goswick. Berwick-upon-Tweed Station is a busy one, with trains running to London Kings Cross, Leeds, Edinburgh, Bristol Temple Meads, Aberdeen and plenty of other destinations. In terms of air travel, it is probably easiest to actually fly into the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Goswick is around 90 minutes by road from Edinburgh Airport, which is the busiest airport north of the border. 

 

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  
Goswick is the northernmost venue on the NCG Top 100s: England venue, and one of three in the North East of England. Dunstanburgh Castle is just 25 miles to the south, while Seaton Carew is almost 100 miles down the coast. Silloth on Solway, located on the opposite side of the country, is also within 110 miles. 

What golf facilities does Goswick offer?  
Along with the stunning championship layout, Goswick is also home to a full-sized practice facility with grass tees. There is also a short game area, and a putting green, along with a Swing Studio that can be booked.
 

What are the green fees at Goswick?
The price of a green fee at Goswick 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 Goswick, visit their website here. 

 
Visit Goswick's website here.
Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.