Bamburgh Castle Golf Club
The Course
Bamburgh Castle is one of the most beautiful and entertaining courses in Britain. It is short but tricky, fun but thought-provoking. It starts with two par 3s followed by two par 5s; there are six par 3s in all; the last three holes are a great finish to any round: a birdie is possible for any golfer at all three, but it's also easy to get into a lot of trouble.
Placing your mouse on each hole will provide basic details; click on each hole to see a brief description and photos of the tee, green and views of and from the hole.
"This is quite possibly the most beautiful and beautifully situated golf course in all England." - Golf World Magazine
"There are six par 3s and all to say the least are intriguing" "What about the 19th? In short, exceptionally friendly." - Activity Guides: Best British Courses
"..the view is so compellingly beautiful that we really have to look at it, no matter how critical the shot." - Bernard Darwin, A Round of Golf on the LNER
Hole 1 - The Dinkie
Standing on the first tee with the North Sea all around and looking out towards Holy Island, minds can often wander from the task in hand.Depending on the wind direction, this hole can play anything from an either iron to a driver. A high-quality tee shot over the Dinkie to the centre of the green is required to get off to a good start.
Hole 2 - Picnic Bay
A lengthy par three with a two tiered green. Ensure that a sufficient club is taken to find the appropriate level on the green. Unfortunately, anything short will be swallowed up by the bunkers or roll back to the edge of the false front.
Hole 3 - Quarry
This is a magnificent par five, and when the wind blows from the North it will require three good shots to reach the green. The tee shot needs to favour the right side of the fairway to give the best angle of attack for the second shot. A relatively flat green does afford a good birdie opportunity.
Hole 4 - Cheviot View
On a clear day there is no finer sight than Cheviot in the distance and Budle Bay to the right. A sloping fairway means the tee and second shots should favour the left hand side. A relatively easy par five should present a birdie change providing the green is not missed long or right.
Hole 5 - Heather Cottage
The fairway bunkers present no real difficulty for an accurately hit tee shot. However, it is when the green is reached that the fun really begins on this relatively short par four. An approach shot must favour the left side of the green to leave either a "flattish" or uphill putt.
Hole 6 - Plateau
A par three at the sixth feels like a birdie! This is a very demanding tee shot requiring length and accuracy to hold the green. Too short and it will rock back down the hill. Too long and it will leave a treacherous pitch back onto a green with a false front.
Hole 7 - The Rockies
A relatively short par four with all the trouble down the right. Hence, the tee shot needs to favour the left side of the fairway to ensure a good angle of attack to the pin. Sufficient club needs to be taken for the approach to the green to avoid the false front and set up a birdie opportunity.
Hole 8 - Island
The views from Bamburgh's signature hole are quite stunning. However, concentration is needed to execute this demanding tee shot and find the "island green". Anything right or left may be lost forever as many members will testify.
Hole 9 - Newtown
The elevated tee provides a commanding view of the ninth hole. An accurate tee shot is required to avoid the gorse on the left and the out of bounds down the right. THe approach shot is just as difficult and however tempting the flag may be it is best to aim for the centre of the green. Missing green on the short side will almost certainly in a dropped shot.
Hole 10 - Fox Coverts
This is the start of Bamburgh's famed Amen Corner! Climbing the steps to view the flag will help with this blind tee shot to a par three. The market provides the line with anything short and right finding the bunker. Sufficient club is required to carry the dead ground short of the green.
Hole 11 - Shada Wood
This is a great driving hole but accuracy and strategy are priorities. Anything left from the tee will find the gorse and anything too long will run out of fairway. For the long hitters a three wood may be best. Avoid going left with the approach and a birdie opportunity may arise on the flat green.
Hole 12 - Lindisfarne
Straight downhill par four with thick rough right and left. The ideal line from the tee is to the right of the marker post to ensure maximum run down the hill. An approach needs to be long enough for find the centre of the green. Anything long and left will leave an awkward chip shot.
Hole 13 - The Whins
Turning for home the drive at thirteen can be quite daunting over the sea of gorse. The shorter hitters may require three shots to get up the green. A well placed drive will leave a long blind second shot over the hill and accuracy over the marker post is required to avoid bunkers left and right of the green. A ball too far right may find the out of bounds.
Hole 14 - Farne Islands
The last of Bamburgh's par threes provides a stern examination across the valley to a green hidden in the mounds. The line is the market post and trust must be put into club selection and swing.
Hole 15 - Castle's View
Take time on the tee to admire the vista all around with the sea, hills and many castles. The downhill par four requires an accurate tee shot to avoid the rough, heather and gorse awaiting either side of the fairway. The second shot is played over a gully and accuracy with the club selection is vital to hold the green. Anything too long will leave a challenging up and down for par.
Hole 16 - Castle Keep
Standing on the sixteenth tee the question of "risk and reward" will enter the golfer's mind. A driver over the marker post may result in an eagle or a birdie. However, it may find the gorse or the heather. Conversely, a tee shot played just right of the marker post will leave a short pitch to the green setting up a birdie chance.
Hole 17 - Kittling Hill
The seventeenth tee is not for the faint hearted. A well struck tee shot across the out of bounds to the heart of the fairway will set up a short pitch and a clear birdie chance.
Hole 18 - Harelaw
Any golfer protecting a score coming to the last hole at Bamburgh will be faced with out of bounds to the right and lots of gorse to the left. The ideal line from the tee is towards the starter's hut. This will leave a wedge or mid iron to a green that is protected by six bunkers.
Natural England
Most of the course is in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and we work with Natural England to protect it.