The Society makes a long awaited return to Northumberland and Hexham 11 years on from our previous visit.
Back in 2014, our first day of golf was cancelled here due to heavy rain closing the course. Northumberland Golf Club is an interesting heathland layout with a number of holes that weave in and out of the racecourse. Harry Colt remodelled the course following World War 1 and James Braid advised on further alterations immediately after World War 2. The club has hosted a number of notable tournaments down the years, including the Dunlop Masters in 1972, which New Zealand’s Bob Charles won by two shots from England’s Tony Jacklin. More recently, the club staged Open Regional Qualifying for the R&A over a five-year period from 2013.
Initially laid out in the 1890’s by Harry Vardon and later improved by James Braid, Hexham was remodelled and extended to 6294 yards by Ken Cotton in the 1950’s when more land on the Spital estate became available. Eleven holes on the existing site were reconfigured and seven new ones were constructed on the newly acquired ground. Hexham enjoys a mature, parkland setting on the south banks of the River Tyne, where a surprisingly undulating landscape adds greatly to the playing interest. The run of par-four holes from the 393-yard 5th to the 349-yard 9th is particularly demanding, with the long, left doglegged 6th rated stroke index 1. On the back nine the 10th, 13th and 16th are all terrific par threes, with the 146-yard 13th perhaps the pick of these short holes, playing from an elevated tee box to a well-protected two-tiered putting surface.