WHERE TO PLAY
THE 10TH OLDEST GOLF CLUB IN ENGLAND Compared to Scotland, there’s a paucity of links in North-East England. From Goswick I drove 150 kilometres south to my next one, past Newcastle and Sunderland and under the River Tyne to the seaside town of Seaton Carew. An even older golf club (1874) than Goswick, in a working-class area, and the contrast in its surroundings couldn’t
stretching south to Bamburgh Castle is magnificent linksland. And yet it’s alone out there. Goswick is ranked in the Top 100 in England, but not those of the UK & Ireland, which is probably correct. The dunes are low, and there’s limited movement among them. The holes are challenging and varied though, and it’s been a regional qualifying venue for the Open Championship. Strong par 4s
abound, and at 6 262 metres it’s similar in length to Humewood. A breeze made it severely testing, especially playing the last few holes back to the clubhouse. After all those lengthy holes, there was a joyful surprise at the end, a short 4 (245m) 18th at right angles to nearly all the holes, filled with bunkers and bordered by fierce rough which could be seen from a raised tee. An exhilarat- ing hole on which to finish.
SEATON CAREW Wind turbines and the mouth of the Tees Estuary frames the 12th hole in the dunes.
112 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
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