Factfile
Name: George Washington Golf and Country Club
Address: Stone Cellar Rd, High Usworth, Washington, Tyne & Wear
Tel: 0191 417 8346 Fax: 0191 415 1166
Web: George Washington GCC Email: Reservations
How to get there: From A1(M) jct 65 onto A194(M). Turn off on A195 sign posted Washington North. Last exit for Washington at roundabout. Turn right at mini-roundabout through residential estate. Hotel and golf club is half a mile on the right.
Green fees: Masters Course, Weekday - £20 a round; Weekends - £25 a round; Pitch & Putt Course - £5 a round; Driving Range - £2.50 for 50 balls (multi buy savings available). Buggies: £20 a round.
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Since its opening in 1980, George Washington Golf and Country Club has always had potential to be a top class venue. And with serious investment from the new owners, Ailantus Hotels, members, visitors and hotel guests are all about to see the transformation they have been hoping for. Originally constructed for the Washington Development Corporation, the golf course was put on the market in 1989 and became a private golf club when purchased by the Queens Moat House Hotel Group. At that time the membership had high hopes but, for one reason or another, numbers began to decline and by the end of the 1990s, the future looked bleak. In July 2001, PGA professional Graeme Robinson was appointed Golf Operations Manager, having gained four years experience at De Vere Slaley Hall. His forward thinking and much improved service to members reversed the trend and now the membership is thriving once again. Many improvements have been made to the course in recent years and together with plans to construct a new golf clubhouse, Graeme is confident that George Washington will finally begin to get the recognition it deserves. As for the hotel, the 103 bedrooms have recently been refurbished and all are equipped with television, trouser press, tea/coffee making facilities and 24-hour room service. There is also a huge extension plan underway which will see the constuction of a 1000 delegate conference block and extensions added to the bar, restaurant and leisure club. Add to this a 20-bay floodlit driving range and a 9-hole par 3 pitch and putt course, the George Washington Golf and Country Club will soon be as good as any facility in the North East region. The Course Measuring 6604 yards off the medal tees and 6267 yards off the yellows, the par 73 Masters course is a mature parkland course and a very good test for golfers of all abilities. With wide generous fairways and large sloping greens, the course can be forgiving to the slightly wayward golfer but beware, most of the holes are tree-lined and any wild shots will be severely punished. An unusual feature of the course is that there are five par 5's, giving the opportunity to score well, or if played badly, a score you will want to forget. The 1st hole is a 492 yard par 5 and a dog-leg right. A good drive slightly right of centre will leave a longish iron to a green protected by bunkers left and right. A tee shot too far right will find the woods or the driving range and any shot left, a ditch comes into play. A relatively gentle start which should yield a par or better. The 2nd, a 227 yard par 3 is a tougher proposition. The two-tier green is protected by a bunker front left so take care with your club selection and take note of where the pin has been placed. The par 5 3rd hole is another good birdie opportunity. 502 yards downhill, two good shots should find the green and another good score. At stroke index 1, the 4th is one of the toughest holes on the course. An uphill par 4 and into the prevailing wind, this hole plays all of its 400 yards and a little bit more. The kidney shaped green is not easy to hit and if the pin is cut back right, beware the bunker protecting the right side of the green. A par is a good score here. The 5th is another par 5 and the longest on the course. Usually downwind, this hole plays shorter than its 516 yards and is another good birdie chance. Take care with the approach to a narrow green, well guarded by a bunker front right. The next three par 4 holes will either make or ruin your card. Played normally into the wind, good accurate tee shots are required. The 6th at 352 yards can be a card wrecker and is considered to be one of the tougher holes on the course. A good drive to the centre of the fairway leaves an approach shot played over a stream and trees to an awkward two-tier green. The 7th is 385 yards and a dog-leg left where the big hitters may be tempted to cut the corner. Played sensibly, you should find the green in two and be putting for birdie. The 369 yard 8th is another birdie chance. An uphill tee shot just left of centre will leave a shortish iron to a receptive green protected by sand front left and right. And to finish the front nine, a relatively easy par 3 although the severely sloping green will test your putting stroke. With out of bounds tight to the left side of the fairway and dense trees to the right, the par 4 10th can be a nightmare. Only irons are permitted from the tee due to the close proximity of local residences, alleviating some of the danger. The 2nd shot is deceptive, so again take care with club selection. The fourth par 5 on the course is the 11th and at 495 yards should be another good birdie chance. A sharp dog-leg right with out of bounds left and right, the ideal tee shot should be as close to the right side as you dare to allow the ball to be gathered through the gap. A downhill 2nd awaits and in dry conditions, it can be easy to go through the green to find all sorts of trouble at the back. The 368 yard 12th has to be one of the tightest driving holes on the course. With trouble left and right, the drive has to find the fairway to leave any chance of making the green in regulation. The 194 yard 12th shouldn't pose too many problems but the large bunker at the front of the green tends to foreshorten the hole. Miss the fairway at the 13th and a provisional may be required. A good par 4 where some thought has to be given to the approach. Played uphill, the distance can be difficult to judge. The short 15th is the easiest hole on the course. Only 152yards and slightly downhill, an accurate shortish iron should find the tricky putting surface. The 16th is a 376 yard par 4 with all the trouble on the right. A big drive down the centre and a short iron to the centre of the green will reap rewards. The 17th is a good par 5 with lots of trouble along both sides of the fairway. Played initially uphill and then downhill to a green protected by three bunkers, it is possible to get home with two big shots. And finally the 364 yard par 4 18th. Only difficuly here is the uphill approach to another awkward putting surface. Get the distance right, a par or better will be on the card. Play well at George Washington and you may shoot a score to remember for a very long time. Factfile Name: George Washington Golf & Country Club. Address: Stone Cellar Road, High Usworth, Washington, Tyne & Wear. Telephone: 0191 417 8346; Fax: 0191 415 1166; Email: reservations@georgewashington.co.uk Website: www.georgewashington.co.uk How to get there: From A1(M) jct 65 onto A194(M). Turn off on A195 sign posted Washington North. Last exit for Washington at roundabout. Turn right at mini-roundabout through residential estate. Hotel and golf club is half a mile on the right. Green fees: Masters Course, Weekday - £20 a round; Weekends - £25 a round; Pitch & Putt Course - £5 a round; Driving Range - £2.50 for 50 balls (multi buy savings available). Buggies: £20 a round. Lessons: Contact Graeme Robinson on 0191 417 8346. | 
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