Factfile
Name: Bedlingtonshire Golf Club
Address: Acorn Bank, Bedlington, Northumberland
Tel: 01670-822457 Fax: 01670-82304
Professional: Marcus Webb: 01670-822087
Web: Bedlingtonshire Golf Club Email: Bedlingtonshire Golf Club
How to get there: Off A189 Ashington Road, 10 miles North of Newcastle. Follow signs for Bedlington. The golf course is just south of the town centre.
Green fees: Weekdays - £22 per round, £14 with a member; Weekends - £28 per round, £14 with a member. Group rates: Various packages are available. For further information contact the club on any of the above numbers. Buggies: Available. Membership: Currently full - waiting list spaces for next season still available.
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Golf course architect Frank Penninck has been responsible for many fine creations worldwide, including the Old Course at Vilamoura in Portugal and the C&B course at Gut Kaden in Germany, but you don't have to travel far to play one of his English masterpieces. Situated ten miles north of Newcastle, the "Bedlingtonshire" is a top quality lay-out and a very fine test of golf. On what was once an opencast mining site, Penninck certainly did his homework and delivered a championship length golf course with sweeping fairways and large undulating greens. Opened in 1972 and owned by Wansbeck District Council until 2001, the course initially did not come up to expectations, primarily due to the clay base and severe drainage problems. These have now been mainly rectified and having played the course recently, I was impressed at how dry the lay-out was. Since taking over the lease five years ago, club staff have worked relentlessly on improvements and members and visitors alike are now finally reaping the benefits. With thousands of young trees planted, new paths, bunkers being up-graded and new flowerbeds, the course is looking very good and maturing into a top class golfing venue. Penninck's vision is becoming a reality. Membership at Bedlingtonshire is now full and a waiting list introduced for next season - further evidence of what golfers in the region think of the club. The clubhouse has not been forgotten either. Recently refurbished, the atmosphere is warm and friendly and offers excellent drink and catering facilities. And if its practice you need, Bedlintonshire has an ample practice area where PGA professional Marcus Webb is on hand to help improve your game. The pro shop is well stocked and offers a good range of equipment and clothing, all at a competitive price. The Course Bedlingtonshire is one of the longer courses in the region at 6813 yards off the back tees with a par of 73. Unusually there are five par 5s, so there are plenty of opportunities to improve on your score. The course is fairly flat and easy walking, ideal for those wanting to play more than 18 holes. The opening two holes are par 5s, both under 500 yards and within range in two for the longer hitters. Avoid the fairway bunkers and the traps defending the greens and you should be walking to the third tee level par or better. The 3rd hole is a different proposition altogether, a very long par 4 that plays all of its 460 yards. A big drive to the brow of the hill is required to leave any chance of making the green in two. Favour the left side of the fairway with the tee shot to avoid a well-placed bunker on the right, 230 yards from the tee. The long approach shot is played to an awkward hump-shaped green protected by bunkers left and right and falling away at the rear. A par at the 3rd is a very good score. The 4th hole is a 385-yard par 4 and a dog-leg left. An accurate drive over a slight rise in the fairway will leave a shortish downhill second to a generous green, bunkered on the right and sloping right to left. New tree plantations left and right will tighten this hole up in years to come but find the fairway here and you should have no trouble making par. The 5th is a straightforward par 4 where the big hitters will be looking to get close to the green. Bunkers left and right protect a narrow green falling away at the back. The 6th is the first of the short holes on the course. A strong par 3 and at 188 yards can be anything from a mid iron to a full blown drive depending on the conditions. Care has to be taken with club selection as a dip in the fairway tends to shorten the hole. The generous green is bunkered on both sides and can be deceptive. Take a look at your putts from both sides and don't read too much into the borrows - it is fairly flat. The 7th is the third par 5 and another good birdie chance. Avoid the fairway bunker 210 yards from the tee and trees on both sides and you should be playing your second shot into a position to leave a short pitch. The green is surrounded by three bunkers and swings viciously left to right so aim for the front left. Don't concede any putts at the 7th. Although only 352 yards, the par 4 8th is uphill and a dog-leg right. The tee shot should be to the left side of the fairway letting the slope gather the ball back towards the centre. Another deceptive green bunkered at the front and sloping back to front and right to left, awaits your second shot. Again, take care with the line of your putts on this green The front nine concludes with a cracking par 3. All of 230 yards, the tee shot is played downhill to a small target protected by bunkers at the front right. You can give yourself a pat on the back if you find the green with your tee shot. With out of bounds all along the left and a ditch on the right, any wayward drive at the par 4 10th will find trouble. Two well-placed fairway bunkers at 250 yards from the tee are not visible, adding to the difficulty. With an accurate drive and good club selection for the approach, a par or better should be on the card. You should be looking to make birdie at the par 5 11th. Played downhill, two straight shots will leave a short pitch to a large green protected by bunkers on the left. There are two bunkers just short of the green waiting to catch those who have a go at the green in two, but play the hole sensibly and they shouldn't come into play. The 357 yard par 4 12th is a dog-leg right. Having avoided the bunker on the corner, 230 yards from the tee and the bunkers at the front of the green, there is no excuse for dropping a shot here. The same can't be said about the 13th as the course enters a three hole loop through the prettiest part of the course. You could be forgiven for thinking you had walked onto another golf course. Mature oaks and other trees, azaleas and rhododendrons are everywhere. A very demanding par 4, the 13th requires a long straight drive. Any shot right and you are blocked out by the trees - go left and it may well be three off the tee. The second shot is played to a large well bunkered green with out of bounds on the left. There is no room for error at this 403-yard hole and a par is a very good score. The 14th is a delightful 164-yard par 3. Although the easiest hole on the course, miss the green and you will have a problem getting up and down in two. The par 4 15th is another good driving hole. The tee shot is played uphill between two large trees to a fairway that slopes severely left to right and downhill to the green. There is plenty of trouble waiting for any wayward shots on this hole. The 16th is another testing par 4 and at 449 yards requires two accurate long hits to find the putting surface. A dog-leg left, keep to the right side of the fairway to avoid finding trouble. The last of the short holes is the 17th, 194 yards uphill to a well bunkered green and sloping left to right. Consider taking an extra club or two as the hole can play a lot longer than it looks. And finally the 18th, the longest hole on the course - a 521-yard par 5 and a genuine three-shotter. With bunkers placed on both sides of the fairway to catch both the first and second shots, bunkers protecting a narrow green falling steeply off to the right and rear, a five at the last is a bonus. The final six holes are a wonderful finish to your round at Bedlingtonshire Golf Club. | 
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