Factfile Name: Heworth Golf Club Address: Jingling Gate, Heworth, Gateshead, NE10 8XY Location: From the South A1(M) - After signs for Chester le Street, take a right signposted for South Shields/Tyne Tunnel on the A194(M). At the second slip road, A 195, bear left for Gateshead and Felling. At the traffic lights, turn right and the entrance to the golf club is first right. From the North A1(M) - Travel pass the Angel of the North and take the left lane marked A1231 for Washington/Sunderland. Go straight ahead at the roundabout and then take a left onto the A 194(M) for South Shields and Tyne Tunnel. Take the A195 left as described above. Tel: 0191 469 9832 Fax: 0191 469 9898 Pro: 0191 438 4223 E-mail:Secretary@HeworthWeb:Heworth Golf Club Green Fees: Midweek - £22, Midweek with a member - £12; Weekend - £25, Weekend with a member - £15. Societies: Welcome (various packages available). Full details can be obtained from the club on any of the above numbers. Buggies: Limited but available if required. Membership: Full male - £484. Full female - £332 (Joining fee - 50% of the annual membership fee). Juniors Under-14 - £45; Juniors 14-15 - £65; Juniors 16-17 - £100.
Opened in 1912, the golf course at Heworth was originally just 9 holes and extended to 18 holes in 1976. I can recall driving past the course at that time and thinking that doesn't look up to much. But what a difference 30 years can make!
The last decade has seen Heworth maturing into a very fine test of golf. The thousands of fast growing trees now lining the fairways have not only given the course definition but have tightened the holes up considerably. In the past you could get away with wayward shots - not anymore, miss the fairways and trouble a waits.
A further compliment to the club is the membership. There are currently over 700 playing members in all categories and 455 social members, an indication of how popular Heworth is.
And the icing on the cake is the new clubhouse. Only a few years old, the building can only be described as magnificent. With a bar, lounge, dining room and full size snooker table, the facilities are excellent. The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the service first class.
Heworth Golf Club also has two class 'A' professionals, Adrian and Warren Marshall providing lessons and a well stocked Pro Shop with golf equipment and accessories all competitively priced.
The course
The best strategy in playing Heworth is not to take it for granted. Yes, there are holes that you can take advantage of but equally, there are some holes that may well bring you back to earth with a bump.
Measuring 6421 yards off the medal tees, the front nine are slightly easier and where you should be looking to get a good score going. Saying that, any shot leaked right through the first six holes will be in trouble.
The 1st at Heworth is a straightforward Par 4, only 341 yards requiring a drive down the middle of the fairway and a wedge to the centre of the green. The tee shot is intimidating with the clubhouse on the right and more than likely, an audience watching you make a complete hash of the first shot of the round.
The 2nd is another relatively straightforward par 4 and at only 366 yards, a drive and a short iron should see you putting for a birdie.
The 3rd, aptly named the Mouse Trap is a super little par 3. Only 124 yards in length, the green is well defended by three bunkers and slopes from the middle to the front and falls away at the back.
The par 4 4th is a slight dog-leg right with trees and out of bounds on the right. There are two fairway bunkers, one right at 230 yards and another left 250 yards from the tee. Beware the ditch 15 yards short of the green waiting to catch any under-clubbed shots.
At 437 yards, the par 4 5th is stroke index 2 and a tough par 4. A long drive is required to leave any chance of making the green in two. The approach should be played to the left of the pin as the ball gathers right on the putting surface. A par here is a good score.
The second par 3 at Heworth is the 6th. Played slightly uphill, the hole plays a little longer than its 177 yards, so consider taking an extra club. Any shot coming up short will not make the green due to the slope at the front.
The drive at the par 4 7th is slightly uphill and over the marker post. There are trees left and right, but a good drive here will leave a short downhill approach to a green protected by two bunkers. There is another ditch, 15 yards short of the green but if you've selected the right club, it shouldn't come into play.
The 8th is another par 4 and a dog-leg left. The tee shot should be right of centre to avoid a bunker on the left at the corner of the dog-leg. Any shot going left will find trees and thick rough. The second shot is played to large green where the ball should stop pretty quickly due to the slope from back to front.
Make the most of the par 5 9th before Heworth starts to seriously examine your golfing ability. There is internal out of bounds on the right to watch out for and out of bounds on the left as you near the green. The hole dog-legs right and climbs slightly towards the green. There is a new bunker on the left to watch out for, 70 yards short of the green.
The 10th is a monster. A 442 yard par 4, where the second shot is played to a green that slopes right to left and front to back. A very difficult green to get the ball to stop on but there is plenty of room over the back.
The par 5 11th is a genuine three-shotter, usually into the prevailing wind, and plays all of its 562 yards. There is out of bounds on the right and lots of trees on the left 220 yards from the tee. A good drive down the middle followed by a well placed second will leave a shortish iron to a green that slopes quite severely down at the front.
And then its onto stroke index 1. This 444-yard par 4 is another monster where a par will feel like a birdie. If it's any consolation, the fairway is generous but watch out for the bunkers on both sides 230 yards from the tee and 40 yards short of the green.
You should be looking for a birdie at the 504-yard par 5 13th. Two straight shots will leave a short pitch to a receptive green sloping back to front.
At 295 yards, the 14th is a shortish par 4 and maybe in range for the big hitters. Don't go right or you may well be playing three off the tee.
The 15th is a deceptive par 3, played slightly uphill over a ditch diagonally crossing the fairway. The green slopes quite steeply from back to front, so keep your tee shot below the hole.
The 306-yard par 4 16th may well be your last chance for a birdie before Heworth's tough finish. A drive and pitch will find an undulating green with ridges running through it. Make your opponent putt out at this one.
At 406 yards and into the wind, the par 4 17th can be a very tough proposition. There are no problems from the tee, unless you miss the fairway but you do need a good drive to leave a shot to the green. There is a ditch crossing the fairway 80 yards short of the putting surface and bunkers front left and right. Take care on this green, as there are some nasty slopes that require a lot of thought.
And finally the par 3 18th. All of 228 yards into the prevailing wind with the clubhouse on the left and out of bounds at the back, it's a very tough finishing hole. Find this green with your tees-hot and you can adjourn to the clubhouse for a well-deserved pint.
Aug 12-15: USPGA CHAMPIONSHIP (Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin, USA) & BMW Russian Open (Moscow Country Club, Moscow, Russia) Aug 19-22: WGC-NEC Invitational (Firestone, Akron, Ohio, USA) Aug 26-29: BMW International Open (Golfclub Munchen Nord-Eichenried, Munich, Germany)
Golfing Destinations
