Factfile
Name: Prudhoe Golf Club
Address: Eastwood Park, Prudhoe, Northumberland, NE42 5DX
Clubhouse: 01661 832 466 Secretary: 01661 835 168
Pro: 01661 836 188 Course Info: 01661 836 883
Fax: 01661 830 710 Web: Prudhoe Golf Club Email: Secretary
How to get there: TPrudhoe is 10 miles west of Newcastle off the A695 to Hexham. Turn right at the Falcon pub and the club entrance is 300 yards on the right.
Membership: Available - No entrance fee. Membership runs from Jan to Dec - Join now and get 1 month free. Gents full - £445, Gents senior - £295. Ladies full - £285, Ladies senior - £180. Juniors 1st year - £40, to 16 - £65, to 18 - £115, intermediate to 22 - £165. Social membership under 65 - £12, 65 and over - £6.
Green Fees: Weekdays to March 31st 2007 - £12 a day (Weekends not available). 2007 summer rates - weekedays £24 a day, weekends £32 a day (Limited tee times on Saturdays).
Societies: Welcome - various packages available, to discuss your needs please contact the secretary on the above number.
Buggies: Members £10 a day, Visitors £15 a day.
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Nestling in the Tyne Valley and overlooking a wonderful area of Northumberland, the golf course at Prudhoe has to be near the top of every golfer's agenda as a "must-play" course in our region. Okay, it might not have the grandeur of some of the region's better known courses, but how many of those courses can boast about the quality of their players and their achievements? Not many! You only have to look at some of Prudhoe's "Hall of Fame". Neville Dunne won the British Boys Championships, Janet Soulsby became British Champion before being selected for the Curtis Cup Team and joining the LPGA ranks, David Curry, after being selected for the Walker Cup, turned professional and played on the European Tour and of course he won the Amateur Championship. Recently, Shaun Philipson is an England player and British Mid-Amateur Champion and only this year James Curry has made it into the England Under-21 squad (see story on Page 6). The list goes on, but why is Prudhoe such a hot-bed for so many good players? Two reasons; firstly, the course requires total discipline and a very high level of course management, and secondly, a well-run junior section. Prudhoe's golf course is tight, with the premium on accuracy from the tee. The greens are small targets and throughout the main season, firm and very slick. And there is no doubting the club's commitment to their juniors, it is only a matter of time before one or two of their present youngsters make a name for themselves. Club Secretary Ian Pauw is particularly pleased with one aspect of the junior section: "Up to 18 months ago we had no girls in the section. Last year five joined and we have been very encouraged that they stayed. One young lady is very promising." As for further investment in the club, Ian stated: "Money is being spent on the clubhouse and re-construction of the lounge area is now underway. And on the course, over the next 18 months to two years, we are looking to re-shape the bunkers and replace the sand." Full catering facilities are provided by Jim Mullholand, renowned in the local area for his carveries and the PGA professional services by John Crawford, whose well stocked shop offers a good range of very competitively priced products. Summed up - Prudhoe has a very good golf club and an excellent golf course. Continued on page 30 The Course First impressions can be misleading and on looking at the scorecard, you can be forgiven for thinking that the course maybe a bit of a walkover. Take heed - nothing could be further from the truth! Yes, it may be only 5,839 yards off the medal tees and 5,618 yards from the yellows, but don't let that deceive you; there are a number of very good holes where your concentration and ability will be tested to the full. The par 4 1st hole is 345 yards and downhill. A good drive will leave only a short pitch to a smallish green, defended by bunkers left and right. Trees await any tee-shot off line and watch out for the woods at the rear of the green - over-club the approach and you will be playing a provisional. The 2nd is another short par 4 and at 308 yards, a relatively simple hole, providing you play it sensibly. The drive is tight and uphill through trees, with out of bounds on the right. Take a long iron or rescue club and aim for left side of the fairway. There is a bunker on the right, 50 yards from the green but this shouldn't come into play, unless you risk a driver from the tee. With out of bounds all along the right, the 385-yard par 4 3rd is an excellent hole and requires an accurate drive, up and over the hill to the left side of the fairway. The approach is then played downhill to a receptive green, protected by a bunker front left. Watch out for the trees on the right just short of the green, they will come into play if you get out of position from the tee. Another shortish par 4 is the 4th and a real birdie chance. Only 330 yards, a well struck tee-shot should leave only a wedge to one of the bigger greens on the course. The 265-yard par 4 5th is driveable and the easiest hole on the course. There are trees left and right waiting to catch any wayward drive and two well placed fairway bunkers, 20 yards short of the putting surface. No excuse for not getting a par or better at this one. The 6th is a 327-yard par 4 and a dog-leg left. With the fairway sloping right to left, favour the right side from the tee. The second shot is played to a small green with a narrow steep uphill entrance and bunkered on both sides. Don't miss left or you will be left with an awkward chip back up the slope. The next is a blind 175 uphill par 3 - not everyone's cup of tea but to be fair, the 7th green is a big target, 40 yards in length with two bunkers waiting for any shot leaked to the right. Make the right club selection, strike the ball straight over the marker post and you should find the putting surface and make par. Played downhill, the par 4 8th is fairly straightforward and very similar to the 1st - not surprising really as they both run parallel to each other. The green at this hole is a very small target and with woods directly behind, you do have to take care with the approach shot. The 9th is the longest on the front nine and at 416 yards, uphill and usually into the prevailing wind, it's a difficult proposition. The tree-lined fairway has three well-positioned bunkers on the right, waiting to catch the longer hitters who stray off line. Beware another bunker on the left, 35 yards short of the green - find this one and you will have one of those shots many amateurs don't know how to play. Walk away from this one with a par and you can be quietly pleased with yourself. All of 468 yards, the par 4 10th needs two really good shots to get there. Favour the right side of the fairway with the drive to take advantage of the right to left slope. There is a bunker in the centre of the fairway, 100 yards short of the green, however this shouldn't come into play unless it's the height of summer and you hit a real boomer. The approach is then played to a wide green defended by bunkers left and right and out of bounds close to the back. The par 3 11th is 174 yards and played slightly downhill to a well-bunkered green. There are trees left and right and with out of bounds at the back, can be a real little tester. Make the right club selection, trust your swing and you should find the target. And then it's across the main road to the second section of the course - take care on doing so, there is no 30mph limit and no warning signs for motorists. The 12th is uphill and a par 4 dog-leg right. Only 274 yards in length, the onus is on the tee shot where you have to find the fairway - go left or right and you can kiss a par goodbye. Find the short stuff, play a short accurate pitch to the small raised green and you should have another good birdie chance. Our region is blessed with some very fine par 3s and Prudhoe's 13th is one of them - it's an absolute cracker. Played from a raised tee to a raised green, there is no room for error at this 176-yard hole. The two-tier green is defended by a large bunker at the front and a further two to the left and right. And with trees on both sides and out of bounds at the rear, you will do well to make par here. At 547 yards, the par 5 14th is the longest hole on the course and a good three-shotter. The drive is over a hill and should be aimed to the right side of the fairway to take into account the right to left slope. A well-placed second shot is then needed to avoid a number of devilishly placed bunkers and the approach is played steeply uphill to another small green sloping, severely away at the front and to the left. A short downhill par 3 is the next and it shouldn't pose too many problems. Only 139 yards, just watch out for the out of bounds on the right and at the rear. The tee shot at the 16th is slightly uphill where you have to avoid the bunkers on the left, 235 yards or so from the tee. The second shot to this 333-yard par 4 is played to another raised green, falling away very steeply at the front and to the right - very easy to drop a shot at this one. And you will drop further shots at the 359 yard 17th, if you don't find the right spot on the fairway with the drive. There are trees right and left and with the green tucked around a sharp corner, you have to be long and straight enough to have sight of the green - a very good par 4. Back across the main road and the final hole at Prudhoe awaits, a monster of a par 4. 461 yards uphill with out of bounds all along the left and usually played into the prevailing wind. For most of us mere mortals, the 18th has to be played as a par 5, with the hope of a pitch and putt for par. A bogey at the last is no disgrace, I personally think it's the toughest hole on the course. The golf course at Prudhoe is superbly presented, full marks to head greenkeeper George Gainford and his three staff - I can fully understand why the club has been selected to host next years Northumberland County Match Play Championships. | 
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