Blyth Golf Club

The fairways at Blyth Golf Club roll out across genuine links terrain - not the manicured suburban stuff, but proper windswept Northumberland coast. It's a proper test of golf, the kind of place where the ball does what it wants if you're not concentrating.

The course itself sits just inland from the North Sea, so you're always aware of the weather coming in off the water. Eighteen holes, challenging greens, and the sort of rough that punishes you for getting lazy. It's the real deal for golfers who want to play something with character rather than another flat, forgettable parkland course.

You'll need to be a member or arrange a visitor round beforehand - this isn't the kind of place you just turn up at. Green fees and booking details are worth checking on their website before you head over from Ashington, which is just a short drive away.

If you're basing yourself at Sandy Bay or Church Point holiday parks nearby, this works as a brilliant day out for the golfers in your group. Sandy Bay is just 3.6 miles away, Church Point a touch further at 5.2 miles, so neither requires much of a drive. The course keeps you occupied for a proper afternoon, which means the rest of your lot can do something else in the area and you're not abandoning anyone for hours on end. Worth booking ahead though - they're not desperate for casual visitors.