Ponteland Golf Club

Golf at Ponteland is a proper test of your swing if you know what you're doing. Set just outside Morpeth in Northumberland, the club has been running since 1895 and it shows in the way the course sits comfortably in the landscape rather than fighting against it.

You're looking at an 18-hole layout that demands respect. The greens are well-maintained and the routing takes you through some pleasant countryside - nothing spectacular in the dramatic Northumberland sense, but solid, honest golfing ground. Par-70s and bogey golfers will find enough challenge here without it turning into a slog. Handicap golfers will get their money's worth.

This is unquestionably a members' club first, though visitors are welcome if you arrange it properly - ring ahead, have a handicap certificate ready, and ideally book through the website. Green fees aren't cheap but they're in line with clubs of this standard. Allow four and a half hours for a round, longer if you're playing with the wind against you.

If you're staying at Tranwell Farm Holidays nearby, it's close enough for a morning round before heading back to the caravan. It won't appeal to casual nine-hole players or anyone wanting to learn - this is for people who actually play golf and want a proper course. The clubhouse is decent without being fancy. Worth the trip if you're combining it with other Northumberland activities, but don't travel hours just for this one.