Seaham Golf Club

An 18-hole championship course right on the Durham coast, Seaham Golf Club sits on clifftop land that gives you proper seaside golf without the pretence. The layout makes excellent use of the terrain - you're playing alongside views of the North Sea, which sounds romantic until the wind gets up and suddenly that par four becomes genuinely difficult.

This is very much a members' club first, so if you're not affiliated you'll need to check their website or ring ahead about visitor play. When they do accept outsiders, it's typically at a decent green fee, and you should allow a full four hours for eighteen holes. The course itself is well-maintained, with a good mix of tight fairways and more forgiving holes - nothing too fancy, just solid golf architecture from a bygone era.

Golfers will get the most from it, obviously, but it's worth knowing that the clifftop setting means walkers often pop past for the views alone. Peterlee's just inland, and if you're based at The Barn at Easington or Castledene Holiday Park nearby, Seaham makes an easy afternoon outing. The best time to play is May through September when the coastal weather's most cooperative, though the wind rarely properly lets up.

It's a straightforward members' setup rather than a destination resort course - no fancy clubhouse dining or pro shop experience to write home about. But if you're a golfer staying locally and can wrangle a round, the sea views and genuine challenge make it well worth the effort.