Blyth

Blyth, Northumberland

Once the home to a pit head, this is now a first-class parkland

Developed on land where once stood a pit head and its entire mining community, Blyth has matured and developed into a gently undulating tree-lined parkland course.

From the back tees the course measures a healthy 6,424 yards and while modern courses are often longer than that, Blyth uses a cunning design and astute use of hazards to keep you honest and interested.

The tight fairways and tricky rough ensure you have to be accurate from the tee and many a scorecard or Stableford round has been ruined before newcomers have realised what is necessary to prevail here.

There are no easy holes to get your eye in here – you need to be playing your best from the start to be able to post a good score.

Blyth opens with a quartet of challenging par 4s before you are faced with perhaps the hardest hole on the course at the 5th, a long and challenging par 5.

Blyth is renowned for the quality of its greens and if you have struggled to read them then the man to tell you their secrets is the steward, David Curry, the former European To...

Indeed, it is not until the 9th that you find the first of the three short holes – but it is hardly a birdie chance waiting to happen.

The back nine offers a little more variety, and the chance to repair some of the damage incurred on the way out.

Although this is a members’ course, visitors are not only welcome but positively encouraged.

Blyth is renowned for the quality of its greens and if you have struggled to read them then the man to tell you their secrets is the steward, David Curry, the former European Tour player, Walker Cup star and Amateur champion.