Rockliffe Hall is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts to be in the northeast of England. Located next to Middlesbrough FC’s training ground, Rockliffe Hall has an incredible 18-hole championship layout, along with a wide array of rooms, suites and apartments, and The Spa at Rockliffe for guests to relax and unwind in. 

 

The golf course at Rockliffe Hall makes the resort stand out from the rest, for one main reason. Simply put, it is the hardest golf course in England. If you fancy the challenge of the back tees, be warned! It is more than 7,900 yards from the tips, but fortunately, there are plenty of other tees for mere mortals to use. The course is complemented by a sheltered driving range, short game area and the PMG Academy for guests and members to receive coaching and tuition.  

 

Following a round on the hardest course in the country, The Spa at Rockliffe can supply the right atmosphere to relax and unwind. Swimming pools, sauna, infrared rooms, outdoor hot tubs and drench showers and much more are on offer, along with a range of massages and treatments from qualified professionals. Nu Sana is located above The Spa and provides healthy eating options as well. 

 

When it comes to accommodation, there is something for all parties at Rockliffe Hall. The Main House had a vast array of rooms and suites split across its Old Hall and New Hall, while each offering at the Tiplady Lodge has either a balcony or terrace, and a selection of accessible rooms for those that require a room with adaptations. Want a self-catering stay? Rockliffe has that covered as well with the Armstrong Apartments and the Woodland Mews Holiday Homes.  

 

 

Book your trip to Rockliffe Hall with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Rockliffe Hall website here.  

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Rockliffe Hall is home to just one golf course, but it is a notorious 18-hole layout. Measuring almost 8,000 yards from the back tees, it is the hardest golf course in the country, with a Course Rating of 79.3 - 7.3 strokes more than its actual Par of 72. 

You can tell from the off that it is going to be a difficult course just by looking at the scorecard. Three par 5s of more than 600 yards, every par 4 measuring more than 400 yards and only one of the four par 3s being less than 200 yards. Realistically, playing from the back tees at Rockliffe Hall is for the professionals – or for those sadistic golfers that enjoy the pain of shooting a high score.  

It’s not just the length that makes Rockliffe Hall such a difficult prospect. There are plenty of sand traps, water hazards and areas of thick rough for any shots that are hit offline. Water is in play to the right of the 1st green, and it pops up throughout the round. At 181 yards, the par 3 5th is the shortest on the card, but it plays to an island green, with the five tee boxes all coming at the green from a different angle.  

The 7th is the longest on the property at 660 yards long from the tips. The 13th and 16th (at 617 and 619 yards, respectively) are also three-shot par 5s if you’re playing from the backs. The 246-yard par 3 15th has water down the right side, while the closing hole is a dog-leg left that takes you back to the clubhouse and away from the River Tees.  

Rockliffe Hall is the home to 5-star accommodation, and that comes in a wide array of options. There are rooms and suites in the Main House, while the Tiplady Lodge also has rooms to offer. A selection of apartments is also available for those who fancy a self-catering stay in Darlington. 

 

The Old Hall of the Main House has a range of Double Rooms, Superior Rooms and Suites, while the New Hall features Superior Rooms that come in either Twin or Double guises. Away from the main hotel, the Tiplady Lodge offers a vast range of rooms, all with a Juliet balcony or terrace, depending on which floor of the lodge they are on. There are also some accessible rooms for those guests that require adaptations to a room to help them.  

 

The Armstrong Apartments come in a range of one- and two-bedrooms, all with views of the gardens and woodlands, and with complimentary access to The Spa at Rockliffe throughout your stay. The Woodland Mews Holiday Homes can sleep up to seven across four bedrooms and are perfect for those larger groups taking a trip to Rockliffe Hall. 

 

The Orangery – which has 3 AA rosettes – is the fine dining option at Rockliffe Hall. The Clubhouse offers views of the championship golf course and a laidback, casual dining experience for golfers and families alike. Nu Sana is the healthy dining choice, found above The Spa, while the Cocktail Bar is the perfect place for a drink or two in the evening.  

You’ve just played the hardest course in England, so you want to relax, right? The Spa at Rockliffe has you covered on that one. There is an outdoor hut tub and drench shower, while in the building itself, there is a swimming pool, hydropool, sauna, infrared room and more. 

 

There is also a gym at The Spa at Rockliffe, for those that want to exercise and work on themselves during a stay at the northeastern resort. TechnoGym, Artis and Skill Line equipment are all in the fully equipped gym.  

 

For those that want to relax and unwind even more, there are a range of massages and treatments available at The Spa at Rockliffe. From recovery work to body and head massages, facial treatments to foot spas, there is something for everyone, with all these treatments given by certified therapists.  

Where is Rockliffe Hall?  
Rockliffe Hall is on the banks of the River Tees, between Croft-on-Tees and Hurworth-on-Tees in the northeast of England. Darlington is just five miles north, while Middlesbrough is 18 miles east. Middlesbrough FC’s training ground is right next door to Rockliffe Hall. 

What is the nearest airport and station to Rockliffe Hall?  
Teesside Airport is the closest to Rockliffe Hall, just 20 minutes from the resort. However, there are only a select number of flights each day from the airport. Both Leeds Bradford Airport and Newcastle Airport are around an hour from Rockliffe Hall, in opposite directions. Leeds Bradford has Jet2.com and Ryanair using the airport as their Yorkshire bases, while Newcastle Airport is the busier of the two, and it is just a few miles from the city centre of Newcastle.  

 

Darlington Station is the closest to Rockliffe Hall, around five miles north of the resort. Trains to and from Edinburgh, London Kings Cross, Newcastle, Leeds, and Bristol all travel through Darlington Station each day.  

What golf facilities does Rockliffe Hall offer?  
Prior to taking on the hardest golf course in England, you might want to hit a few balls at the PMG Academy at Rockliffe Hall. There is a sheltered driving range with covered and matted bays available, along with a practice putting green and a short game area.  

 

The Clubhouse offers a suitable place to relax both before and after a round of golf at Rockliffe, while the pro shop at the resort has FootJoy, Under Armour, Peter Millar and more as part of its clothing selection. Trolleys, buggies and more can be rented for a round from the shop as well.  

Does Rockliffe Hall offer golf lessons?  
The PMG Academy at Rockliffe Hall supplies tuition and coaching for guests and members. All ages and abilities can enjoy a lesson at the academy, with driving range, short game and on course coaching available. 

What are the green fees at Rockliffe Hall?  
The price of a green fee at Rockliffe Hall changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees and offers at Rockliffe Hall, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Rockliffe Hall?  
Rockliffe Hall has a wide range of accommodation for its guests. From rooms and suites in the Tiplady Lodge and the Main House, to a range of self-catering apartments and holiday homes for larger groups, there is something for all parties at Rockliffe.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
Rockliffe Hall is halfway between Yorkshire and the northeast of England, with other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list in both directions within an hour from Rockliffe. Both Aldwark Manor and Rudding Park to the south, along with Slaley Hall and Close House to the north, are all an hour’s drive from Rockliffe Hall. 

 

  

Book your trip to Rockliffe Hall with Golfbreaks now.  

  

Visit the Rockliffe Hall website here.  

Go Back To NCG Top 100s Homepage.