Close House

Close House

Close House

Close House | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

You might bump into attached tour professional Lee Westwood on the driving range, or former England legend and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer on the course, but Close House is about much more than celebrity spotting. The Northumberland venue is a seriously good golf resort with two golf courses and a range of sublime accommodation.  
 
The resort is home to the only two Lee Westwood golf courses in the world, and the former World No.1 calls Close House home. The Colt Course is the championship offering at Close House and has played host to the British Masters on the DP World Tour, along with International Series England on the Asian Tour. The Filly Course is a great second course, while there is also a PGA Academy and the 9-hole Yearling pitch-and-putt course, perfect for both beginners and for a warm-up.  
 
Away from the golf course, the accommodation at Close House might be a small selection, but the quality is outstanding. There are 16 Courtyard Rooms, all of which are named after golf courses in the United Kingdom. They are all individually designed and beautifully appointed. The Lodge and The Pavilion offer private stays for larger groups, while the No.19 restaurant is the place to go for all your food wants and needs.  
 
 
  
Visit the Close House website here.  

Close House Overview | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts

Westy’s Only Courses

Close House, like many other venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list, is home to two 18-hole golf courses. The Colt Course and the Filly Course are the two layouts, and they are the only two golf courses in the world that have had design influence from former World No.1 Lee Westwood.  
 
Colt Course 
The championship offering at Close House is the Colt Course. The Colt opened in 2011 and was named after famous golf course architect Harry Colt. The course was designed by Scott MacPherson, with Westwood helping the team to improve some of the features of the layout, including adding new tees and bunkers.  
 
The course achieved championship status on the DP World Tour just six years after its inception. It hosted the Betfred British Masters, with Irishman Paul Dunne taking the title. The tournament returned in 2020, as the first golfing event in the United Kingdom under COVID-19 restrictions. Close House also hosted the International Series England event in 2023, with Andy Ogletree winning on his way to topping the International Series Order of Merit.  
 
The Par 71 layout almost reaches 7,000 yards in length, starting and ending by the gorgeous clubhouse. Only two holes are more than 500 yards, with the par 5 7th feeling like it is a lot more than the carded 522, as it plays severely uphill. The quirky 8th follows it, with the fairway split into two halves and water by the green. The same water hazard then guards the par 3 9th green.  
 
The 13th is carded as 448 yards but is severely downhill. Playing from the trees, the hole opens out with drives travelling much further than usual. The penultimate hole is the other plus-500-yard hole on the Colt Course, and it is a great par 5. There is a wide landing area from the tee, and the green can be reached in two for the longer hitters, but a huge oak tree stands in the way for those playing from the left side of the fairway. The 18th is a tough finishing hole, with water in front and right of the green. Take a par and enjoy a drink! 
 
Filly Course 
The Filly Course complements the Colt brilliantly at Close House. The course was redesigned and reopened in 2013, with several holes on the Filly running alongside the River Tyne. The course is a Par 70 and runs just over 6,000 yards from the championship tees.  
 
If you’re going to score well on the Filly Course, you need to do so before the closing stretch. Only one par 4 on the front nine is more than 400 yards from the back tees, with the 4th, 6th and 8th all being drivable par 4s for the longer hitters, but each tee shot faces danger. The 4th has eight bunkers, while both 6 and 8 have water by the green.  
 
There are three par 3s in a four-hole spell around the turn, before that dreaded closing run. Following the short par 5 13th, both 14 and 16 are par 4s that measure more than 400 yards, the latter reaching 450 yards from the back tees. The closing hole on the Filly is shorter than those but plays uphill and has a ditch running in front of the green to make that last approach short critical.  

Sublime Accommodation

Away from the golf course, Close House’s level of accommodation is sublime. There is a variety of options, with rooms and suites available in three places on the resort - the Courtyard Rooms, the Lodge and the Pavilion. 
  
In the centre of the Close House estate, close to the Filly Course, a conversion of the old cricket Pavilion has revealed an elegantly decorated cottage with two ensuite bedrooms, an open plan lounge and dining area, as well as a kitchen and terrace. At the Lodge, the former gatehouse to the estate, with luxurious accommodation with a cast-iron woodburner, private garden and hot tub, you’ll be provided with the most relaxing retreat. 
 
The 16 Courtyard rooms have earned a reputation for being of the highest quality and each is decorated and furnished to the highest standards. Each is also named after a famous golf course in the United Kingdom, including Alwoodley, Royal Portrush and Swinley Forest. The No.19 Restaurant is not just a warm and welcoming clubhouse, it’s a stylish restaurant offering the best of locally sourced and British cuisine. With its backdrop of the Northumbrian countryside, visitors are promised as “treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds” and it delivers whether you want a light snack or a full Sunday lunch. 

FAQs about Close House

Where is Close House?  
Close House is in the northeast of England, just outside the village of Heddon-on-the-Wall. It is located to the west of Newcastle, around ten miles from the city centre.  

What is the nearest airport and station to Close House?
 
Newcastle International Airport is the closest airport to Close House, just ten miles from the resort. It is the biggest airport in the northeast of the country, with almost 5 million passengers travelling through the airport in 2023. Jet2.com, Ryanair and TUI call Newcastle Airport home, with flights to many European destinations.  

What golf facilities does Close House offer?
 
Along with their two 18-hole courses, Close House is also home to the northeast’s only PGA Academy. There are many bays in the sheltered driving range, all of which are equipped with TopTracer. There is also a row of grass tees in front of the driving range building, used when the weather is good. 
 
There are two putting greens, one in front of the clubhouse serving the Colt Course and one next to the 1st tee of the Filly Course. The practice facilities also include the 9-hole Yearling Course, which sits between the 5th and 11th holes of the Filly Course. It is a short pitch-and-putt course, and perfect for beginners learning the game.  

Does Close House offer golf lessons?
 
There is a team of PGA-qualified professionals on hand at Close House to help with your golfing issues. With technology including TrackMan, TopTracer, SAM and GASP, they have all the equipment needed to help improve your game.  

What are the green fees at Close House?
 
The price of a green fee at Close House 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 at Close House, visit their website here

What accommodation is on offer at Close House?
 
There is a strong range of accommodation on offer at Close House, with a choice of 16 Courtyard Rooms, each of which is named after a well-known British golf course. The Lodge and The Pavilion offer more private stays for larger groups.  

What other resorts are nearby?
 
Close House is one of three venues on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list that call Northumbria home. Slaley Hall and Linden Hall are both within an hour’s drive from the resort. Both Rockliffe Hall and Schloss Roxburghe are within a 90-minute drive, the latter being just over the border in Scotland. 
  
 
  
Visit the Close House website here.