Ramside Hall Golf Club

England’s newest championship course has its own Amen Corner and views of one of Britain’s greatest Cathedrals.

The Ramside Cathedral Course is named in honour of nearby Durham Cathedral – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 7,200-yard par 72 parkland layout has been designed by Jonathan Gaunt of Gaunt Golf Design, the architect of Ramside’s original 27 holes in 1994, and is the only new championship-standard 18-holer to open in England this year.

Gaunt calls the stretch of holes from the 11^th to the 14^th Ramside’s “Amen Corner”. The downhill par-3 12^th is a tribute to its famous counterpart in Georgia, but instead of Rae’s Creek, Sherburn Beck guards the front of the green and then flows all the way down the side of the dogleg par-4 13^th.

The course begins and ends in mature parkland close to Ramside Hall Hotel. The land was previously used for a third loop of nine holes which have been completely redesigned.

Gant told TG: “Not only is the course situated on an exceptional piece of land comprising a rolling valley with a coursing beck, a wide open hilltop plateau and secluded wooded parkland, it also has views over two iconic north-east landmarks – Durham Cathedral and the Angel of the North.”

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Ramside Golf Club opened for play on 1st April 1996. The acquisition of the neighbouring farm a few years earlier gave Ramside Hotel enough land to surround itself with 27 golf holes in three loops of 9 - The Princes, Bishops and Cathedral Courses.  It was the course architect's first full course design, and Jonathan Gaunt produced a great layout. All our greens were built to USGA specification, 40 miles of drainage were laid, 15 lakes were dug and 50,000 trees were planted,some whips and some semi-mature.  At the same time, our 16 bay covered floodlit driving range opened and this doubled as our clubhouse and changing rooms until the completion of our magnificent Clubhouse which opened in 1999.

(January 2015) Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club has launched Flexi-Golf, a new flexible membership scheme that allows golfers to join the club for just £195 and buy bundles of points to exchange for rounds of golf at the resort’s two courses.

Helen Roseberry, director of golf at Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club, said: “It’s important to recognise that golf has changed. The days of waiting lists at local golf clubs are gone and it is so easy to find discounted golf on the internet. People are busier than ever before. As a North East golf club we need to make it easier for local people to access the sport and our golfing community, without them put off by the idea of paying for a fixed term annual membership that they might not use as much as they would like.”

Ramside Golf Club is dedicated to helping new starters take up the sport and in 2013 was named best Adult Starter Centre in County Durham by the national Get into Golf Initiative. The new Flexi-Golf membership guarantees all of the benefits that full members enjoy without the larger financial commitment. Members can hold an official handicap and play in club competitions, but the pricing structure is more flexible and cost-effective. The Flexi-Golf points system takes into account overall demand for tee-times at the club and prices golf credits at higher rates during peak times, such as the Summer months and at weekends, whereas tee-times are cheaper off-peak during winter and at twilight times (after 3pm).

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 1 out of 5 Oh dear Ramside! 21 January 2015

  By Aldo

  Opened far too early! It reminds me of when England played their first game at the new Wembley and it finished up like a farmers field after 90 minutes. I think the layout is poor (but layout opinions vary), there is currently no definition to the fairways and the "Ramside's very own Amen Corner" is nothing more than a stretch of land where they had to squeeze 3 holes into a small area. The original course at Ramside however is excellent all year round but there is always room for improvement and I cant help thinking the money would have been better spent on improving the contours of this course. You have your work cut out on this one i'm afraid!

• 5 out of 5 Excellent way to play 2 different courses 19 September 2014

  By Neil Robertson

  As a member of Ramside golf club, I would like to congratulate Jonathan Gaunt on designing a very unique and different course for the golfing enthusiasts to play. There are not many places where you can go to have a choice of difference and hone your golfing skills. The new Cathedral course which is now fully open is a challenging "I would say" mixture of parkland, heathland and links combined championship course that is both rewarding and frustrating to play. Deep bunkers, rolling fairways, lakes and huge greens are a must to play, not forgetting the views across Durham are fantastic, the driving range is getting a revamp and should be ready soon, new facilities including swimming pool and massage can't wait for next season should be fantastic.

• 4 out of 5 first 18 holes 13 September 2009

  By pedrogolf

  i' have heard good and bad reviews about here but went with a open mind, course was in very good condition, but bunkers only let down. From where we played (sligthly forward tees) its not a bombers course, Certainly had to think about certain tee shots and left driver in the bag alot, heard from members who struggle to play/complete there rounds, golf club and hotel bookings to play the course getting mixed up,double bookings. but at the end of the day its a course i want to play agian and i won my division cup

• 4.5 out of 5 north east splendour 18 October 2008

  By THOMAS ALLISON

  played just last week and ramside was in cracking condition, sixth time ive played it and it never fails to impress,a little pricey but you get what you pay for. a warm welcome from the bar staff aswell.

• 4.5 out of 5 Slightly Bias Review 12 March 2008

  By Jigger 2003

  As a member of Ramside I have a slight bias for the course but I tried several courses in the area before joining last year and none matched it on layout and all year round playability due to it's fantastic drainage. All holes are well segragated from each other removing most distubances from stray balls on other holes and there are plenty of holes which will favour the brave and kill the stupid. The greens and Tee boxes in high season are always in great condition although maintenance work to these areas can be seen midweek and throughout the winter.

• 3.5 out of 5 Coporate Golf 14 October 2007

  By Strika

  Nice looking course, great facilities. Greens not realy top standard let the course down.