Brancepth Castle Golf Club

Score 9/10

The Review

This is my home course so I am bound to be a bit biased towards it but in my opinion when it is in good condition it is the best course in the North of England.

Brancepeth is a test for golfers of all abilities with generous fairways with large but fast and tricky greens. The main feature of Brancepeth is the ravine that runs through some of the holes especially 8, 9 and 10 which are played across this ravine. Although the carry is not a problem it causes more problems in a golfers mind and many a duff shot can occur by golfers looking up too soon only to be greeted by the sight of their ball disappearing into the valley.

The course in genaral is quite flat however there are a number of steep inclines which make the course difficult for the unfit. You can take your own buggy on the course but at the moment there are none availble to hire.

Snap Shot

Course Type:- Parkland	Par:- 70
Number of Holes:- 18	Facilities:- Bar, Restaurant, changing rooms
Length:- 6400 yards	Buggies:- Not available for hire but allowed

Score Card

Hole No.	BLUE	WHITE	YELLOW	PAR	S.I.
1	333	333	328	4	15
2	154	135	150	3	17
3	450	450	440	4	3
4	395	586	395	4	5
5	218	218	213	3	13
6	583	547	537	5	1
7	391	386	381	4	7
8	331	331	326	4	9
9	207	202	197	3	11
OUT	3062	2988	2967	34
10	202	190	190	3	14
11	437	437	437	4	2
12	549	509	499	5	10
13	437	406	401	4	4
14	325	325	315	4	16
15	162	157	152	3	18
16	484	484	477	5	6
17	390	385	378	4	8
18	352	353	353	4	12
IN	3338	3246	3202	36
OUT	3062	2988	2967	34
TOTAL	6400	6234	6169	70

Course History

In 1923 Lord Boyne, acting on a suggestion from his agent Major K Crawley, made a decision to lay out a golf course on what was Brancepeth Castle Deer Park. The total amount of land designated was 140 acres, 3 roods and 24 perches where 1 Rood = º of an acre, 1 Perch = 5 sq. yards. The total area was therefore 140.90 acres and the length of the course 6210 yards. The leading Architects of the day were engaged to design and lay down the golf course and they were H S Colt and his partner Major J S F Morrison. The cost to Lord Boyne, including the conversion of the stables and the coach houses for use as a Club House was £10,000.

The course was run as a private concern until 1929 when an agreement was made to lease the golf course and premises at a modest rent. In the 1930's the Club prospered and had around 400 members including Leonard Crawley (English Close Champion 1931) and many more prominent Durham County Golfers. It has been and still is the venue for many county and inter-county events.

After the 1939-45 war Lord Boyne's executors sold Brancepeth estates to the Duke of Westminster and after the death of the latter in 1953 the estate was again sold to help pay heavy death duties. At that time the lease on the golf course came to an end and the future of the Club was uncertain.

In 1961, Club members subscribed almost £14,500, enough to buy the course and the Club House. Since that date the policy has been to stay as close to the Colt design and layout as possible and the course, generally speaking, has changed very little. The Club now has a full membership and is in a sound financial position. The future is assured and efforts continue to be made to improve the condition of the course and the Club House amenities.

The Club House is built from natural stone hewn at Littleburn Quarry some two miles away and is entered by passing through an archway and crossing the original cobblestone courtyard with its stone centerpiece, originally used as a watering trough for horses.

Leaving the Club House and walking down the path towards the first tee provides a first glimpse of the Castle and St. Brandon's Church. Going through the gate and on to the first tee gives an immediate impression of the character of the course and its magnificent deciduous trees. The silver birch trees on the right between the 1st fairway and 18th green were planted to mark the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Originally there were 25 trees, one for each year of her reign.

The Facilities