Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course

Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with the ruins of ancient Dunstanburgh Castle looming large at the layout's eastern end. Occupying easy-draining linksland terrain, the layout here combines spectacular scenery, with a touch of history, and great links golf.

This wonderfully natural seaside links, offers plenty of golfing thrills and spills, as well as stunning beach, sea and castle views from the ever-undulating layout. Elevation changes are integral to the design, not least on the opening six-hole loop, which takes you up and around the north end of the course.

South of the clubhouse, the remaining 12 holes head out-and-back along this rolling, eminently playable and well-presented layout. At the southerly end of the course, the short par-3 13th sits directly below the battered walls and tower of the medieval fortress.

Defended by revetted bunkers and occasionally gorse, golfers need to judge the ever changing wind direction as the generally good-width fairways make their way around the bay and back. Although sea views are abundant, a line of sand dunes often sits between the golf course and the beautiful sands of Embleton Beach. These same dunes provide some degree of shelter when the North Sea is blowing hard.

Pick of the holes: the short par-3 13th (Castle) plays over a rocky inlet with the castle ruins and a crescent-shaped cliff providing an impressive backdrop to this bunkerless hole. At the also short par-3 15th (Basin) a deep bunker looms large in front of the green. But first you must clear a stream that also lies between the tee and the bowl-shaped green.