Close House Hotel & Golf (Colt course)

Close House Hotel & Golf (Colt course): Here beside the River Tyne in rural Northumberland (but still just 10 miles from the centre of Newcastle), you'll find Close House, a relatively recent addition to the North East's growing collection of luxury Stay&Play venues. Much transformed from a former Newcastle University facility, Close House now boasts luxury accommodation and two Lee Westwood endorsed golf courses: the championship Colt layout and the shorter and also enjoyable Filly course.

The Colt is a predominantly open "heathland" layout. Integrated into its design are several themes that flow from the work of Harry Colt. Rectangular tees, wrinkly-edged bunker forms and the design of the par-3s all tip their hat to the legendary English course architect (whose greatest work includes Sunningdale's New course, Wentworth's West, Swinley Forest, and Pine Valley in New Jersey).

The layout exudes a linksy openness, with fairways frequently lined by tall wispy fescues. Only occasionally do you play through tree-lined stretches, while water hazards are sparingly used, as on many of the great heathland courses. Variety is guaranteed with the terrain's natural undulations demanding a mix of shots, some played uphill, others downhill and some on more level ground. Each hole faces a different direction than the one before, which becomes an ever more challenging factor when the wind is blowing. Where some holes provide good width landing areas, others like the par-4 1st give you testingly tight fairways to hit.

From this pleasantly undulating layout you'll enjoy many scenic views onto the surrounding Northumberland countryside. Although the River Tyne is but a short distance away, you'll not play alongside it on the Colt course. A few holes on the Filly course get closer to the northeast's most famous river, separated from it by a small margin of woodland.