Hart Warren,
Hartlepool, Co. Durham TS24 9QF
Office
+44 (0)1429 274 398Pro shop
+44 (0)1429 274 398Website
Visit websiteGolf pro
Matthew Naylor (PGA, Advanced Professional).The Course:
18 holes. Seaside links. Gently undulating terrain - a few slopes to climb.
Surroundings:
Coastal duneland and embankment of Durham Coast (single-track) railway.
Designer:
Willie Park Jr and James Braid
54.718065
-1.236820
3.5 mi NW of Hartlepool / 30 mi SE of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Hartlepool
Hartlepool Golf Club: a couple of miles south of the port town of Hartlepool, you'll find the revered golf course of Seaton Carew. An equal distance north of town, is the also enjoyable but lesser known seaside links of Hartlepool Golf Club ... another well-presented feather in the northeast of England's golfing cap.
In terms of a natural setting, Hartlepool GC scenically edges its close neighbours, Seaton Carew and Cleveland. On one side of the course there are sea views aplenty, over Crimdon Beach and the North Sea. On the other side, a tall grassy railway embankment provides the backdrop to proceedings. The course itself delivers everything you'd expect from a beachside links layout.
The flatter and slightly less interesting first five holes, give way to a tricky blind tee-shot at the par-4 6th, followed by a ravine to carry at the par-3 7th. From the 6th, the course definitely moves up through its gears. The more undulating and "linksy" back-nine loop journeys southeast from the clubhouse through the best of the dunes. Here, from several elevated teeing areas, you'll enjoy wonderful coastal views.
Getting the back-nine loop underway is a classic linksland short par-4. Its green, which nestles down next to the beach, can only be accessed following a blind approach shot between two sandhills. From then on, the back-nine throws a few curved balls at you, before settling down to a flatter final trio that sit beneath the railway embankment.
Pick of the holes: mixed in with some flatter opening and closing holes, the stretch from the par-4 6th through to the doglegging par-4 15th is where Hartlepool earns its stripes. Among many classic holes, and a few quirky ones, you'll find the long par-3 11th. From an elevated tee, across the gully to a plateau green, you'll be attended by some of the layout's loveliest coastal views.
Visitors welcome on weekdays (after 11am), Saturdays (after 1:30pm), and Sundays (after 2:30pm).
Must book in advance.
Contact club for full details, discounts, packages, etc. [Last updated: 2025].
Players generally walk this course.
Good
Hartlepool was formerly home to heavy industry, including steel-making and shipbuilding, as well as having had a fishing industry. Nowadays the town is more associated with light industry and urban development, especially at its marina (the former South Docks), which opened in 1993.
At the marina you will find the Royal Navy Museum, and an impressive three-masted warship, HMS Trincomalee, which dates from the early-1800s. To the south of Hartlepool is the more holiday-oriented resort area of Seaton Carew.
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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