Newbiggin Golf Course, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, England

http://www.newbiggingolfclub.co.uk/

White tees par 72, SSS 72, 6536 yards
Red tees par 73, SSS 74, 5673 yards

Newbiggin golf course lies on the North East coast of England just north of the city of Newcastle in the town of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Golf was introduced to Newbiggin by a Scot, Mr Laing, who created the first 9 holes. Permission to play golf on the moor was granted in 1884 by the Freeholders for an annual payment of £2 after which the current layout was designed by Willie Park. The club has the dubious distinction of having had its clubhouse destroyed by fire on two separate occasions in 1921 and 1977.  On the former occasion the historical records of the club were destroyed. An ancient tradition of dunting new freeholders of the town is still carried out on the dunting stone on the eighth fairway.

Looking back to the town from behind the 3rd green

On first sight Newbiggin is unprepossessing.  It is situated on flat moorland but is a true seaside links course and is rather spoiled by Lynemouth power station which dominates its furthest point.  Being on the North Sea coast it suffers at times from the haar or sea mist.  We were told that if the marker post on the first cannot be seen the course is deemed unplayable!  Fortunately we had no visibility problems when we played it with Rosie and Martin Dennis on a warm and windy day.  The first four holes follow the coast with out of bounds awaiting the sliced shot.  The fifth is a memorable drive across cliffs and then a semi-blind second shot to a sloping green.  The green at the lovely par 4 sixth is in a bowl which reminded us of the thirteenth hole at Strandhill (18 September 2015).  The seventh is a par 4 where the challenge is in putting on the severely sloping green. The following holes are less memorable with a few having softer more parkland type turf although we were told that there are plans to replace them.  There are only two par 3s, the thirteenth and the seventeenth, both of which are well thought out and good tests of golf.  Overall we enjoyed the course although the greens were slower than we would expect on a links course.  At £14 per round (twilight) it is great value. 

The drive at the 5th is across a rocky inlet

Worth playing?  At that price and for holiday golf - yes