Dunstanburgh Castle Golf Course sits on the Northumberland coast between Alnwick and Berwick-upon-Tweed, with the ruins of the 14th-century castle watching over you for much of the round. Designed by five-time Open Champion James Braid, it is classic links golf in every sense: firm underfoot, wonderfully open to the elements and guaranteed to ask questions when the wind gets up off the North Sea.
Views across Embleton Bay are a genuine highlight, especially when the light drops and the castle starts to feel even closer. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a course with a proper bit of history in the background and Dunstanburgh delivers that in spades.
On the golf side, expect plenty of run on the fairways, the occasional awkward bounce and a need to keep things simple when it is breezy. Braid's routing makes smart use of the natural contours, with holes threaded between dunes and across exposed ground where wind direction will influence club choice and strategy. On a calmer day it is hugely enjoyable, but when it turns you will need solid ball-striking, good course management and the discipline to take your medicine.
If you are building a Northumberland itinerary, this is an easy one to justify for the setting alone, then it earns its keep with a proper test of seaside golf.
Who is this for?
Golfers visiting Northumberland who want a scenic, historic links round with a real coastal feel.
Who is it best for?
Players who enjoy traditional links conditions and do not mind the weather being part of the challenge. Include it on your next Northumberland golf break.
