What a GOLF CLUB this is!

What a GOLF CLUB this is!

Now, I can’t lie. I didn’t stay in the van last night, and I am in fact staying in one of the nicest hotels I’ve been in for some time. I also have the Duke of North Thland as my neighbor. This is An Castle, which I pronounced incorrectly for the remainder of this video. And if any Jordies out there think that’s funny, maybe visit my neck of the woods in Wales, and we’ll see who laughs last. This castle is home to the Percy family since 1309 and the humble abode of the Duke and Duchess of Northland. It is also the film set for Harry Potter, Downtown Abbey, and Transformers. And the Baiff Gate Hotel was right across the road from the main entrance. Now, I don’t normally start a video with such a detailed look at my accommodation, let alone a room tour, but this place was a bit special and a perfect location to explore golf in North Thland, amongst other things, of course. Enough of hotels and castles. I think it’s time we got to the golf course. Right, that’s me checked out. You’ve seen a hotel, you’ve seen a castle. I expect you want to see a golf course. And uh well, just a 2-minute drive from that hotel is a cause that is well and truly off the beaten track. Had a peek at this last night, and it’s one that you’re going to love. [Music] [Music] That has got to be the best sponsor of any golf course I’ve ever seen. Sales must be booming around here, especially after they see some of my t-shots. Three holes to warm up at Mwick Castle Golf Club. And uh you can have a little look around those. Now I played here last evening. As you can see, sun was out. Looks absolutely stunning. But then you cross over the road and you play what is probably part of the original 9hole course. And at the back of the camera is the fourth T. And I’ll show you me T-shot from last night. One because it was straight and two because the sun was shining a bit more than it was this morning. We got down there and there’s a little bit of drone footage as well which shows just how nice this green is. some form of monument in the backdrop. Looks absolutely stunning. Very two very different loops of nine holes of which I’ll go on to show you this morning. We’ll have a little chat as usual. But this is well and truly an off thebeaten drack golf course that you should stick on your list to play. That’s before you even see it. What I won’t show you is last night’s second shot because uh from this very same position, we’ll do a little bit of a reenactment, I think, and see if I can do some better this time round. I didn’t get a yardage 132 and uh I managed to lose my golf ball. So, let’s see if we can do a little bit better this time around. I’ve managed to reenact and throw it into a half cut divot. Only I could do that. First swing of the day. Let’s see what we’ve got. And oh, just cut a little bit. Cut a little bit more. It’s coming on the flag. Oh, it’s a bit short as well. Well, look, the positive is we haven’t lost the ball. We’ve got to make up and down for par. And the sun is still shining. Come on. Come on. Now we got a chance of saving par. How much movement in that really quite firm? No, too firm. Way too firm, in fact. And uh well, we start with a bogey. I’m not sure I can claim anything because it was last night’s T-shot. The amount of history around this area is hugely significant. And this, we’ll call it a column, which is adjacent to the uh the fourth green is referenced to Duke of Wellington’s sort of successes, if you want to call them that, in battle. Horatio Nelson. Haven’t got a clue. and William Pit. So there you go. History lesson and golf, right? I think we should compliment the greens team as well because uh well the all round condition of the course has been exceptionally good. But as you can see the greens are uh superb. a little bit of growth on them at the moment and I assume that’s because we’ve had a lot of dry weather so don’t want to cut them down too much but they’ve rolled very true through oh maybe even a little bit quicker this morning but yeah so so good the condition of the golf course and uh we haven’t had the best of times in the UK weatherwise for the last few weeks they’re doing a fantastic job right another T-shot from last night this is the sixth hole and it’s a quirky one because you really need to get good position and I got there with a bit of luck cuz I pulled it a bit left but you’ve got to be because the camber on the fairway is huge and we managed to get to the brow as well because anything further back there and you’re playing a blind shot into a green that is incredibly difficult to hold. Now I didn’t film this shot last night so I’ll show you hopefully what happens. And that is not far enough. Left. And that’ll be lucky if it stays on the right hand side of the green. Stay there. Stay there. Stay. No. Yeah. That is what happens on a 70 yard shot that needs to be pitched at them trees to somehow kick sideways and land near that flag. The other option is to throw it all the way to the flag. And you know what? Let’s have a little go at that and see if that should have been the better option. Right. Either way, it’s not easy. I’d be interested to know how the members play this. That’s a better line and hopefully a softer landing. It could go in this one. Still got to sit down though. Yeah, I think maybe that’s a better option. I landed it a lot shorter, which means you’re hitting the slope and getting more of it in terms of gathering speed. Perhaps the idea is to throw it all the way to the green even where there’s perhaps a flatter surface. Right, let’s try seven. And I say try, I’m going to You’ve probably seen this morning I’ve only hit short wedges and I’m using last night’s T-shots and that’s because I’ve got a bit of an injury. Uh, my left shoulder has got a bit of a problem this morning. And this is the first attempt at a longer club. So, I got to turn a bit down the left. It was towards the red trees and uh hopefully that kicks around a little to the right. It’s a fairly long path forward, but if you can get to the brow, then it kicks down. So, we’ll see what lays over the top. And the shoulder I can report is still in one piece. Although I can’t look left. Go on. Oh, what I will say is holes four through to nine and then we got a par three next are I would imagine where your card can go wrong. What you’re going to see is a back nine that opens up a fair bit. It’s a very different layout. Um but on this nine it’s extremely tight and yeah I would think you build your score or if you get out of here okay then you’re building a score and none more so than this and I’m in danger if I actually hit a good shot last night on here and I’m attempting to do it again with that swing hand. Let’s try that one. Ah, come down. I haven’t seen that. Come down. Is that in the middle of the fairway? It might be in the middle of the fairway. I hit the trees on the right hand side and just on the edge of them as well, which is really frustrating because it was a really good strike. There is no room for error on this T-shot, but I can see a ball in the middle of the fairway, which I’m pretty hopeful is mine. Well, the golfing gods uh looked kindly on me cuz I hit that tree and I’ve come straight down and it was a ball in the middle of the fairway. The problem is we’re we’re way back. We’re about 190. And uh my plan is just to get a ball down there and then have a look at the flag from there and rely on my up and down skills. Bounce. And again. And again. Go on. We got a chance right for a miraculous four. I think this is stroke index two as well. That T-shot is an absolute killer. Right. Come on. Positive. Come on ball. Come on ball. Oh, and I said positive and didn’t hit it hard enough. Do you know what? After the t-shot, it could have been far worse than a bogey five. But that’s a tough little golf hole. So, a big switch up. You play 4 through to 10 on like I said that old course and then you come to a new piece of land on 11 and it is a very very different layout and I always think it’s a it’s it’s a struggle to get a new piece of land which is clearly very different than what the original holes were were set up on and then to try and make it blend. And in a way it doesn’t and it doesn’t in a good way cuz it’s so so different that it really works. Now, the shots you’re seeing are from last evening, like I said, and it plays almost like a link style golf club. So, again, I’m not very good. I don’t know how many holes are on this kind of section of the course, but uh one, it’s in tremendous condition. Two, it’s interesting in terms of the layout. It’s also a bit sociable in that there’s a bit of room. So, it’s it’s it’s user friendly. Like I said, you’ve got that tight um whatever it is, 4 to 10, and then you’ve got a bit more room to get away with a bit on this nine. And uh I really love the fact that it is so different that it actually probably works better than trying to make it fit like what we seen on that uh those other nine holes. Anyway, I’m on 12 and uh the shoulder is loosening. Let’s see what we can do here. Yeah, that’s decent. Oh, there’s a bunker there, though. I didn’t look there. Yeah, I can’t see that one down. It’s going towards the left side bunker, but we’ll uh we’ll survive. We’re way short of the bunker. It was uh good course management, even though in actual fact, I didn’t even take the notice where I was going. So, we’re going to try and get through the gap. It’s firm and fiery as well. Um this loop, and by that I mean you’ve got to land it a little bit shorter target. That’s too short to target. Carry that bunker at least for God’s sake. Oh, hang on. Yes. Oh, again, good course management. You won’t pick it up on that camera, but that is uh pin high. And again, perhaps a little bit lucky. And one other nice thing about this nine is the the views are incredible. Right the way over to the North Sea in the uh in the distance there. Hopefully some nice drone footage again from last night can show you that. And then we’ve got the the hills at one side as well. Anyway, I haven’t had many looks at birdie. I’ll be honest with you. Game’s not been superb this morning to say the least. Let’s see if we can get this one to the old downhill off the right. Oh, come on. Oh, I thought I had that. But it’s a good read. Perhaps a little bit pasty. Oh well, we move on with a par. I got another look at birdie. I didn’t record the t uh the shots in, not the t-shots, the shots in. And uh I’ll have a quick roll of this and then we’re going to go to photo of the week. So we got some nice ones again from the light last night. Come on. Roll one. He’s got it. At last, let’s go to photo of the week on a birdie. [Music] [Music] Right, that’s me all finished at Alwick Castle Golf Club. I think one other point to mention is how nice is this clubhouse? Just uh had something to eat here. It’s got incredible views again out over the 18th. I’ve had a real great two days here really. Hotel fantastic. Castle is incredible. You’ve got to add that to your visit as well. And uh the golf course itself is well and truly an off thebeaten track course that I think you should make an effort to come and visit. Another special mention is to the people here. Ryan in particular who looked after us when we arrived in the pro shop last night. That lad can’t do enough for you and a real credit to uh Castle Golf Club as are all the people that we’ve met so far. Really enthusiastic. Want to get you up here and come and play golf. So, if you’re in North Thland area, then uh make sure you add this to your list of mustplay because uh as you’ve hopefully seen, real interesting golf course, interesting layout, in excellent condition. What more can you ask for? Right, that’s me done. I’ll see you all soon, probably next Monday night for another episode of Off thebeaten Track.

Episode 59 – Off the Beaten Track – This week I visit Northumberland and Alnwick Castle Golf club.

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