Best known for its industrial heritage, the Tees Valley has stayed surprisingly far off most golfers’ radar. Those who make the trip find genuine treasures along a dramatic stretch of North Sea coast, with three classic links courses within minutes of each other and one of England’s finest golf resorts close by.
A five-star base
Rockliffe Hall is the region’s crown jewel: a five-star golf resort with a championship course, a superb spa and fine dining. It makes a luxurious base, but the real secret of the Tees Valley lies on the coast.
Cleveland Golf Club
The most northerly of the three, Cleveland at Redcar is the only true links in Yorkshire. Founded in 1887, it was overshadowed for decades by a huge steelworks. With the plant gone, the views are open and the quality of this classic links, with its strategic bunkering and natural contours, finally gets the attention it deserves.
Seaton Carew Golf Club
Just to the south, Seaton Carew is ranked among England’s top 50 courses and regularly hosts major amateur events, including the English Amateur Championship. Alister MacKenzie worked his magic here, and the result is a links that marries clever strategy with the natural coastal landscape.
Hartlepool Golf Club
Five minutes from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool has a pedigree of its own, shaped by James Braid and Willie Park Jr., the architect behind Sunningdale’s famous Old course. It completes a trio that offers three very different links experiences in a very small area.
The perfect short break
With the courses so close together, you spend your time playing rather than driving, and the Tees Valley offers excellent value compared with better-known golf regions. For a longer trip, head north into Northumberland for more outstanding links. Our Tees Valley Links Tour brings it all together, or tell us about your trip and we will help you plan it.