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The Roxburghe Golf Course © Visit Scotland

Golf clubs are an essential piece of kit for many visitors to The Scottish Borders and Northumberland.

With more than 60 courses from coastal links to parkland tracts, the region has a venue for all levels of player from champion to novice.

The Scottish Borders itself has internationally renowned courses and magnificent hidden gems. It offers an irresistible combination of superb courses, stunning countryside, value for money, and open fairways.

The Scottish Borders boasts a host of outstanding 18 and nine hole golf courses, including The Roxburghe and Cardrona. Legendary golfers such as Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and Tony Jacklin have found the Scottish Borders courses no easy feat.

As the address ‘Vertish Hill’ suggests the Hawick course is not for the fainthearted. However, upon reaching the summit, the player is rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding Borders countryside.

To help you make the most of the courses you can purchase either Scotland’s best selling golf pass – Freedom of the Fairways – or Northumberland’s ParSport, which covers the north of the county (contact Berwick Tourist Information Centre (TIC) on 01289 301780 or Alnwick TIC on 01665 511333). Coastal courses such as Newbiggin, Dunstanburgh Castle, Goswick (Berwick upon Tweed) and Warkworth, situated yards from the beach, offer a true links challenge.

Bamburgh Castle Golf Club

Warkworth, like several other courses, lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the Northumberland Coast walk passing through the nine-hole classic links. It was laid out in 1891 as a 12-hole course by legendary multi-Open winner “Old Tom Morris” who had also been responsible for Muirfield in East Lothian that year.

Seahouses is another traditional flat links course with what are said to be two of the best par threes in the North of England, while Bamburgh Castle Golf Club must be one of the most beautiful to play in the country. It offers views over Lindisfarne, the Farne Islands, the Cheviots and, of course, the mighty fortress of Bamburgh, as well as a unique series of opening holes.

For those golfers who want to get away from the coast, the county has a number of excellent inland courses including Bellingham. A highly regarded 18-hole course in the North Tyne Valley, it overlooks Bellingham and boasts stunning views towards Kielder Water. And for the younger visitor anther inland venue is Rothbury Golf Club, which holds the Junior Golf Mark award.

“Coastal courses offer a true links challenge”

Many of the area’s courses are open to pay and play golfers with exceptionally reasonable green fees to suit a wide range of budgets and giving visitors the chance to walk the same ground as many of the world’s top professionals.

In fact, Northumberland has had a few golfing champions and is currently home to one of Britain’s leading golfers, Kenneth Ferrie.

The European and Senior golf tours regularly visit the county, staging top class events at championship courses such as Slaley Hall and Burgham Park, host to the PGA North Region Championship.

Matfen Hall, a regular venue for professional and county amateur events, is rated as one of the finest courses in the area, while Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel near Morpeth boasts an excellent 18-hole course and country club in its 450 acres of private grounds.

The Northumberland Union of Golf Clubs’ website, www.nugc.org.uk, shows clubs – and their locations – that welcome visiting golfers. For The Scottish Borders golf courses, look here.

Remember, you need drive less than one hour from either Edinburgh or Newcastle and you will find yourself spoilt for golf choice in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.