Close House Colt
Scott Macpherson laid out the Lee Westwood Colt Course in 2011 on the estate above the Tyne, a modern championship parkland that drew its name and its spirit from the classic English work of Harry Colt. A par 71 of 6,813 yards, it climbs and falls through mature woodland and open meadow, and it has hosted the British Masters on the European Tour, twenty minutes west of Newcastle.
Photo: Close House Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
Close House is one of the few genuinely modern courses in the north of England to earn championship billing. Scott Macpherson routed the Colt across a rolling country estate in the Tyne valley, taking the holes from high parkland down toward the river and back, with elevation changes that give the round real movement and a string of long views across Northumberland.
The course carries Lee Westwood's name because the former world number one made Close House his home club and tournament base, and the Colt repaid the association by staging the British Masters. The conditioning is consistently excellent, the tees stretch to a serious test, and the resort setting makes it one of the most polished stay and play options between Yorkshire and the Scottish border.
Close House Colt Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2011
- Designer
- Scott Macpherson
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 71
- Yardage
- 6,813 yds
- Green fee
- Visitor rate
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Close House and leading course databases. The Colt was designed by Scott Macpherson and opened in 2011, a par 71 of 6,813 yards. Close House welcomes visiting golfers; green fees vary by season and day (indicative, 2026), so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Colt makes the most of its land. The opening holes set out from the high ground near the hotel, and the routing uses the slope of the estate to feed approaches and to test your judgment of an uphill or downhill yardage on almost every shot. Macpherson built generous landing areas but defended the greens with bunkering and contour, so the second shot is where the round is won.
The stretch that drops toward the Tyne is the most memorable, with tee shots played out over falling ground and the river opening up below. The par 3s are strong and varied, and the closing holes climb back to the clubhouse for a finish under the gaze of the resort, the kind of grandstand setting that suited a European Tour event.
What stays with you is the polish. This is a young course built to a championship brief, manicured and well drained, and it plays firm and true deep into the season when many inland courses are soft, a reliable modern complement to Northumberland's links coast.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Hotel and golf resort that welcomes visiting golfers, often as part of a green fee or stay and play package; advance booking is recommended |
| Green fee | Indicative visitor green fees in the region of 70 to 130 pounds depending on season and day (2026); always confirm directly before booking |
| Booking | Reserve through the Close House golf office; the Colt is busiest in summer and around events |
| On the day | Smart golf dress on course and in the clubhouse; buggies available and useful given the elevation changes |
| Getting there | Heddon-on-the-Wall, about twenty minutes west of Newcastle upon Tyne and close to the A69 |
| Best months | May to September for the firmest fairways and the fullest river valley setting |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly with the club or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Close House has its own lodging on the estate, which makes a stay and play the natural way to enjoy it, with the Colt and the shorter Filly course both on the doorstep. Newcastle is a short drive away for those who want a city base with its restaurants and nightlife.
The Colt pairs beautifully with the great links of the Northumberland coast for a varied trip, an inland championship test one day and the rumpled seaside golf of Bamburgh Castle or Goswick the next, all within an easy drive north.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Close House.
Build a Northumberland golf trip
We arrange tee times at Close House, pair the Colt with the best of the Northumberland links coast and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Close House Colt Course questions
Who designed the Colt Course at Close House and when did it open?
The Lee Westwood Colt Course was designed by Scott Macpherson and opened in 2011, its style inspired by the classic English parkland courses of the early twentieth century.
What is the par and length of the Close House Colt Course?
The Colt is a par 71 of 6,813 yards, a modern parkland championship layout that has hosted the British Masters.
Can visitors play the Close House Colt Course?
Yes. Close House is a hotel and golf resort that welcomes visiting golfers, often through green fee or stay and play packages; book in advance and confirm the current rate before you travel.
Where is Close House Golf Club?
Close House is at Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland, in the Tyne valley about twenty minutes west of Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.