Slaley Hall Hunting
Dave Thomas carved the Hunting Course through a thousand acres of Northumberland forest and moorland near Hexham, a par 72 of about 7,088 yards that earned the nickname the Augusta of the North for its tree lined corridors and ranks among the finest resort courses in the north of England.
Photo: Golf at Slaley Hall via Google.
The verdict
The Hunting Course is the senior of the two layouts at Slaley Hall, a Dave Thomas design threaded through dense Northumberland pine that gave it the nickname the Augusta of the North. It is a proper resort championship test, long at about 7,088 yards off the back, tree lined to the point of claustrophobia in places, and it carries genuine pedigree, having hosted the European Tour when the circuit came north.
What makes it worth the trip is the setting and the stay. Slaley Hall is a country house hotel on roughly a thousand acres of moorland and forest, so the golf comes wrapped in spa, dining and a second eighteen in the Priestman, which makes it one of the best buddies and society bases in the north of England. The Hunting is the one to play first, the more demanding and the more memorable of the pair.
Slaley Hall Hunting Course at a glance
- Opened
- 1989
- Designer
- Dave Thomas
- Type
- Parkland forest
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,088 yds
- Green fee
- Resort guest rates
Designer, opening, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Slaley Hall and leading course databases. Dave Thomas designed the Hunting Course, the original layout at Slaley Hall, opened around 1989 and playing to a par 72 of about 7,088 yards from the back tees; the resort's second course, the Priestman, opened in 1999 to a Neil Coles design. Green fees vary by season and whether you stay at the hotel; figures are indicative for 2026 and you should always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Thomas routed the Hunting through corridors of mature pine and silver birch, so the premium is on driving it straight and long. The trees stand close enough that a loose tee shot is gone, and at full stretch of about 7,088 yards the course asks for both length and discipline, a combination that has tested tour professionals as well as resort guests.
The greens are large and the par 72 balance is classic Thomas, with reachable par 5s for the bold and a strong set of two shot holes where the second must thread between the timber. The moorland air and the elevation mean the ball can fly differently from one day to the next, so judging the approach into the forest framed greens is the heart of the round.
The finish runs back toward the hotel through the trees, the corridors tightening when the score matters most. Play the Hunting from a tee that suits your game rather than chasing the back markers, keep the ball in play off the tee, and it gives back a memorable parkland round in one of the prettiest corners of the north of England.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course at a country house hotel; open to hotel guests and visiting golfers by tee time booking |
| Green fee | Visitor and hotel guest green fees vary by season; indicative, 2026, confirm directly before booking |
| Stay and play | Best value comes with a hotel package combining rooms, dining, spa and golf across the Hunting and Priestman courses |
| Booking | Reserve through the Slaley Hall golf shop or a resort golf specialist; buggies are available and recommended on the longer course |
| Getting there | Slaley, near Hexham in Northumberland, about 30 minutes west of Newcastle and Newcastle Airport |
| Best months | May to September for the driest, warmest moorland conditions, though the resort plays year round |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; the resort is privately operated and rates change by season, so always confirm current pricing and availability directly with Slaley Hall or your trip planner before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious base is Slaley Hall itself, the country house hotel that sits between the two courses, with rooms, dining, a spa and easy access to both eighteens. A stay and play package here is the most efficient way to play the Hunting and the Priestman over a couple of days.
For a wider trip, Newcastle is about half an hour east and offers city hotels, dining and rail and air links, while the wider Northumberland countryside rewards a longer stay. It is an ideal region for a buddies or society golf break, pairing Slaley Hall with the links and parkland courses of the northeast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Slaley Hall Hunting Course.
Build a Northumberland golf trip
We book the Hunting and Priestman tee times at Slaley Hall, arrange the stay and play package and pair it with the best of the northeast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Slaley Hall Hunting Course questions
Who designed the Slaley Hall Hunting Course and when did it open?
The Hunting Course was designed by Dave Thomas and opened around 1989 as the original layout at Slaley Hall. The resort's second course, the Priestman, opened in 1999 to a Neil Coles design.
What is the par and length of the Hunting Course?
The Hunting Course is a par 72 of about 7,088 yards from the back tees, a long, tree lined parkland and forest layout near Hexham in Northumberland.
Why is Slaley Hall called the Augusta of the North?
The Hunting Course earned the nickname the Augusta of the North for its corridors of mature pine and silver birch and its manicured, tree framed feel, set in roughly a thousand acres of moorland and forest.
Can visitors play the Slaley Hall Hunting Course?
Yes. Slaley Hall is a country house hotel and golf resort open to hotel guests and visiting golfers. Book through the golf shop or a resort specialist and always confirm green fees and availability before travelling.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.