The Hunting Course is Slaley Hall's flagship championship layout, designed by former Ryder Cup player Dave Thomas with tournament golf in mind. Most of the holes are cut into thick pine forest and play with a distinctly park like feel, while a handful open out and take on genuine moorland traits. That terrain mix is the course's defining feature, and it is more nuanced than the single description summaries you will find elsewhere: this is not a pure parkland course, nor a pure moorland one, but a layout that shifts character as you move around the estate.
Water is in play through the front nine, where Thomas made deliberate use of the natural streams running across the estate. Bunkering is comparatively light, but period style mounding shapes the ground and frames the approaches, so definition comes from contour rather than sand. The pines punish anything sprayed off line, so position matters more than raw length. The resort's reputation as an "Augusta of the North" comes from this wooded, sculpted character rather than any direct comparison of quality.
Slaley Hall runs two courses. The Priestman is the resort's second layout, and this page focuses on the Hunting Course as the championship test of the two.
Par 72, over 7,000 yards from the back tees.
Who the Hunting Course Suits, and Playing It as a Visitor
This is an accuracy-first course rather than a bomber's playground. At over 7,000 yards from the tips and lined with pine, it rewards straight ball-striking and sensible course management. Multiple tees bring it into range for mixed-handicap groups, so a fourball spanning a range of abilities can all get a fair test without the longest hitters being the only ones enjoying it. Playing off a forward tee here is not a compromise; it is the difference between a rewarding round and a long afternoon of reloading in the trees.
It suits:
- Accuracy-focused golfers who prefer strategy over sheer distance.
- Ability-mixed groups, thanks to the choice of tees.
- Golf-break groups wanting a proper championship layout as their headline round.
A common assumption is that a course of this pedigree is member-only. It is not. The Hunting Course is playable as a visitor through a stay-and-play or golf break coordinated by Golf Holidays Direct, with no membership required. We arrange golf breaks and stay-and-play trips rather than club membership, so there is nothing to join and no joining fee to consider before you can tee it up.
Golf Breaks at Slaley Hall and How to Plan Your Trip
A Slaley Hall golf break bundles the parts of the trip that are fiddly to organise separately. For most groups that means your rounds on the Hunting Course, accommodation at the resort, and the group coordination that keeps everyone on the same tee sheet. Current break options, prices, and availability are shown on the live listings, so use those for anything time-sensitive.
A break here typically coordinates:
- Golf rounds arranged around your arrival and departure days.
- Accommodation at the resort itself.
- Group organisation, so one lead booker is not chasing every detail alone.
Slaley Hall sits within a large Northumberland estate, which gives the course its wooded, secluded setting. It is a reachable drive for most UK groups and a straightforward destination to plan a weekend or longer trip around, with the resort's own accommodation keeping travel between bed and first tee to a minimum. On timing, the estate's rhododendrons and cherry trees put on their strongest display in late spring, which is when the course looks at its most striking. Later summer offers the most reliable playing conditions and the longest daylight for a two-round day, while an early or late-season trip trades some of that colour for quieter tee sheets. Northumberland weather can turn quickly in the shoulder months, so pack for wind and rain whatever the forecast. If scenery matters as much as the golf, aim for the spring window.
Why Book Your Slaley Hall Golf Break Through Golf Holidays Direct
Booking direct with a resort often means digging your golf trip out from under spa, dining, and events promotions aimed at a completely different guest. Golf Holidays Direct is a golf-break specialist, so the whole planning conversation stays focused on the golf: the rounds, the group, and the logistics that make a trip run smoothly. Our team handles more than 50,000 golfers a year, which is where the practical detail comes from, matching the course to your group's standard, aligning tee times with travel, and keeping a larger party organised across rooms and rounds.
That group-coordination support is the gap neither a course directory nor a resort's own marketing fills: directories describe the course but do not plan the trip, and the resort's booking route buries the golf under unrelated offers. Having one specialist contact for the whole party also means changes to numbers or timings are handled in one place rather than chased down individually. To see current break options and start planning, view the live listings or get in touch to build your trip around the Hunting Course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can visitors and non-members play the Hunting Course at Slaley Hall?
Yes. The Hunting Course is open to visitors as part of a stay-and-play or golf break, with no membership needed. Golf Holidays Direct coordinates the round and accommodation for you.
Which is the best course at Slaley Hall — the Hunting Course or the Priestman Course?
The Hunting Course is the resort's flagship championship layout, the Dave Thomas design most groups build a break around. By comparison, the Priestman is the second course and plays a supporting role, useful for a lighter second round. For a headline championship test, choose the Hunting Course.
Is the Hunting Course too difficult for mid or high handicappers?
It is a demanding, tree-lined layout, but multiple tees make it playable across a range of abilities. Accuracy matters more than distance here, so mid and high handicappers who play from the appropriate tees and keep the ball in play will enjoy it rather than feel overwhelmed.
What does a Slaley Hall golf break through Golf Holidays Direct include?
A break typically coordinates your rounds, accommodation at the resort, and the group organisation around them. Exact inclusions vary by trip, so check the live listings for current options. Get in touch and we will tailor the itinerary to your group.
