The Priestman is one of two contrasting parkland courses at Slaley Hall, sitting alongside the older Hunting Course. It is the newer of the two, and it plays with a more flexible, varied feel that gives golfers room to shape a round rather than survive it. If you are weighing up whether it belongs on your trip, the short answer is that it earns its place on merit, not as a fallback to the Hunting.
- Par: 72
- Length: approximately 7,069 yards
- Grounds: laid out across 280 acres on the western side of the estate
- Location: Northumberland, roughly six miles southeast of Hexham
- Setting: part of the Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, a stay-and-play golf destination
A course pushing past 7,000 yards is genuinely long from the back markers, so club selection and pacing matter more than raw distance chasing. Most visiting golfers will play from tees well forward of the full length, which keeps the course honest without turning every par four into a two-shot grind. The scale is what gives the Priestman its openness rather than its difficulty, and that distinction shapes how it plays. Set against the undulating movement of the Tyne valley on the western side of the estate, the extra room across 280 acres is used for breathing space, not just length.
What the Priestman Course Is Like to Play
The Priestman is classic parkland golf with undulating fairways running through the Tyne valley, so you are playing across natural movement in the land rather than a flat, engineered layout. The rise and fall of the fairways affects how the ball sits and rolls, which means judging the lie is part of the strategy even from the middle of the short grass. The fairways are relatively wide and open, which is the course's defining strength off the tee: you can commit to a driver and trust the line instead of steering the ball. That confidence factor is what separates it from the tighter Hunting Course next door.
Wide fairways do not mean an easy round. Several water hazards and plentiful, stylish bunkering sit in play throughout, and they are positioned to catch the shot that ignores strategy. The reward here is confidence, not a free pass, so scoring comes from choosing the right side of the fairway and respecting the trouble rather than assuming space equals safety.
The varied layout gives both big-hitters and strategists something to work with. Longer players can take on the extra yardage and attack, while more measured golfers can position off the tee, leave themselves the correct angle into the green, and let the bunkering punish anyone who overreaches. Where water and sand guard a green, positioning matters far more than power. In practice that means the smart play is often to lay back to a comfortable full-swing yardage rather than force the aggressive line, letting the width off the tee set up a clean second shot into the trouble-guarded greens.
Priestman vs Hunting: Which Slaley Hall Course Should You Play?
This is the question most golfers arrive with, and the honest answer is that neither course is objectively "best." The Priestman and the Hunting suit different games and different moods, which is exactly why playing both across a break is the strongest option Slaley Hall offers.
| Feature |
Priestman Course |
Hunting Course |
| Character |
Newer, more open, more flexible |
Established, tighter, more demanding |
| Fairway width |
Relatively wide and forgiving off the tee |
Frequently narrower |
| Main challenge |
Navigating water hazards and bunkering |
Precision off the tee, tougher overall |
| Reputation |
Varied, confidence-building |
Known as the "Augusta of the North" at resort level |
| Who it suits |
Mixed groups, confidence players, strategists and big-hitters alike |
Stronger, more accurate golfers wanting a stern test |
Choose the Priestman when you want a course that rewards trust off the tee and lets a mixed group enjoy the round; lean toward Slaley Hall’s Hunting Course when you want the sterner, tighter examination it is known for. There is no fixed ranking to settle here: on a day when your driving is on, the Hunting can be the more rewarding test, while a looser day is far more enjoyable on the Priestman's forgiving lines. Most groups on a Slaley Hall break play both, and having two contrasting courses on the same estate is the practical reason that works so well.
Who the Priestman Course Suits
The Priestman is one of the easier Slaley Hall courses to recommend for a full group because it flexes to different abilities without losing interest for the better players. The wide fairways build confidence for higher handicaps, while the length and hazards keep stronger golfers engaged. That flexible, varied character is exactly what lets a single course work for a party that plays off very different marks.
- Higher handicappers: the open fairways give room to find the short grass, so a wayward tee shot is far less punishing than on a narrow layout, and rounds stay quicker because fewer balls are lost.
- Mixed-ability groups: this is where the Priestman genuinely shines. It does not punish the weaker players in the party as harshly as a tighter course, so the whole group keeps enjoying the round instead of hunting for balls, and the stronger players still have the length and hazards to test themselves.
- Golf societies: the varied, flexible layout keeps pace of play sensible for larger parties and gives a mix of standards a fair test, which matters when you are moving a full field around the course.
- Serious golfers: from the back tees the 7,000-plus yards and the water and bunkering reward accurate, thoughtful play, so the challenge is there when you want it.
Building a Slaley Hall Golf Break Around the Priestman
The Priestman works best as part of a stay-and-play break rather than a single round on its own. A typical trip combines the course with a stay at the Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort and rounds on the second Hunting Course, giving two contrasting tests without leaving the estate.
Playing both on-site courses is the efficient choice for a group. You get genuine variety, an open confidence course and a tighter examination, without organising transfers between venues or losing time on the road between rounds. For a party trying to fit several rounds into a few days, that matters more than it first appears: two courses on one estate means you can play morning and afternoon rounds, or a round on consecutive days, without the logistics of checking out, driving, and re-coordinating a group at a second venue.
- Rounds on the Priestman and the Hunting Course
- Accommodation at the resort hotel as part of the package
- Optional extra rounds nearby to add variety, such as Rockliffe Hall, Prince Bishops or Owston Hall
If you want more courses in the itinerary, the wider North East golf region gives you options within reach, so a group can build a multi-round trip around the Northumberland setting near Hexham while keeping the core of the break on the Slaley Hall estate. The advantage of anchoring the trip at Slaley Hall is that your base and two of your rounds stay in one place, so any additional courses become day trips rather than a chain of separate check-ins.
Planning Your Visit: Timing, Travel and Group Organisation
The main planning decision is when to go, and for a North East parkland course that comes down to weather windows. The following points are editorial guidance rather than fixed availability, so confirm specifics when you plan.
- Timing: late spring through early autumn generally offers the most reliable conditions for golf in the North East. Parkland courses hold moisture, so a drier stretch protects both the greens and the enjoyment of the round. Early and late in the season the ground can play soft and give less run on the fairways, which is worth factoring in for a longer course.
- Getting there: the estate sits in Northumberland roughly six miles southeast of Hexham, which keeps it accessible by road while still feeling like a genuine golf-country destination. Hexham is the natural orientation point for directions and any off-site provisions a group might need.
- Group organisation: for a society or larger party, agree tee times, group size and the accommodation plan early, and decide upfront whether you are playing one course or both so the schedule is realistic. Blocking tee times together and confirming who is playing which course avoids the last-minute reshuffles that slow a group down.
The most common planning mistake is underestimating North East weather when picking dates. Booking within the more settled months is the simplest way to protect the experience, and a specialist can advise on sensible timing when the exact calendar matters.
Booking Your Priestman Golf Break with Golf Holidays Direct
Golf Holidays Direct is a UK golf travel specialist that arranges breaks and coordinates the parts of a trip that are awkward to organise alone. The team handles a high volume of golfers each year and works as an advisory booking channel, matching groups to courses that fit their standard rather than simply listing what is available. That destination familiarity means the advice you get on timing, course pairing and group logistics is grounded in how Slaley Hall actually plays for visiting parties.
Booking a coordinated package rather than piecing elements together with the resort separately means one point of contact handles both courses, the stay, tee times and group logistics in a single itinerary. Arranging it directly usually means dealing with the courses and accommodation as separate bookings and holding the whole schedule together yourself. For a group of six or more, a coordinated package removes the coordination load that usually falls on one organiser.
- Rounds on the Priestman and Hunting Courses arranged together
- Accommodation at the resort included in the package
- Tee times scheduled around your group's arrival and play plan
- Group and society organisation, including staged payment across a party
- Advice on timing and adding nearby courses if you want extra variety
To plan a trip, request an itinerary built around a Slaley Hall break and the team will put the course, stay and group details into one enquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best course at Slaley Hall, the Priestman or the Hunting?
Neither is objectively best; they suit different games. The Priestman is more open and flexible, while the Hunting is narrower and tougher. Most groups play both across a break, so the honest choice depends on your ability and what you want from the round on the day.
What are the Priestman Course's par and yardage?
The Priestman is a par 72 measuring approximately 7,069 yards across 280 acres. That is genuinely long from the back tees, so most visitors play forward markers to keep it enjoyable. Club selection matters more here than chasing distance.
Does the Priestman Course suit higher handicappers and mixed-ability groups?
Yes. The relatively wide fairways build confidence off the tee and do not punish weaker players as harshly as a narrow layout, while the length and hazards keep stronger players interested. It is one of the better choices for a mixed-ability group wanting everyone to enjoy the round.
How does the Priestman fit into a Slaley Hall golf break?
It pairs naturally with a stay at the resort and rounds on the Hunting Course for two contrasting tests on one estate. Playing both on-site courses avoids transfers between venues. Extra nearby courses such as Rockliffe Hall, Prince Bishops or Owston Hall can be added if you want more variety.
Where is Slaley Hall and how do I get there?
Slaley Hall is in Northumberland, roughly six miles southeast of Hexham. It is accessible by road while still sitting in genuine golf country, with Hexham as the natural orientation point. Confirm exact travel details when you plan your trip.
Can Golf Holidays Direct organise a group or society trip to Slaley Hall?
Yes. The team arranges group and society breaks, coordinating both courses, accommodation, tee times and staged group payment in one itinerary. Request an itinerary to get a Slaley Hall break built around your party.
