THERE is a growing trend for golf enthusiasts to try their hand at different courses with friends instead of becoming a member at a club.

With that in mind there are a new set of greens to add to the testing list at Headlam Hall, near Darlington. A nine hole course that doubles up as an 18 made up of par threes and fours.

And to say the course, the first designed by Stressholme professional Ralph Givens, is arduous is an understatement even though the par for the course is a seemingly low 60.

Givens has clearly taken all his years in the game into consideration and has gone out to make sure no golfer finds life easy on the greens and fairways in the gardens of the old country manor.

"The brief we gave to Ralph was to make it as challenging as we could so that pros would come here and find it quite difficult," says course director Simon Robinson. "We are pleased with the outcome and we're sure most people will agree that it's pretty tough."

Headlam offers a number of straight holes but each one provides its own little problem. That maybe an overhanging tree, the long rough or a huge pond; which all combined ensures golfers must plan for the occasional, or should that be frequent, lost ball.

Those who have played it will insist you will never forget the sixth or seventh. The sixth, even though it is played in the tranquil surroundings of the countryside where the Headlam estate resides, has a surprisingly striking resemblance of a links hole.

Open to a decent drive that turns from left to right and it looks far longer than the 282-yard it is measured at. But it is the tortuous rough that skirts round the fairway that causes the most problems, especially as there is minimal room for error off the tee.

And then there is the seventh. Downsize the famous 17th at TPC Sawgrass in the USA and you will not be too far away from the tricky little 89-yard par three at Headlam - aptly named The Pond.

As well as the picturesque setting and the demanding course, Headlam Hall has also gone to the expense of developing a fine driving range which goes against the usual grind where players practise in cramped cubicles inside a tin shed. This one looks nice and feels comfortable to play in.

There has been massive six figure outlay on the developments and there is the scope to expand to a full 18 holes. "We have had grants helping us out but we have done a lot of the work ourselves," says director of the Hall Thomas Robinson, brother of Simon. "As well as creating a nice course we wanted to make people like the facilities."

Headlam, after their grand opening earlier this year when former England rugby star Tony Underwood teed off, are hosting their first competition this Saturday and hopes are high of a big turnout.

The fourball better ball tournament is open to the public and entries for the nine hole event have to be in by the end of today.

The entry fee, of £10 for a two man team, is just £10 and includes coffee on arrival, lunch, warm up basket of balls on the driving range and a Titleist Headlam Hall ball. There is a chance to win a year's free membership at the plush club.

* Anyone wishing to enter Headlam Hall's promotiom competition must contact the golf shop on (01325) 732113 before 6pm today.

Published: 17/08/2004