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Luxury new venue announces launch of golf memberships

The most eagerly anticipated new golf course to open in the North of England in the last 20 years has announced it is now taking applications for membership.

Rockliffe Hall is a new five-star hotel, golf and spa resort development based in Hurworth, near Darlington in County Durham, and its three levels of membership have now been launched to the public.

The luxury development has announced the availability of an exclusive Founder Member package, along with its seven day membership as well as a company golf package, offering three opportunities to experience the unique new golf offering from Rockliffe Hall.

And bosses at the 375-acre site have revealed a range of stunning enticements for those who are keen to become members of what will become the finest new course in the North.

Managing director, Nick Holmes said: “This is such an exciting stage in the development of this amazing new facility. The standards and quality of golf experience at Rockliffe Hall will become what all new courses strive for.

“Members at Rockliffe Hall will receive so much more than the opportunity to just play a great course. From arrival, through to leaving, no golfer will be left in any doubt that what we are offering is something unrivalled in golf in this part of the world.”

Those who join now will receive exclusive use of the course for its entire first month of opening in June this year, with Rockliffe Hall promising that non-members will only be able to play the course from July onwards.

The 18-hole course measures 7,857 yards, making it one of the longest courses in Europe. However, with five separate tee positions on each hole, the course offers a challenge for every standard of player.

Its greens, made with creeping bent grass, are more commonly seen in the United States, but have already been lovingly kept for several months by the UK’s largest ever-assembled green keeping team for an 18-hole course.

Nick added: “As long as six months ago, we had a 12-strong team looking after the course. By opening, that team will have swelled to more than 20. We are confident that golfers will immediately see the importance we have placed on the quality of our course and invite anybody to come and take a look at the course now. It proves how serious we are about this.”

Rockliffe Hall say membership numbers will be strictly limited to avoid the course being overplayed, but state that the additional benefits will attract many discerning golfers just as much as the course itself. The first 50 seven day members will also receive free spa membership.

Seven day members benefits will include unlimited access to the new academy with complimentary practice balls, eight-day advanced bookings, valet parking and complimentary care of clubs and golf shoes. There will also be a host of other benefits including complimentary limited edition clothing and golf equipment and discounted rates on a range of facilities around the five-star resort, including spa use and discounted room bookings.

Meanwhile, the select founder membership offers a five-year package with all the benefits of the seven day members, as well as other luxurious add-ons. These include additional membership for the spa, complimentary buggy use, personalised lockers in the state-of-the-art new clubhouse, a £1,000 ‘levy’ card for use at Rockliffe Hall, discounted room rates, an annual golf check with a PGA professional and the ability to book tee times up to 30 days in advance.

Company membership also offers all the great benefits of the full member over a five day period (Monday to Friday) for four named members of your company or business. Appealing to corporate members will be the ability to entertain clients or staff members in the stunning new facilities.

Nick Holmes added: “We’ve gone to great lengths to provide everything the discerning member and corporate member could want in a facility. The new glass-fronted clubhouse overlooking the 18th green will have a great restaurant offering the very best local food, an expansive lounge area as well as private meeting rooms and top class changing facilities.

“The fact that we also have all the added benefits of the adjoining hotel and spa means this is not just a great golf course, but a resort which will be many things to lots of people.”

With the course, clubhouse and academy due to open to members only in June, Rockliffe Hall predicts all three membership options to be taken up rapidly. Those interested in hearing about the benefits of membership should contact Jonny Mould on 01325 7222221 or jonny@rockliffehall.com.

The hotel and spa facility, based around the sympathetic restoration of a stunning 18th Century Country home on the County Durham / North Yorkshire border, will be open later in 2009. All 61 bedrooms will be finished in keeping with the traditions of the site, but with a range of stylish contemporary touches. The spa will boast one of the UKs largest hydro pools as well as all the latest in new therapy and fitness techniques.

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