Eaglescliffe Golf Club - Eaglescliffe

Eaglescliffe Golf Club is a traditional parkland course set beside the River Tees, with the Cleveland Hills providing the backdrop to much of the round. The club was founded in 1914 with a 13-hole course on Yarm Back Lane before moving to its present site in 1928. The new layout was designed by five-time Open champion James Braid, giving Eaglescliffe a direct connection to one of the most influential figures in British golf course architecture.

The course has changed considerably during its history. During the Second World War, seven of the original holes were taken out of play so the land could be used for growing crops and they were never restored afterwards. Additional land was leased in 1948 and later purchased in 1959, allowing Eaglescliffe to return to 18 holes. Further land acquired in 1968 led to another major change, with three-time Open champion Sir Henry Cotton designing four new holes that helped create the par-72 layout golfers play today. You can read more about the history of Eaglescliffe Golf Club on the club’s official website.

Golfing history at Eaglescliffe is not limited to its course designers. In 1933, American star Walter Hagen and Percy Alliss played an exhibition match at the club, with Hagen shooting 74 to Alliss’s 78. Hagen was already one of the biggest names in world golf, having won multiple major championships, while Alliss was one of Britain’s leading professionals of his generation. Their appearance remains a notable part of the club’s long history.

Today, Eaglescliffe measures 6,289 yards and still carries much of Braid’s strategic character. Rolling terrain and sloping greens mean the course is considerably more demanding than its yardage might suggest. Finding the fairway is only the first part of the challenge, as approaches often need to be played from the correct position to leave manageable putts on greens where a miss on the wrong side can quickly turn into a difficult up and down.

The River Tees provides the setting for one of the most memorable holes on the course. The par-five 14th requires golfers to play across a bend in the river from the tee, creating a visually intimidating shot where choosing the correct line is just as important as distance. It is the sort of hole that encourages stronger players to be aggressive while still giving more cautious golfers a sensible route to the green.

The 17th provides another standout moment late in the round. This downhill par three measures around 170 yards and is played across a pond to the green. The elevated tee makes the hole particularly inviting, but anything short brings the water firmly into play. A well-struck iron can produce a realistic birdie opportunity, while a slight mistake can quickly add shots to the scorecard. Both the 14th and 17th are regarded by the club as its signature holes. View the official Eaglescliffe Golf Club course information.

Eaglescliffe is worth playing because it manages to offer a proper strategic challenge without becoming inaccessible to ordinary club golfers. Better players are encouraged to think about angles, slopes and positioning, while higher-handicap golfers still have enough room to work their way around the course without every mistake being severely punished. The combination of river holes, changing elevation and sloping greens gives the round plenty of variety from beginning to end.

There is also something different about playing a course shaped by both James Braid and Henry Cotton. Eaglescliffe is part of the wider James Braid golf course network, and many of the design principles associated with Braid remain evident in the way golfers are asked to choose positions rather than simply chase distance.

For golfers in Teesside, County Durham and North Yorkshire, Eaglescliffe Golf Club offers a strong combination of history, scenery and enjoyable course design. Its position beside the River Tees, memorable closing stretch and links to two major figures in British golf make it much more than a straightforward local parkland course. It is a layout with enough character to justify a visit and enough strategic detail to remain interesting on repeat rounds.