Pre wedding golf at Slaley Hall

Fairways, Friendship & Pre-Wedding Panic: Golf at Slaley Hall

The day before my wedding my groomsmen and I decided the best way to start the celebrations was with a round of golf at Slaley Hall.

The Scene: Golf Heaven (and a Bit of a Humbling)

If you’ve never been, Slaley Hall is stunning. It’s tucked away in the middle of Northumberland, surrounded by miles of rolling countryside, ancient trees, and, as we soon discovered, more water hazards than a small lake district.

There are 2 courses at Slaley Hall - The Hunting and The Priestman which have hosted over 20 European Tour, European Seniors Tour, PGA Cup and Asian Tour events. We tackled the Hunting Course, described as the 'August of the North, which I’m convinced was designed by someone who really hates people. Every hole looked beautiful — until you actually had to hit a ball. Fairways tighter than my wedding trousers, greens that rolled like marble floors, and bunkers that might as well have been craters. 

The course is a real challenge and certainly a step up from the local municipal course I usually play. The holes are long with challenging bunkers that you need to hit a good shot to get out of - no chance of duffing a bunker shot and rolling out onto the fairway here. The greens are fast and undulating which make things even more interesting. On some holes, you could quite easily roll off the green if you aren't careful.  

The Highlights (and Disasters)

There were a few standout moments from the round:

1. First tee pressure: Nothing says “bonding” like three blokes silently judging your swing while you pray you actually hit the ball.
2. The great bunker escape of hole 2: I took four attempts to get out — and one of them nearly ended up in the next bunker. 
3. The “shot of the day”: I hit one so clean it genuinely shocked everyone, including me. Unfortunately, it also went straight into a pond.
4. A nice 15 on hole 11 - shouldn't have tried hitting over a tree on a downward slope

By the back nine, we’d all accepted that no one was making it to the PGA Tour. Spirits were high, golf balls were low, and the group chat was already filling with memes and questionable scorekeeping.

The 19th Hole: Where Legends Are Made

We wrapped up at the clubhouse, sweaty, sun-kissed, and slightly broken. Pints were ordered, stories exaggerated, and laughter echoed around the terrace. There was a tournament on the next day so the clubhouse was packed which created a great atmosphere. 

But standing there with my groomsmen, looking out over those hills, it hit me: this was the perfect send-off. No stress, no spreadsheets, no speeches. Just good friends, bad golf, and the kind of memories that make you laugh years later.

Final Thoughts

If you’re getting married and wondering what to do the day before — skip the spa day and grab your clubs. A round at Slaley Hall might not improve your handicap, but it’ll definitely make for an unforgettable pre-wedding story.

Just remember to bring sunscreen, spare balls, and a healthy sense of humour. You’ll need all three.

I will definitely be back for another round in the future - but I think I will try the slightly more forgiving Priestman Course.