Having counted a fifty per cent increase in memberships since 2002, Parklands golf course - just a couple of miles north of Newcastle's town centre - is fast becoming one of the most popular courses in Northumberland. Part of the reason behind this considerable growth can surely, in no small part, be as a result of its excellent practice facilities, including a 45 bay floodlit driving range, one of the largest in the county.

Although quite small - the eighteen hole course measures only 6060 yards - it is still a demanding par 71 with water intersecting the well-maintained fairways on ten holes, and out of bounds on eleven, so concentration and accuracy are vital to score well here.