The Ultimate Motorhome Golf Road Trip

With the golf season in full flow, summer here in the UK and the AIG Women's Open just about to start, our thoughts turn to golf trips. Normally, this will include a trip to the airport, a flight and guaranteed warmer weather. But the lockdowns of the last couple of years have made us consider more local trips.

A recent conversation with David Thornton, ambassador for Golf in Society, has made us think about accommodation of the non-bricks and mortar kind.

A motorhome?

Golf and Motorhome travel go together like a good gin and tonic. It's no surprise this perfect combination is growing in popularity.

The UK offers a wonderful variety of holidays for keen golfers and travelling by motorhome is a fantastic and stress-free way to travel between courses.

With the freedom of a motorhome, you can move location at any time.

Modern motorhomes are luxurious and super comfortable. You can take a break for a rest whenever you want. Perhaps most importantly there’s plenty of room for all your clubs and to bring some friends along for the ride.

Women and Golf have teamed up with Niche Motorhomes, a leading motorhome hire company based in Wymeswold, near Loughborough.
They are keen supporters of the women’s game and sponsor the ‘Women into Golf” project at their local club, Charnwood Forest

Together with Niche Motorhomes we have created possibly the world’s first ‘FEMALE-FRIENDLY’ golfing/motorhome road trip. Here was our brief:

• The trip was to start in Yorkshire and finish at the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield
• It should take around three weeks
• All the golf courses featured in the itinerary had to be signed up to the “Women in Golf” charter from the R&A
• All are under £50 to play in midweek
• They had to recommend some motorhome parking sites near the golf courses

The Tour

The First Leg - Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a big county with many highly rated golf courses. It boasts three courses that have held Ryder Cups. So, where do we start? A difficult task but we’ve gone for Leeds which is surrounded by some of the oldest and finest golf courses in the UK.

The only dilemma is choosing which course to play. However, we have a maximum green fee of £50, so we are seeking courses that offer a friendly, inclusive, and quality golf experience for a sensible price

Where does the road trip take you?

Where would you play?

Seven courses for a quality golf experience:

HORSFORTH GOLF CLUB

£30 midweek
T 0113 258 6819
E via form on the website
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Moor Lodge Holiday Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Harewood House ~ Fountains Abbey ~ Royal Armouries Museum ~ Xscape Yorkshire Leisure Complex ~ Saltaire - UNESCO World Heritage site ~ Ilkley - picnic by River Wharfe

SKIPTON GOLF CLUB

£25 midweek
T 01756 795657
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Bolton Abbey Caravan & Camping site OR Strid Wood Caravan site

Places of interest to visit in the area: Grassington and its National Park Centre ~ Skipton for shopping ~ Skipton Castle ~ Walking in the Wharfedale Valley ~ Malham

HARROGATE GOLF CLUB

£30 midweek
T 01423 862999
E: [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Rudding Holiday Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Harrogate for shopping ~ The famous Betty’s Tea Rooms ~ Valley Gardens ~ RHS Garden Harlow Carr ~ Turkish Baths ~ Nearby Knaresborough is delightful

RUDDING PARK GOLF CLUB

From £35 midweek (18- & 6-hole options)
T 01423 872100
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Rudding Holiday Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Harrogate for shopping ~ The famous Betty’s Tea Rooms ~ Valley Gardens ~ RHS Garden Harlow Carr ~ Turkish Baths ~ Nearby Knaresborough is delightful

MALTON & NORTON GOLF CLUB

£45 midweek
T 01653 697912
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Wolds Way Caravan & Camping

Places of interest to visit in the area: Historic York ~ The “Shambles” shopping ~ York Minster ~ Walk the ancient city walls-all 3 miles of them ~ York Dungeons

SCARBOROUGH SOUTH CLIFFS GOLF CLUB

£30 midweek
T 01723 360522
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: St Helens in the Park OR Scarborough Caravan & Camping

Places of interest to visit in the area: Peasholm Park ~ Sea Life Centre ~ RSPB Bempton Cliffs

WHITBY GOLF CLUB

£32 midweek
T 01947 600660
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES (but only on Monday & Friday)

Stay at: North Yorkshire Moors Club Campsite

Places of interest to visit in the area: Guided walking tour of Whitby ~ Whitby Abbey ~ Whitby Fish & Chips at The Magpie Cafe ~ Robin Hood's Bay

The Second Leg - Northumberland

England’s most northerly county is full of surprises, including golf courses. Known for its beautiful countryside, superb 64-mile coastline and historic castles such as Alnwick (where Harry Potter was filmed) it also has some stunning golf courses which rarely get very busy.

We have selected what we think is a nice variety of different courses both inland and links courses. There are two courses which don’t yet have the “Women in Golf” charter mark. However, we know from experience they are very welcoming to visitors and they are both “coastal classics” with some beautiful views and interesting holes.

Where does the road trip take you?

Where would you play?

BELLINGHAM GOLF CLUB

£20 midweek (restricted tee times)
T 01434 220530
Booking click here
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: South Meadows Caravan Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Hareshaw Linn Waterfall

WOOLER GOLF CLUB

£15 midweek (great value!)
T 01668 282135
Bookings click here
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: South Meadows Caravan Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: St Cuthberts Cave

ALNMOUTH GOLF CLUB (FOXTON HALL)

£30 after 3pm
T 01665 830231
Bookings click here
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Waren Caravan site

Places of interest to visit in the area: Alnmouth Village (motorhome parking on edge of village)

BAMBURGH CASTLE GOLF CLUB

£50 after 2pm
T 01668 214321
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES (but only on Monday & Friday)

Stay at: Waren Caravan site

Places of interest to visit in the area: Bamburgh Castle ~ Grace Darling Museum

DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE GOLF CLUB

£35 midweek (or £25 after 2pm)
T 01665 576562
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES (but best to reserve a space in advance)

Stay at: Waren Caravan site

Places of interest to visit in the area: Alnwick Castle & Gardens

GOSWICK GOLF CLUB

£50 special rate for W&G members after 1pm. Must be booked through the Secretary, Rory Davidson
T 01289 387256
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Waren Caravan site

Places of interest to visit in the area: Fish & chips at Seahouses, Lindisfarne - Holy Island

The Third Leg - East Lothian

What a place to finish our motorhome tour- East Lothian ticks many boxes for golfers. With 21 links and parkland courses within 30 miles of stunning coastline, it encompasses world-famous bucket list venues like Muirfield and Gullane.

Edinburgh city is within 50 minutes of the furthest golf course and in the summer daylight runs from 4.30am until 10pm. Known as Scotland’s “Food & Drink County”, there is a warm welcome and great hostelries.

Are there any downsides? If we are sticking to our “brief” then we would have to be honest and say that not only are some of the courses stunning but the green fees are “eye-wateringly” stunning too and beyond the reach of some people. For example, North Berwick GC is £200 per round this summer and is fully booked until the end of October.

However, at “Women & Golf” we have done the hard yards and found five great courses with green fees under £50 week days. Two have signed up to the Women in Golf charter.

We’ve also selected two excellent motorhome sites not far from our selected golf courses. So, although East Lothian has become something of a golfing tourist mecca resulting in high demand and equally high green fees, there are still courses to be found off the beaten track that won’t break the bank and are welcoming and inclusive.

Glen Golf Club at £55 twilight rate is just above our maximum green fee but we think it is worth it - the views are spectacular. Haddington GC is also £55 but also worth the extra five pounds.

What's your route?

Where would you play?

THE GLEN GOLF CLUB

£55 after 3pm
T 01620 892726
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park OR Bellhaven Bay Caravan & Camping Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Tantallon Castle

GULLANE GOLF CLUB NO.3

£49
T 01620 842255
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park OR Bellhaven Bay Caravan & Camping Park

Recommended local hostelry: The Bonnie Badger

HADDINGTON GOLF CLUB

£55
T 01620 822727
Bookings click here
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park OR Bellhaven Bay Caravan & Camping Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Amisfield Walled Garden ~ Lennoxlove House

GIFFORD GOLF CLUB

£35
T 01620 810591
Bookings click here
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park OR Bellhaven Bay Caravan & Camping Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Yester Castle

WINTERFIELD GOLF CLUB

£31
T 01368 863562
E [email protected]
Directions -> CLICK HERE

Can you park your motorhome in the club car park? YES

Stay at: Tantallon Caravan & Camping Park OR Bellhaven Bay Caravan & Camping Park

Places of interest to visit in the area: Belhaven Brewery, John Muir's Birthplace

The benefits of a motorhome

Why a motorhome is a great idea for a golf trip...

• Freedom to wander around as many golf courses as you can find.
• No accommodation required as there are many caravan parks and campsites near golf courses throughout the UK.
• Modern motorhomes have all mod cons so you can take your home with you as you explore fantastic golf courses.
• Cost-efficient - although petrol costs have increased it's still cheaper than staying at a golf resort.
• Plenty of storage for golf clothes and equipment plus room for drying clothes.

What do you get with a Niche Motorhome:

And much more... click here for the definitive list and optional extras!

"As an independent business based in Leicestershire we’re always keen to support local organisations and are proud to support our local golf club, Charnwood Forest, with their “Women into Golf” programme. We regularly get golfers hire our motorhomes and they love the freedom and luxury of our vehicles. We know that David Thornton and Women & Golf have put a lot of joint effort into creating a great itinerary and hope it will encourage lots of Women & Golf readers to experience the adventure of a golfing road trip.

We’re honoured to be chosen by Women & Golf as a preferred partner and delighted to offer a discount on our normal hire price exclusively for Women & Golf readers."

Matthew Neash, Managing Director of Niche Motorhomes

Have you made a golf trip in a motorhome? We'd love to hear your stories! Email Emma.

If you haven't then now is your chance. Our friends at Niche Motorhomes are offering W&G readers a 7.5% discount* on their motorhome hire. Call 01509 426442 or email [email protected] quoting WIG2022.

* Valid on all bookings from 29 July 2022 - 30 June 2023 for travel by the end of 2023 using CODE WIG2022

For more details on Niche Motorhomes, visit their website.