A new North-East golf course, destined to become one of the best in the country, opened yesterday for the start of a series of “taster” days. Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, was among the first on the pristine fairways.

ON bracing walks or bike rides around the outskirts of my home village, I’ve often marvelled at the spectacular creation that has magically emerged from a muddy old potato field.

The Rockliffe Hall development – five-star hotel, plus golf and spa resort – is cleverly hidden away on land beyond the local comprehensive school and doctors’ surgery in Hurworth-on-Tees, near Darlington.

It is the stunning reality which has resulted from the vision of Middlesbrough Football Club chairman Steve Gibson four years ago.

When it opens in July, the golf course, next to the Boro’s training complex, will be one of the longest in Europe.

From the top of Blind Lane hill, I’ve watched it grow from nothing much to something special – so the invitation to try it out was easy to accept.

Now, I’m more Victoria Wood than Tiger Woods when it comes to hitting golf balls. My only golfing claim to fame is the time I scored a unique “round in one” at Blackwell Grange Golf Club in Darlington, during a charity tournament.

From the first tee, I sliced my shot embarrassingly across a copse of trees, straight into the 18th hole. I was 67 under par for the round and made the papers worldwide.

It was, therefore, with a fair degree of trepidation that I headed for Rockliffe Hall as one of the first to try out the area’s magnificent new course.

Newly-appointed club professional Tom Godwin, once a pro at Gleneagles, was there to meet me and give my clubs a clean.

Fancy me – a 24 (and the rest) handicapper – getting my clubs cleaned by a professional! It’s all part of the service at Rockliffe Hall, Tom explained.

I was in a four-ball made up of Rockliffe Hall chairman Warwick Brindle, company secretary Rob Barrigan and Mike Catterick, business development manager at Shepherd Construction, Rockliffe’s builders.

The first shot is always the hardest. Knees knocking as the cameras flashed, my first strike wasn’t great, but not a complete disaster and, thankfully, nowhere near the 18th green.

I gradually gained in confidence as my trusty seven wood kept me more or less straight.

It was the fifth hole I was really looking forward to.

From my vantage point on Blind Lane hill, I’d watched it being sculpted out of the farmer’s field: an enticing par three, with the green set on an island in the middle of a lake, disturbed only by the majestic glide of a swan.

Each hole at Rockliffe Hall has five tee positions to suit golfers of all abilities and, from our tee, we had 165 yards to the flag with a stiff breeze coming off the water and into our faces.

For me, it was a seven wood. (It usually is). I hit it surprisingly well. It sailed into the air, bang on target – and splashed 30ft short.

Disappointing, but who can really complain about a morning spent amid 300 acres of peaceful, beautiful countryside by the banks of the River Tees?

Rockliffe Hall is a triumph of imagination: an outstanding golf venue, destined to be a prize asset of the Tees Valley and the wider region.

“What does Steve Gibson think of it now?” I wondered.

“Even he’s a bit gobsmacked at the way it’s all turned out,” smiled Warwick Brindle, who has overseen the development.

Whatever the fate of his beloved football club this season, the Boro chairman can be proud of his potato field metamorphosis.

And, as local resident and round-in-one golfer, it is a privilege to know that my ball is one of the first to lie at the bottom of the lake on the glorious par three fifth.

■ Rockliffe Hall taster days are being staged throughout May. For further information call 01325-722221.

* Pictured with Mr Brindle are, from left, Rob Barrigan, company secretary at Rockliffe Hall, Mike Catterick, business development manager for Shepherd, and Northern Echo editor Peter Barron