IT has been an exciting year for Slaley Hall and one it intends to build on after a substantial amount of investment to return the beautiful Northumberland track to its best.

The setting is as picturesque as ever and its owners, QHotels, were keen to show off one of the North-East’s finest golfing venues.

Invitations were distributed across the media and to business clients in the hope of proving that Slaley Hall deserves to be recognised once again. And it does.

After a £1m refurbishment the corporate golf day was designed to prove what direction this exceptional golf course and venue has in mind; knowing how rightly proud they are of a star-studded past.

There will be fond memories of the days when the Compaq European Grand Prix and Great North Open were held on the outskirts of Hexham as part of the European Tour schedule.

For seven consecutive years there was mainstream Tour golf held there, with the brilliant Hunting course graced by Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomerie as well as Justin Rose, to name just three.

They are all sure to have enjoyed walking around a beautiful course, most typically remembered for its signature ninth hole being flanked by rhododendrons, where a brilliant fairway cuts through a forest of pine trees right up to a tight green.

It used to provide a perfect setting during the days of the final round of the Tour events, whereas these days it is just an exceptional hole where the golfers putt out in front of the Edwardian mansion that has had its own makeover and extensions in recent years.

Slaley has its rivals in the North-East luxury market these days, with nearby Close House, Hurworth’s Rockliffe Hall and Ramside Hall providing the competition; not to mention those north of the Tyne such as Matfen Hall and the rest.

However, competition is probably not exactly the right word, given how this area is awash with fantastic courses which all should have their share of the spotlight.

The showcase day opened with a tip or two from PGA teaching professional Steven Fawcitt and followed by Rob Brown’s entertaining trick shot show before the tournament.

And at that it was over to the sixth where the competition really stepped up. It was an impressive long par three over the water and beat the pro, where I ended up hitting a six-iron straight into the water. The pro’s wine was safe.

The walk around 1,000 acres of splendid Northumberland countryside was slightly spoiled by my performance, failing to trouble the scorers, but was made a lot easier by being given the opportunity to try out one of RolleyGolf’s trolley collection: basically electric wheels for a golfer and the trolley.

Better golfers than this high handicapper have been lured in by Slaley Hall’s infectious look in the past and plenty more will follow – even if they have to walk a little more than me, but there is at least the spa option afterwards to relax.

It was clear that QHotels are determined to bring the good times back to Slaley Hall and they are well on course to do just that – and are offering the memberships to go alongside it too.

n If you would like your club to be profiled on this page then contact golf writer Paul Fraser.