A NEW championship golf course will open next month (July).

The new Cathedral Course at Ramside Hall Hotel and Golf Club is part of a £15m expansion which backers hope will help the Durham City venue rival the likes of The Belfry, Celtic Manor and Gleneagles.

The 7,200 yard, par 72 parkland course has been designed by Jonathan Gaunt, of Gaunt Golf Design – who designed Ramside’s original 27 holes in 1994, and is the only new championship standard 18-hole golf course to open in England this year.

A loop of nine holes will open for play on Saturday, July 5, including holes one, two, three, eight, nine, ten, 16, 17 and 18.

The whole course will open in September, once the new fairways and fescue rough grass has bedded in.

Mr Gaunt said: “This has been a special project to work on and it is hugely rewarding to see Ramside’s long-term vision realised.”

John Adamson, director of Ramside Hall Estates, said: “Our vision is for Ramside Hall Hotel to become a complete golf and leisure destination at the heart of North-East England attracting members, visitors and hotel guests to enjoy golf, fitness, relaxation, fine food and beautiful surroundings.

“I’m sure the Cathedral Course will further enhance Ramside Hall’s reputation as one of the most desirable golf resorts and leisure destinations in England.”

The £15m expansion also includes 47 new hotel bedrooms, 34 executive homes, a new health club, gym, 25m swimming pool, spa, restaurant and beauty salon.

The hotel expansion, spa and health club are due to be completed early next year.

Earlier this week, concerns over Ramside were crucial in convincing Durham county councillors to refuse Hargreaves Surface Mining planning permission to opencast nearby.